Saudi Arabia, long reliant on Western arms suppliers, is now shifting its defense strategy toward localization and self-sufficiency. As part of its Vision 2030 goals, the Kingdom aims to localize 50% of its defense industry—and Turkey is emerging as a key partner in this transformation.
Leading Turkish defense companies such as Baykar, ASFAT, and ASELSAN are deepening their ties with Riyadh through co-production agreements, technology transfers, and local manufacturing initiatives. The proposed $6 billion Saudi-Turkish defense deal is a milestone in this effort, covering a broad spectrum of military assets, including warships, Altay battle tanks, UAVs, and potential collaboration on KAAN stealth fighters.
Strengthening Military Ties
Turkish-Saudi defense cooperation has significantly expanded through high-level diplomatic engagements. In July 2024, Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman Al Saud visited Turkey to discuss a defense agreement with Baykar, while Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan met with Hakan Fidan to reinforce bilateral ties. By December 2024, the Saudi Chief of General Staff Lt. Gen. Fayyadh Al-Ruwaili traveled to Turkey to lead the sixth Saudi-Turkish Joint Military Committee meeting with Turkish counterpart Lt. Gen. Metin Gurak.
These interactions indicate a major strategic shift in Saudi Arabia’s defense approach, moving beyond a traditional arms-buyer model to a co-producer role.
Vision 2030 and Saudi Arabia’s Defense Localization
Vision 2030, spearheaded by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MbS), aims to diversify the Saudi economy, reduce oil dependency, and develop a robust domestic defense sector. Instead of relying solely on foreign arms suppliers, Riyadh is prioritizing technology transfer and local production to enhance economic resilience and security independence.
Official figures from GAMI (General Authority for Military Industries) show steady progress toward localization targets:
- 8% in 2020
- 13.7% in 2022
- 15% in 2023
- 19.35% by the end of 2024
With this trajectory, Saudi Arabia is well-positioned to achieve its 50% localization goal by 2030.
Turkey’s Role: A Strategic Partner
Unlike Western defense suppliers, Turkey offers reciprocal agreements that respect the strategic autonomy of its partners, making it an attractive ally for Riyadh. According to Gökhan Batu, a security expert at ORSAM, Turkey’s industrial cooperation model aligns with Saudi Arabia’s long-term defense-industrial ambitions.
By partnering with Turkey, Saudi Arabia is not just buying weapons—it is laying the groundwork for a self-sustaining military-industrial complex that will shape its economic and security landscape for decades to come.