BAE Systems marks 60 years of partnership in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) at the World Defense Show in Riyadh from 8th-12th February, one of the most comprehensive defense exhibitions held in the Kingdom and region.
For six decades, the Company’s presence has been built on trust, shared responsibility, and sustained delivery evolving through capability development, localisation, skills transfer, and long-term support to national defense and security outcomes.
BAE Systems is a Principal Partner in the show’s “Future Talent Programme” reflecting its legacy in the Kingdom and ongoing commitment to support Vision 2030, driving localisation, developing Saudi talent, and strengthening sovereign defene capability within the Kingdom.
It currently employs 7,000 people in 11 locations across the Kingdom, with 80% of its people being Saudi nationals, including within its Kingdom Partner Companies, BAE Systems Arabian Industries and International Systems Engineering.
Across the five days, World Defense Show 2026 will showcase the full breadth of BAE Systems’ interoperability and multi-domain capability, highlighting the products, services, and partnerships which underpin the long-standing defene relationship between the KSA and the United Kingdom.
The display spans air, land, sea, and training domains, including advanced combat air technologies such as Typhoon and its Striker ® II helmet-mounted display, future uncrewed platforms like T-150 and Koios, precision effects including the combat-proven APKWS® ,and next-generation training and mission-readiness solutions such as Project OdySSEy. Maritime autonomy will also feature through systems including Nautomate™ and Herne™, demonstrating intelligent operations in complex environments.
Steve Clutton, Managing Director, BAE Systems Saudi Arabia, said: “World Defense Show 2026 reflects how far our partnership with the Kingdom has matured. This year is about more than showcasing capability, it’s about investing in Saudi talent, strengthening local industry, and building a defense ecosystem that is ready for the future. The future of defense in the Kingdom starts with developing Saudi capability today.”
The show will also highlight key developments within BAE Systems’ local partner companies, including BAE Systems Arabian Industries, specialising in capability, training and logistics, and International Systems Engineering, who deliver secure, intelligent and sovereign digital solutions shaped for national defense priorities.
As Principal Partner of the Future Talent Programme, BAE Systems’ participation in World Defense Show 2026 places a renewed emphasis on people and long-term capability. For the first time, the Future Talent Programme will run across the full five days of the show, creating sustained opportunities to engage with both early-career and experienced professionals. The programme will offer practical insight into career pathways across engineering, technology, and defense, reinforcing the role of Saudi talent in building a resilient, locally anchored defense industry aligned with Vision 2030.
