Exclusive Tour Inside Most Advanced Military Systems at WDS World Defense Show 2026 Saudi Arabia - YouTube

Saudi Arabia's World Defense Show 2026 Spotlights Unmanned Systems as Gulf Emerges as Counter-Drone Innovation Hub

BLUF: World Defense Show 2026 concluded February 12 in Riyadh with $8.8 billion in defense agreements and record participation from 1,486 exhibitors across 89 countries, marking Saudi Arabia's emergence as a global defense integration platform. The show's dedicated Unmanned Systems Zone showcased the rapid evolution of counter-UAS capabilities, autonomous platforms, and AI-driven command-and-control systems, reflecting lessons learned from Ukraine and regional conflicts where small unmanned systems have fundamentally altered modern warfare dynamics.

RIYADH — The third edition of World Defense Show reinforced Saudi Arabia's strategic pivot from defense consumer to industrial partner, with unmanned aerial systems and counter-drone technologies dominating exhibits alongside traditional platforms at the purpose-built venue 70 kilometers north of Riyadh.

The five-day event, held February 8-12 under royal patronage, attracted 137,000 visitors and 513 official delegations from 121 countries to examine 355 live demonstrations across a 2,700-meter runway and specialized zones for unmanned systems, naval platforms, and space-domain capabilities. All top-10 global defense contractors exhibited at the 272,500-square-meter venue, representing a 58% expansion over the inaugural 2022 show.

Counter-UAS Dominates Technology Focus

(See sidebar: "Major Unmanned Systems Exhibitors at WDS 2026")

Monaco-based MARSS demonstrated its NiDAR C4I (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence) platform, showcasing real-time multi-sensor fusion capabilities designed to detect, track, and defeat drone threats across all domains. The system, operational at more than 60 sites globally protecting critical infrastructure and military assets, integrates radar, RF monitoring, electro-optical/infrared sensors, and AI-driven threat classification.

Robbie Draper, MARSS director of operations for the Middle East, emphasized the platform's ability to manage complex sensor arrays while reducing operator cognitive load. "NiDAR uses AI and machine learning to understand whether true threats are true threats," Draper explained during the exhibition. "That means everyone is optimized and it's a more efficient streamlined approach."

EOS Holdings announced in January 2026 its acquisition of MARSS for $54 million upfront plus potential earnouts tied to contract orders, positioning the combined entity as an integrated counter-drone provider rather than component supplier. The Australian firm plans to embed NiDAR technology into its remote weapon systems, creating mesh-networked defensive capabilities for vehicle fleets.

Indigenous Saudi counter-UAS development was represented by Wakeb's Baby Raptor interceptor—a 5-kilogram VTOL platform capable of 250 kilometers per hour with AI-driven auto-tracking. The system's thermal EO sensor suite and IP67 environmental rating address operational requirements in Gulf desert and coastal environments where traditional ground-based jammers face limitations.

Ukraine Lessons Shape Exhibit Profile

Ukrainian manufacturer Skyfall displayed its Vampire hexacopter bomber drone at WDS 2026, demonstrating production capacity expansion from 50,000 to 100,000 units annually. Company representatives reported the platform's unit cost has decreased from $20,000 to approximately $8,500 while incorporating increasing percentages of domestically-produced components to mitigate Chinese supply chain vulnerabilities.

"FPV drones, like our Shrike, are not a finished product," said a Skyfall representative using the alias Nirmata. "Motors, propellers, batteries, cameras and AI are all evolving. Each evolving module adds a certain percentage to a target's destruction."

Shield AI's V-BAT reconnaissance platform, combat-proven in Ukraine with resilience to Russian electronic warfare, was displayed as part of the U.S. company's international expansion. The vertical-takeoff Group 3 system features Shield AI's Hivemind autonomy software enabling GPS-denied operations through visual odometry navigation. Recent contract awards include Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force shipborne operations and Indian Army emergency procurement under $35 million initial authorization.

Russian state-owned Rosoboronexport presented its Supercam S350 reconnaissance-strike drone alongside a 30mm remotely-detonated anti-UAV munition developed by parent company Rostec—reflecting Moscow's emphasis on both drone employment and counter-drone kinetic solutions proven in Ukraine operations.

