On the third day of Saudi Arabia’s World Defense Show, which coincided with International Women’s Day, participants focused on stimulating the role of female leaders in defense and security worldwide.
Saudi ambassador to the United States, Princess Rima bint Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz said on Monday that empowering Saudi women was at the heart of Vision 2030, underlining the importance of sustaining this momentum at the global level.
She added that the Women in Defense program, which was unveiled during the major defense event hosted in Riyadh, provided a unique platform that highlight the importance of achieving equality and enhancing the role of women in the sector.
The program inauguration ceremony was held in the presence of Phebe Novakovic, CEO of General Dynamics, and Marion Blakey, former President and CEO of Rolls-Royce North America and Director of the Federal Aviation Administration, and a member of the Supervisory Committee of the World Defense Show.
Other prominent female attendees included Dana Stroul, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East, Heidi Grant, Vice President of Business Development for Boeing and former President of the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency, Dr. Moudhi Al-Jamea, Vice President of the Saudi Telecom Company, and Mashael Al-Shammari, a consultant in the field of space technology and the first female aeronautical engineer in the GCC.
Penny MacPherson, head of the Women in Defense program at the World Defense Show, said that the exhibition comes at an appropriate time for both Saudi Arabia and the global defense industry, adding that the presence of women leaders from all over the world will support their advancement at the local and international levels.
Meanwhile, the Saudi Ministry of Defense signed a number of agreements on Monday, including a contract with Naval Group Arabia Ltd. Worth more than 800 million riyals ($213 million), to provide technical and logistical support services for the Royal Saudi Navy. The contract was signed by Dr. Khaled Al-Biyari, Assistant Minister of Defense for Executive Affairs, and Didier Fouilly, CEO of Naval Group Arabia.
The ministry also signed a contract worth SR3 billion with Hanwha, a Korean defense company. The contract was signed for the Riyal Saudi Land Forces to support its defense capabilities, in addition to localization and supply chain services.
The Ministry of Defense also concluded three different contracts worth SR1.7 billion with Alsalam Aerospace Industries for providing maintenance services for the Royal Saudi Air Force.
With an amount exceeding 400 million riyals ($106 million), the ministry concluded a contract with the Saudi Aircraft Maintenance and Configuration Company, for the Royal Air Force, for technical support services for C-130 aircraft. The contract was signed by Ibrahim Al-Suwaid, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Defense for Procurement and Armament, and Engineer Muneer Bakhsh, CEO of the company.
Moreover, a deal worth more than SR430 million was signed with Norinco, a Chinese company, aimed at securing different types of ammunition for the General Directorate of Arms and Ammunitions.
The Ministry of Defense also signed an SR460 million contract with Poongsan Corporation to secure various types of ammunition for the General Directorate of Arms and Ammunitions.
Another deal was signed with Korean LIG Nex1, amounting to more than 250 million riyals ($66 million), to acquire defense capabilities and electro-optical equipment for the Saudi Royal Navy.
In comments, Al-Biyari said: “The contracts concluded by the Ministry of Defense come in accordance with the directives of Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, and the follow-up of Prince Khalid bin Salman, Deputy Minister of Defense, with the aim of raising the readiness of the armed forces, sustaining systems, localizing military industries and maximizing the use of local content.”
He added that contracts forged with local and international companies confirmed the Saudi leadership’s great support and attention to the armed forces, whether in the field of systems manufacturing or assigning.
The Ministry of Defense is participating in the World Defense Show 2022 as the main partner. The exhibition discussed over three days the latest technologies in the fields of land, sea, air, space and information security, and showcased the capabilities of integrated and innovative defense solutions.
Founded by the General Authority for Military Industries, the event featured some of the world’s most cutting-edge, futuristic defense equipment. Almost 600 global companies are taking part in the event, representing over 40 countries.
