Oshkosh Defense extending footprint in Saudi Arabia with new partnership

Army photo — Oshkosh Defense is producing the Army’s FMTV A2. The US company signed an MOU with Zahid Tractor and Heavy Machinery Company. (US Army)

IDEX 2023 — Oshkosh Defense is extending its reach in Saudi Arabia’s defense market with the signing of a new memorandum of understanding (MOU) today with the Zahid Tractor and Heavy Machinery Company.

Representatives from the duo inked the MOU today at the International Defense Exhibition (IDEX) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Oshkosh said the partnership is intended to “offer Saudi Arabia Armed Forces with relevant expertise and resources to support maintenance, repair, and overhaul of current and future tactical wheeled vehicle programs in the Kingdom.”

“This partnership will directly support [Saudi Arabia’s] Vision 2030 through the localization of maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services for the Saudi Ministry of Defense,” Nasser Bayram, the group president of transport for the Zahid Group, said in the press release.

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“Together, we will train the most diverse team of local technical experts to provide a complete range of life cycle sustainment services to optimize the readiness and performance of all Oshkosh vehicles within the Saudi Armed Forces and beyond,” he later added.

Oshkosh produces the family of medium tactical vehicles A2 (FMTV A2), the Eitan Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) hulls, as well the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV).

This is not Oshkosh’s first foray into Saudi Arabia’s defense market. The US company and Saudi Arabia’s Al Tadrea Manufacturing Company established a joint venture to manufacture armed vehicles there several years ago, and Oshkosh has also signed an MOU with the state-owned Saudi Arabia Military Industries.

John Lazar, Oshkosh’s vice president for international programs said today that the new agreement is an “evolving” step forward for providing Saudi Arabia with tactical wheeled vehicles and training.

PHOTOS: IDEX 2023

PHOTOS: IDEX 2023

Armaments are on display at the Chine Defence booth at NAVDEX 2023, IDEX's sister show. (Lee Ferran / Breaking Defense)

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Abu Dhabi's own Blue Cat boat sits on display near, but not in, the water at NAVDEX 2023. (Lee Ferran / Breaking Defense)

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