Collins Aerospace unveiled a new drone design at IDEX 2023. (Agnes Helou / Breaking Defense)
IDEX 2023 — Collins Aerospace is partnering with Saudi-based firm SRB Aerial Systems to co-produce combat unmanned aerial system in the Kingdom, the companies announced.
A Memorandum of Understanding was signed today on the second day of the IDEX defense expo in Abu Dhabi. Collins will support the development, research and execution of the UAS and robotics in KSA.
“This partnership is a key step in supporting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 to bring locally owned and manufactured products to KSA,” Colin Mahoney, president of customer and account management at Collins Aerospace, said in a statement. “Collins’ products will be included on locally produced UAS, expanding our shared market and supporting the missions of today and the future.”
Breaking Defense is reporting from the show floor of IDEX 2023. Click HERE to keep up with the latest coverage.
At the stand for Raytheon, of which Collins is a subsidiary, the new drone was showcased mounted with weapons and ISR capabilities.
“The final system will be ready for production by the beginning of 2024,” retired Maj. Gen. Ahmed Al-Jehani, CEO of SRB Aerial Systems told Breaking Defense.
Officials from the Saudi firm said that the drone is Saudi intellectual property and will be ready for flight trials in the second quarter of 2023.
“As one of the only UAS manufacturers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, SRB Company has a goal of providing 100 [percent] locally owned and manufactured UAS to the country,” the company said in its statement.
The vertical take-off and landing V-TOL UAS is meant to be able to perform ISR and combat missions at the same time. It can be mounted with different weapons and guided munitions, the companies said.
“SRB has a small facility for low-rate initial production LRIP and we’re doing prototyping, rapid prototyping and testing and fielding at this facility,” an SRB official told Breaking Defense.
In his statement, Al-Jehani said, “Together, SRB Aerial Systems and Collins Aerospace will develop the framework to support research and development of strategic UAS and robotic technologies for the Saudi forces as we ambition to grow our offering with UAS weapons and Urban Air Mobility solutions.”
“Collins Aerospace is supporting us through the trials, as we meet the requirements of the Saudi Ministry of Defense,” SRB Chief Operating Officer CCO Tarik Solomon told Breaking Defense.
He added that Collins Aerospace will support from a technological perspective, providing the subject matter experts, leadership and helping SRB explain and work with the Saudi MoD.
“Our goal is to have a low-rate initial production by the end of the year and to convert this MOU into a strategic partnership agreement and to go to mass production by 2024,” Solomon said.
