Saudi Arabia showcases locally assembled Hawk T-165 jet aircraft

Saudi Arabia showcased the Hawk T-165 jet at the World Defense Show, highlighting its assembly and manufacturing capabilities with contributions from 25 local companies producing 3,114 parts.

The unveiling of the trainer aircraft occurred during the ongoing defense exhibition in Riyadh under the patronage of Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman, as reported by the Saudi Press Agency.

In addition to the defense minister, the ceremony was attended by the Commander of the Royal Saudi Air Force, Prince Lt. Gen. Turki bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz; CEO of the Saudi British Defense Cooperation Program, Maj. Gen. Pilot Abdullah bin Mohammed Al-Rabiah. The event was also attended by SBDCP Director Maj. Gen. Salah Al-Din bin Muhammad Al-Fawaz.

The minister received a briefing on SBDCP’s current achievements and future initiatives, including updates on efforts to transfer and localize technology, such as the collaborative launch in 2017 with the British company BAE Systems.

Meanwhile, Prince Khalid attended a presentation on the Kingdom’s aircraft assembly program, showcasing the successful assembly of 22 advanced Hawk T-165 jets. This program encompasses the development and overhaul of aircraft at King Abdulaziz Air Base in the Eastern Province.

The news agency added that aircraft assembly in the Kingdom serves as the core for advancing the Saudi defense industry, aligning with the objectives outlined in Saudi Vision 2030. Additionally, it noted that 10 of the Hawk T-165 jets will be allocated to the RSAF’s Saudi Falcons, the country’s official airshow team.