Riad Kahwaji brings vast experience and reporting contacts in the Middle East. He has 32 years of experience as a journalist and Middle East security analyst. Kahwaji served as Middle East bureau chief for Defense News for eight years. with prior work at Jane’s defense group and the BBC World Service. Riad has authored two books in Arabic: “Air Power and Future Wars” in 2020; and “The Basis of the Lebanese Defense Strategy” in 2009. He is founder of SEGMA, the premier defense conference organizer in the Middle East. Riad earned his M.A. in War Studies from King’s College, London. He is based in Dubai and has offices in Lebanon.
Ukranian firm Practika had three armored vehicles on display at the Saudi World Defense Show this week. When the show ends, they'll head back to Ukraine - and the fight against Russia.
“We like to think that there will be contracts [with Saudi Arabia] announced before the end of the year. But the acquisition process here goes through its own speed. It will be a direct commercial sale,” said Charles Davis, senior vice president at L3Harris International.
It’s about improving existing platforms with autonomy, and applying AI, edge computing, quantum encryption, and sensor fusion.
A Boeing executive said the Saudis have successful used their F-15SA to “kill” cruise missiles fired by the Iranian-backed Houthi militias in Yemen, a missile defense capability that the Kingdom needs.
The UAE will buy a dozen L-15 trainers, with options for more, as the Emirates looks away from the US for military hardware.
UMEX 2022: Despite the United Arab Emirates withdrawing its letter of acceptance on a US weapons package that included 18 MQ-9B SkyGuardian unmanned aerial vehicles, General Atomics remains hopeful that a deal can still happen. The goal, a top company official said Wednesday, is to get the larger Foreign Military Sales (FMS) package broken up […]
UMEX 2022: Insitu is engaged in discussions with a number of Arab Gulf nations with eyes on joint research and development projects, including proposals to build building on the capabilities of some of its current unmanned aerial vehicles in service in the region, particularly the Integrator. “We are well into discussions with our numerous partners […]
With potential adversaries no longer predictable, training must move beyond just live exercises and flight simulators.
"The user, whether a military force or a rescue unit, can deploy in a remote area like the middle of the desert, and within minutes set up the communication system," as Saab executive said.
“Once the target is identified, a decision is made among the swarm, and based on the target size, shape, and category, they decide how many drones are needed to destroy the target," the company's CEO told Breaking Defense.
The UAE is both investing heavily in a domestic UAV industry and learning first-hand the risks from unmanned systems.
There was no official Saudi comment on the media report about its new ballistic missiles facility, part of the ambiguity policy the Kingdom has maintained for years with regards to its ballistic missiles capability.
Protecting warfighters requires fast, accurate, and dependable systems that work flawlessly to military standards.
DUBAI: The year 2022 was supposed to be the year the Kuwait Air Force took almost full delivery of two long-awaited platforms that would double its size and multiply its capabilities. However, delays caused by the COVID-19 global pandemic have pushed the delivery and operationalization schedule to 2023 — which may end up a blessing […]
The UAE's plans to buy the F-35 now seem rocky, with the Emiratis threatening to pull out of the agreement.
Terrorist groups have evolved in the past two decades, some growing powerful enough that they are now seeking to transform into political actors.
America’s allies in the Middle East are weighing options to avoid meeting the fate of the Afghani government, as regional scholars talk of the post Pax Americana era.