The Turkish defense industry's expansion into the Gulf gained a strategic dimension at the World Defense Show (WDS) 2026. Turkish Aerospace (TUSAŞ) signed a critical Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Saudi Ministry of Investment and the General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI). The agreement covers the joint production of TUSAŞ’s air platforms, primarily the GÖKBEY helicopter, in Saudi Arabia.
WDS 2026, held in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, documented that the defense cooperation between Türkiye and Saudi Arabia has evolved from a "buyer-seller" relationship to a "joint production and technology transfer" model. The agreement, announced by TUSAŞ via its official social media accounts, became one of the most concrete steps of the "Vision 2030" program, which aims to diversify Saudi Arabia's oil-based economy and localize defense expenditures.
The Era of Joint Production Begins
In the statement made by TUSAŞ, it was noted: "We signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Saudi Ministry of Investment and the General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI) for the joint production of our platforms in Saudi Arabia."
The expression "our platforms" (plural) in this statement signals that the cooperation will not be limited to a single product. However, initial information from the corridors and meetings at the fair indicates that T625 GÖKBEY, Türkiye's first indigenous and national general-purpose helicopter, will be at the center of production.
Why Joint Production? The Vision 2030 Goal
Saudi Arabia, under the "Vision 2030" program led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, aims to localize 50% of its defense spending by 2030.
This agreement signed with TUSAŞ directly serves this goal of the Riyadh administration. Although the details of the agreement (localization rate, production quantities, which parts will be produced in Saudi Arabia) have not yet been clarified, this move guarantees TUSAŞ a permanent player status in the Saudi market. Instead of just selling finished products, sharing production technology and "Know-How" to gain market share stands out as part of TUSAŞ's new export strategy.
GÖKBEY and Beyond: Which Platforms Are Next?
While GÖKBEY is the clearest actor in the agreement, the expression "platforms" has turned eyes to TUSAŞ's other products. Saudi Arabia's interest in UAV systems such as ANKA and AKSUNGUR is known. Additionally, potential interest in the KAAN project is also on the table.
This memorandum of understanding opens the door for platforms such as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) or HÜRJET to be included in assembly or part production processes in local facilities in Saudi Arabia, alongside GÖKBEY, in the coming period.
TUSAŞ Transforms into a Global Manufacturer
Following Baykar's record-breaking AKINCI export to Saudi Arabia, TUSAŞ's "joint production" move cements the Turkish defense industry's presence in the region. With this agreement, TUSAŞ crosses a critical threshold on the path to becoming a global aviation giant that exports technology and establishes production lines in friendly countries, rather than being a company that only produces in Ankara.