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems displayed a full-scale mock-up of its YFQ-42A Gambit Collaborative Combat Aircraft painted in Royal Saudi Air Force livery, marking the platform's first Middle East appearance. GA-ASI President David Alexander also promoted advanced MQ-9B SkyGuardian/SeaGuardian capabilities including integration of long-range standoff weapons and announced a U.S. Navy leasing program for maritime surveillance demonstrations.

Armored Mobility Platforms Address Urban Operations

U.S.-based Armored Group unveiled three platforms targeting specialized mobility requirements emerging from contemporary conflict environments. The LD-1 Armored ATV, based on the Polaris Sportsman 850 4x4, provides NIJ Level III ballistic protection in a compact form factor designed for indoor tactical operations in schools, hospitals, airports, and commercial facilities.

Jeremy Johnson, Armored Group representative, emphasized the platform fills capability gaps where conventional armored vehicles cannot deploy. "This project is the only type of unit like this in the world, specifically designed to be used originally inside of buildings," Johnson stated. "There's really nothing out there in the industry today that allows law enforcement or military or rescue personnel to drive an actual armored unit into a building."

The company's BAT Apex and KUVAS platforms—derivatives of the BAT UMG mine-protected vehicle—incorporate modular architecture supporting integration of remote weapon systems, counter-drone capabilities, and specialized mission equipment. The KUVAS variant provides STANAG Level 3 mine protection (8-kilogram blast resistance under belly or wheel), addressing IED threats in asymmetric operating environments.

Turkish Entry Challenges Light Machine Gun Market

Turkey's Archon Defense made its international debut with the Type L ultra-light machine gun—a 4.5-kilogram belt-fed system chambered in 5.56×45mm NATO featuring open-bolt operation and quick-change barrel capability. Company officials described the platform as delivering sustained automatic fire in an assault rifle weight class, with dispersion testing demonstrating 7 MOA accuracy in 100-meter 10-round bursts.

The weapon's three-position gas regulator supports operation in normal, adverse, and suppressed configurations, while dual-feed architecture permits switching between belt and AR-15 pattern magazines. Archon Defense business development lead Arinor characterized the system as addressing squad automatic weapon requirements without traditional weight penalties. "This is the lightest machine gun in the world," Arinor stated. "There are some machine guns claims to be lighter but it is not open bolt and closed bolt you cannot provide sustained fire."

Localization Metrics Demonstrate Industrial Progress

His Excellency Ahmed bin Abdulaziz Al-Ohali, Governor of the General Authority for Military Industries, outlined Saudi Arabia's defense localization trajectory during the closing briefing. Domestic military spending content increased from 4% in 2018 to 25% by end-2024, with Vision 2030 targeting 50% localization alongside workforce expansion from 24,000 to 44,000 personnel (63% Saudi nationals).

The exhibition's Saudi Supply Chain Zone connected local small and medium enterprises with international primes, supporting technology transfer and joint venture agreements. Andrew Pearcey, WDS CEO, emphasized the platform's strategic value beyond traditional exhibition metrics. "World Defense Show 2026 has demonstrated the Kingdom's ability to convene the international defense community around shared priorities of integration, cooperation, and long-term capability development," Pearcey stated.

Over 50 Chinese defense firms participated, including CATIC and Norinco, with significant indoor exhibition space allocated to Wing Loong drones, precision guided munitions, and air defense systems. European participation expanded with first-time exhibitors from Japan, Portugal, Uzbekistan, and Finland joining established contributors including Thales, MBDA, BAE Systems, and CMN Naval.

Multi-Domain Integration Demonstrations

Live demonstrations showcased operational integration concepts central to the show's "Future of Defense Integration" theme. The air program featured 63 static aircraft and 25 performing platforms including F-15, F-16, F-35, and Typhoon fighters. Aerobatic displays by Saudi Arabia's Saudi Hawks (BAE Hawk trainers) and South Korea's Black Eagles (KAI T-50s) complemented static displays spanning air, land, naval, and space domains.

