MALHAM, SAUDI ARABIA — At the third edition of the World Defense Show (WDS 2026), Boeing leadership gathered for a high-level roundtable to reaffirm their 81-year legacy in the Kingdom and unveil a future defined by autonomous systems, advanced fighter jets, and deep industrial localization.
The session featured Asaad AlJomoai, President of Boeing Saudi Arabia; Turbo Sjogren, VP of Government Services; and Vince Logsdon, VP of International Business Development for Boeing Defense, Space & Security.
A Legacy Beyond Transactions
Asaad AlJomoai opened the discussion by emphasizing that Boeing’s relationship with Saudi Arabia is far from transactional. Since 1945, when President Roosevelt gifted a DC-3 to King Abdulaziz, Boeing has become an integral part of the Kingdom’s aerospace fabric. With over 400 defense platforms—including the world’s largest F-15 fleet outside the US—the focus has shifted toward sustaining these assets through local talent.
The “Family of Systems” Approach
Vince Logsdon introduced Boeing’s “Family of Systems,” a strategy where platforms like the E-7 Wedgetail, F-15EX, and the MQ-28 Ghost Bat work in sync. A highlight of the talk was the MQ-28, an uncrewed collaborative combat aircraft. Logsdon revealed that the MQ-28 has already completed 145 test flights, proving its ability to act as a “force multiplier” alongside crewed jets.
Special Feature: The Road to Self-Sufficiency
During the roundtable, Zamil Safwan, Editor-in-Chief of Saudi ICT Shopper Newspaper, raised a pivotal question regarding the Kingdom’s goal of defense self-sufficiency under Vision 2030:
Zamil Safwan: “With Saudi Arabia’s push toward defense self-sufficiency under Vision 2030, can you share a specific milestone Boeing has achieved in technology transfer, local workforce achievement, and what is the next phase of localization beyond assembly and maintenance?”
Turbo Sjogren responded by highlighting a major structural milestone: the successful transition of Boeing’s former offset companies (including AEC and Al Salam) to the full oversight of SAMI (Saudi Arabian Military Industries).
“This was a big milestone the Kingdom was looking forward to,” Sjogren noted. He explained that the next phase involves the Saudi Rotorcraft Support Center evolving into a broader “Center of Excellence.” This shift moves beyond maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) into actual production and specialized aerospace infrastructure, driven by a Saudi-led workforce that Boeing has mentored through decades of internships and apprenticeships.
Future Horizons: Space and Titanium
The roundtable concluded with insights into the future of the supply chain. Boeing is actively exploring the use of Saudi-grade titanium for global aviation. Asaad AlJomoai confirmed that while the Kingdom excels in titanium “sponge” production, Boeing is working with local partners to certify this material for downstream aviation use, potentially making Saudi Arabia a key node in Boeing’s global supply chain.
