Turkey defense firms break record with $10B in revenues: SIPRI Turkey set a new record with five companies in the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute's Top 100 for 2024, which included nine Middle Eastern countries for the first time amid conflict-driven arms demand. Turkey
US approves $1.4B in military sales to Saudi Arabia, Bahrain: What to know An estimated $1 billion in foreign military sales will go to Saudi Arabia, and $445 million will go to Bahrain. United States
Trump says US will sell F-35s to Saudi Arabia, first Arab country to acquire jets The deal could rattle Washington's ties with Israel and is not likely to be approved by Congress unless conditioned on Saudi normalization of ties with Israel. Saudi Arabia
Turkey grounds all C-130 military aircraft after Georgia crash kills 20 Authorities said the aircraft’s maintenance was up to date, no ammunition was on board and the investigation is ongoing. Turkey
Analysis Turkey boosts R&D spending to $20B amid push for defense self-sufficiency By Barin Kayaoglu In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security
Analysis US Navy faces down Houthi attacks as Washington signals open-ended effort Saudi Arabia has restricted the US military from launching strikes in Yemen via Saudi airspace, leaving an aging US Navy aircraft carrier to shoulder the campaign in the Red Sea. By Jared Szuba In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military
Israel’s military exports to India booming, 'unaffected' by war in Gaza Israel has been one of the top military exporters to India over the past decade. Israel
South Africa’s Milkor gets go-ahead to produce drones in Saudi Arabia The Gulf country is bolstering its defense capabilities amid increasing instability in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia
State Department to notify Congress of Turkey’s F-16 sale: sources Sources told Al-Monitor that the State Department will formally notify Congress of the pending F-16 sale as soon as today. Turkey
Germany reverses, to greenlight Eurofighter jets to Saudi Arabia Germany stopped selling arms to Saudi Arabia following the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul in 2018, but has since come under increasing pressure to allow the sale of the jets to the Gulf country. Saudi Arabia
In shift, Erdogan links Sweden’s NATO accession to Turkey's F-16 acquisition On eve of his Greece visit, and after insisting for months that Sweden's pending NATO membership and Turkey's purchase of F-16s should be separate, Erdogan is now linking the two outcomes. Turkey
What weapons is US selling to Saudi Arabia in latest $582 million deal? The sale coincides with increased Houthi attacks in Gulf waters and growing Saudi concerns over its defense posture following the Israel-Hamas war. Saudi Arabia
Israel, Turkey firms among world’s top 100 arms makers: SIPRI Turkey’s Baykar, manufacturer of Bayraktar drones, recorded the largest revenue among the world’s top 100 arms producers and military service providers. Turkey
Why Iran's military aircraft deal with Russia is significant leap for both Tehran receives the equipment as it continues to boost a military alliance with Moscow that has come under the international spotlight and scrutiny since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Iran
Iran unveils new Deylaman warship capable of launching cruise missiles The new warship is part of Iran’s efforts to increase its military presence in the Caspian Sea. Iran
What Saudi crown prince's call to stop weapons exports means for Israel The crown prince’s comments come amid persistent opposition to Israel’s strikes against Hamas in Gaza in the Arab world. Legacy: Gulf
Russia and China big participants at Dubai Airshow At this year's event, the UAE is balancing friendly relations with the United States as well as with China and Russia, including via the BRICS alliance. Legacy: Gulf