Dedicated zones for unmanned systems, naval platforms, and space-based capabilities reflected operational requirements emerging from Red Sea maritime security challenges, Gulf air defense priorities, and evolving multi-domain warfare concepts. The Future Defense Lab highlighted artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, quantum technologies, and advanced materials applications.

Media coverage reached unprecedented levels with 1,453 accredited journalists providing on-site reporting alongside global broadcast networks. The show's expansion positions Riyadh as a central node in global defense supply chains, with international primes transitioning from pure suppliers toward localized production partnerships.

VERIFIED SOURCES

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SIDEBAR: Major Unmanned Systems Exhibitors at WDS 2026

Chinese Contingent Dominates Floor Space

China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation (CATIC) maintained the largest unmanned systems presence among more than 50 Chinese defense firms exhibiting at WDS 2026. The state-owned enterprise displayed full-scale Wing Loong platforms including the Wing Loong-X—marketed as the world's first UAV designed specifically for anti-submarine warfare with 40-hour endurance and 10,000-kilometer range. CATIC also showcased precision-guided munitions and integrated air defense systems. The Royal Saudi Air Force operates Wing Loong II platforms that reportedly logged 5,000 flight hours through 2024, with the Kingdom among eight nations operating Chinese Wing Loong variants including UAE, Egypt, Pakistan, Morocco, Algeria, Indonesia, and Nigeria.

China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO) exhibited the FL-50 swarm-capable loitering munition featuring dual-feed capability for belt or magazine ammunition, teleoperated strike systems, and tactical UAV platforms. The FL-50A variant employs tandem shaped-charge warheads optimized for armor penetration with fragmentation sleeve for light targets. NORINCO's C2 architecture supports autonomous operations or integration within broader sensor networks.

Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) presented Wing Loong family derivatives emphasizing multi-role functionality including reconnaissance, electronic countermeasures, and precision strike across maritime and overland environments.

U.S. Platforms Emphasize High-End Capabilities

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) displayed a full-scale mock-up of its YFQ-42A Gambit Collaborative Combat Aircraft painted in Royal Saudi Air Force livery—the platform's first Middle East appearance. The Gambit Series represents GA-ASI's entry into high-performance unmanned fighter operations designed for manned-unmanned teaming with F-35 and Next-Generation Air Dominance platforms in contested airspace. Reports indicate Saudi interest in up to 200 Gambit units following high-level diplomatic engagement.

GA-ASI simultaneously promoted advanced MQ-9B SkyGuardian/SeaGuardian capabilities including integration of Lockheed Martin's Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM), Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM/JASSM-ER), and Kongsberg's Joint Strike Missile (JSM) for maritime strike missions. Company President David Alexander announced a U.S. Navy leasing program for two company-owned MQ-9Bs configured for maritime surveillance demonstrations in 2026. The MQ-9B fleet across 14 international customers surpasses 500,000 annual flight hours. GA-ASI is developing Airborne Early Warning capability with Saab's Erieye active electronically-scanned array radar for maritime domain awareness at a fraction of traditional crewed AEW platform costs.

Shield AI exhibited its V-BAT vertical-takeoff Group 3 reconnaissance platform featuring Hivemind autonomy software enabling GPS-denied operations through visual odometry navigation. The ducted-fan design supports operations from confined spaces including shipboard environments with 13-hour endurance on heavy-fuel engines. V-BAT demonstrated electronic warfare resilience in Ukraine operations, completing over 200 missions including 200+ target identifications in 2025 alone. Recent contract awards include Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force shipborne operations, Indian Army emergency procurement, Dutch Ministry of Defence maritime ISR, and Frontex border security deployments.

Russian Platforms Mark International Exhibition Debut

Rosoboronexport made its World Defense Show international debut displaying the Supercam S350 reconnaissance-strike drone—a short-range tactical UAV proven in Ukraine special military operations. The system provides aerial reconnaissance with real-time video transmission, target designation, fire adjustment, and objective monitoring along contact lines. Parent company Rostec unveiled 30mm remotely-detonated anti-UAV ammunition specifically designed for counter-drone kinetic solutions, reflecting Russian emphasis on both UAS employment and C-UAS capabilities.

