UK-based Portsmouth Aviation Limited and Saudi Specialized Products Company (Wahaj) have signed a teaming agreement in order to establish advanced manufacturing capabilities in Saudi Arabia.

The collaboration will see the joint integration and manufacture of sub-component mechanical parts for portions of the Mk20i Series of Guided Bombs, said a statement.

This was disclosed jointly by Simon Escott, managing director, Portsmouth Aviation Limited and Abdulrahman Al-Saif, chairman, Wahaj, in Riyadh.

Portsmouth Aviation Limited is the proprietor of the Mk20i weapon system and an approved supplier to the Royal Saudi Air Force, it said.

The Mk20i is a fit, form and function replacement for the highly reliable Mk20 bomb. The Mk20i benefits from improved fuze interoperability and a high degree of readiness to interface with existing platforms and weapons systems.  

Escott said: “Through this agreement, we are working together with Wahaj to expand the aerospace and defence labour pool and develop advanced technical and manufacturing skills within the Saudi workforce.”

Al Saif added: “We have a strong proponent of developing local parts manufacturing and integration capabilities in the field of aerospace and defence.”

“In view of the Saudi Vision 2030, we strive to be a reliable local partner of choice for international suppliers that aim to develop a local supply chain ecosystem in the kingdom,” he concluded.- TradeArabia News Service