Defense contractor Rockwell Collins has signed an agreement with Taqnia Aeronautics and its defense and security technology subsidiaries to collaborate on military rotary and fixed-wing avionics opportunities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The agreement paves the way for manufacturing and upgrading military aircraft within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by the government-owned Taqnia Aeronautics.
Earlier this year, Taqnia signed an agreement with Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, to explore opportunities to jointly explore helicopter production opportunities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This agreement is thought to be a stepping stone to the creation of production jobs for Saudi citizens in the direct assembly of Sikorsky S-70 BLACK HAWK helicopters.
“Rockwell Collins is expanding its presence in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and is committed to providing technical job opportunities to local citizens,” said Claude Alber, vice president and managing director, Europe, Middle East, and Africa for Rockwell Collins. As with the Sikorsky arrangement, this agreement accounts for training and education of new employees and is expected to considerably strengthen the local job market for workers with the necessary skills or who are willing to train.