The Unmanned Systems Group presented the Supercam product line including the high-speed Supercam S180 reconnaissance platform optimized for rapid-response missions through compact airframe, reinforced wing construction, and permanent wing panel connection providing enhanced stability and control authority.

Indigenous Gulf Capabilities Emerge

Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI), serving as National Strategic Partner, announced creation of SAMI Autonomous Systems as dedicated entity within its strategic group transformation. SAMI showcased over 60 national products including a "futuristic" unmanned combat aerial vehicle concept and MRN Systems' Multipurpose Drone System, demonstrating Vision 2030 localization priorities. The company's pavilion hosted 12 high-level panels and 16 specialized technical discussions on autonomous systems integration.

Wakeb (Saudi Arabia) unveiled the Baby Raptor drone-interception system—a 5-kilogram VTOL platform capable of 250 km/h speeds with AI-driven auto-tracking fusing electro-optical and thermal sensor data. The IP67-rated system addresses desert and coastal environmental requirements with 20-minute endurance optimized for short-duration high-intensity pursuit scenarios against Class 1 and Class 2 hostile drones.

Ukrainian Combat-Proven Systems Seek Export Markets

Skyfall displayed its Vampire hexacopter bomber drone reporting annual production capacity expansion from 50,000 to 100,000 units with unit costs declining from $20,000 to approximately $8,500. Company representatives using operational pseudonyms emphasized increasing domestic component integration to mitigate Chinese supply chain vulnerabilities, targeting fully Ukrainian component base by year-end 2026. Skyfall also presented Shrike FPV drones with 100% moisture-proof Ukrainian production variants and P1-SUN interceptor drones featuring machine vision with automatic targeting at approximately $1,000 unit cost. The company's SkyFall Academy has trained 20,000 pilots, technicians, and engineers over two years including nearly 1,000 interceptor drone operators.

Turkish Systems Leverage Regional Conflicts Experience

Turkey occupied 4,400 square meters as the third-largest national participant. Baykar displayed models of the Bayraktar TB2 tactical UAV—the platform that achieved prominence in Ukraine, Azerbaijan-Armenia, and Libya conflicts. Turkish exhibitors emphasized low-cost precision strike capabilities proven in asymmetric warfare environments.

European Counter-UAS Integration

MARSS (Monaco) demonstrated its NiDAR C4I platform operational at 60+ sites globally protecting critical infrastructure and military assets. The AI-enhanced system fuses data from radar, RF monitoring, electro-optical/infrared sensors, and intelligence databases for autonomous threat detection, classification, and prioritization with real-time countermeasure recommendations. Electro Optic Systems Holdings (Australia) acquired MARSS in January 2026 for $54 million upfront plus earnouts, planning to embed NiDAR technology into remote weapon systems creating mesh-networked vehicle fleet protection against drone attacks.

ASELSAN (Turkey) presented its Steel Dome layered air defense architecture integrating land, sea, and electromagnetic domain capabilities including KORAL electronic warfare systems for radar emission detection, identification, and jamming.

Regional Strategic Implications

The unmanned systems exhibits reflected strategic realities driving Gulf defense procurement: Chinese platforms offer cost-effective solutions without Western export restrictions; U.S. high-end systems provide technological superiority for contested environments; Ukrainian combat-proven designs demonstrate operational effectiveness under electronic warfare conditions; and indigenous Saudi development addresses Vision 2030 localization mandates while building sustainable defense industrial capacity.

Chinese Wing Loong platforms' 5,000-hour operational record with Royal Saudi Air Force demonstrates Beijing's success establishing long-term regional partnerships, while GA-ASI's Gambit display in Saudi livery signals Washington's commitment to maintaining technological edge through collaborative combat aircraft architectures. The convergence of these capabilities at WDS 2026's dedicated Unmanned Systems Zone underscored the Gulf's emergence as a critical market for autonomous systems as regional conflicts validate UAS centrality in modern warfare.

Aerospace Electronic and Defense Systems

Monday, February 16, 2026

Exclusive Tour Inside Most Advanced Military Systems at WDS World Defense Show 2026 Saudi Arabia