A memorandum of understanding (MoU) to explore the potential of establishing an aircraft precision machining production facility in Saudi Arabia for civil and military aircraft has been signed by some leading companies.

The MoU was signed by the National Industrial Clusters Development Program (NICDP), Alsalam Aerospace Industries, Figeac Aero Group of France and the Advanced Metal Industries Cluster Company (AMIC), affiliate to National Industrialization Company (Tasnee), on the sidelines of the Armed Forces Exhibition for the Diversity of Requirements and Capabilities (AFED) in Riyadh.

The project is aligned with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 to localise military and advanced industries and diversifying the national economy.

“This agreement between Tasnee and Alsalam Aerospace Industries and Figeac Aero Group represents an important step in the right direction towards realising the objectives of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 aiming towards localisation and technology transfer. We will work in collaboration with our partners to achieve the best results for the advancement of the aviation industry in Saudi Arabia,” said Yahya Homoud Al-Ghoraiby, President and Chief Executive Officer of Alsalam Aerospace Industries.

“Figeac Aero Group is proud to enter into this collaboration as part of Saudi Arabia’s industrial development. This project will enable us to move closer to strong aeronautical industry players in the Middle East where Figeac Aero’s know how in the area of machining and assembly is recognized,” said Jean-Claude Maillard, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Figeac Aero Group in attendance at the MoU signing ceremony.

“This agreement comes under the umbrella of the National Industrial Clusters Development Program, a government entity under the Ministry of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources, which reflects the commitment of Tasnee and its partners to actively contribute to maximising local content in the military industries, in general, and the aviation industry, in particular, to contribute to achieving Vision 2030. It also reflects Tasnee’s interest and understanding of the pivotal role played by the minerals and metals sector in supporting the national economy and economic diversification,” added Dr Fadi Bin Mohamed Trabzuni, Tasnee Executive Vice President for Metallurgy and Managing Director of AMIC.

AMIC is an affiliate company in Tasnee specialising in titanium-related industrial projects and has recently completed the establishment of the Middle East’s first manufacturing of pure titanium metal for aircraft industry applications.

“This MoU lays the groundwork for developing advanced metal downstream opportunities that would build on the Kingdom’s titanium metal capabilities that are being developed as well as other existing metal capabilities such aluminium production, in line with Vision 2030,” concluded Eng Turki Al-Batain, Vice President Minerals and Metals Processing Cluster of NICDP.