Best of LinkedIn: World Defense Show 2026

00:00:00: provided by Thomas Allguyer and Frenis, based on the most relevant post on LinkedIn about World Defense Show.

00:00:06: Frenis is a BDB market research company that equips product and strategy teams with market and competitive intelligence across the defense industry.

00:00:15: Welcome to the deep dive.

00:00:17: So today we're shifting gears.

00:00:20: We are getting out of the abstract and dropping right into the middle of the action in Riyadh to cover the World Defense Show, twenty twenty six.

00:00:27: And, you know, when you think of a defense trade show, A very specific image comes to mind, rows of tanks, dark suits, maybe some brochures.

00:00:35: Other brochures.

00:00:36: But looking at the data front as pulled, especially the chatter on LinkedIn, the vibe in Riyadh this year felt, well, it felt different.

00:00:44: It was distinct.

00:00:44: It really wasn't a shopping mall for hardware.

00:00:47: It was more like a massive high-stakes co-working space.

00:00:51: The big theme wasn't procurement.

00:00:53: No.

00:00:53: It was co-production.

00:00:54: That's the

00:00:55: keyword.

00:00:55: We're going to circle back to that a lot.

00:00:57: We've sifted through.

00:00:58: just a mountain of posts from people actually on the ground.

00:01:01: Insiders, engineers, strategists, and we've boiled it all down into a few key clusters.

00:01:06: We're going to talk about the Saudi Defense Hub, the focus on air power, what's real in robotics, the geopolitics on the floor, and then this idea of the invisible battlefield.

00:01:15: It's a dense landscape, but a really fascinating one.

00:01:18: Let's get into it.

00:01:19: So let's start with that big context.

00:01:21: The Saudi Defense Hub and Vision- We hear the word localization thrown around all the time in this industry.

00:01:27: It's

00:01:27: almost a buzzword.

00:01:28: It is.

00:01:29: But a post from Mohamed Hassanain actually put some hard data behind it.

00:01:34: Right.

00:01:34: He visualized the whole trajectory of defense localization in the kingdom.

00:01:39: And when you look at the graph he shared, it is not a gentle slope.

00:01:43: It's a cliff face, but, you know, going up.

00:01:46: He called it an industrial sprint, didn't he?

00:01:48: He

00:01:48: did.

00:01:49: And the numbers really backed that up.

00:01:51: He pointed out that back in, was it, twenty sixteen, defense localization was at just about two percent.

00:01:57: Two

00:01:57: percent.

00:01:57: So basically all the capital is just leaving the country immediately.

00:02:00: Immediately.

00:02:01: By twenty twenty five, that number hit twenty five.

00:02:03: percent.

00:02:04: And the target for twenty thirty is

00:02:06: fifty percent.

00:02:06: Fifty percent.

00:02:07: That is a massive restructuring of an entire national economy in just over a decade.

00:02:13: It is.

00:02:14: And Hassanin framed it as a move toward a circular economy.

00:02:18: The logic is simple.

00:02:19: Instead of sending billions out to buy hardware, you keep that capital inside to fund local production, build R&D, and create high-tech jobs.

00:02:28: So they're using defense as the engine to jumpstart the wider economy.

00:02:32: Exactly.

00:02:33: But here's the thing about localization.

00:02:35: You can't just mandate it and expect it to happen.

00:02:37: You need the nuts and bolts.

00:02:39: You need the supply chain.

00:02:40: You need the small guys.

00:02:41: Yeah.

00:02:41: You can't build a complex jet if you don't have local companies making the wiring harnesses or the software components.

00:02:48: And that is where Fahad Alanasi's update comes in.

00:02:50: He highlighted the launch of something called Tajseer Plus.

00:02:54: The new supplier platform.

00:02:55: Exactly.

00:02:56: a platform designed specifically to empower SMEs, the small and medium enterprises.

00:03:01: It's all about strengthening

00:03:02: that industrial integration.

00:03:03: It's democratizing

00:03:04: the industry locally.

00:03:05: It is, and you could really feel that shift in the posts from people in the private sector.

00:03:10: Ahmed Eli Gaki from the Benjamin group, he had a really interesting take.

00:03:14: He said that local partnerships are no longer just a nice to have.

00:03:18: No, they're mandatory now.

00:03:19: That's the new reality.

00:03:20: If you're a foreign company, you can't just ship a crate anymore.

00:03:23: You have to integrate.

00:03:25: You have to transfer knowledge.

00:03:26: Elagaki's whole point was about sustainable growth.

00:03:29: You have to be part of the ecosystem, not just a vendor passing through.

00:03:33: And there's a branding piece to this too, right?

00:03:35: Romel Cabani touched on it.

00:03:36: He noted that Saudi Arabia isn't just building capability.

00:03:39: It's shaping a narrative.

00:03:41: I really liked that observation.

00:03:43: Me too.

00:03:43: Kobani said, the confidence you see from these local organizations is it's a collision of strategy, brand, and just pure national ambition.

00:03:52: They aren't just making parts.

00:03:53: They're telling a story to the world, a story that says, we are makers, not just buyers.

00:03:58: Speaking of telling stories, let's move to our second theme, air power.

00:04:02: Because in the defense world, nothing screams narrative quite like a fighter jet.

00:04:06: Air power is always the showstopper, always.

00:04:09: And... There was one specific visual that just seemed to break the defense corner of LinkedIn, the F- Thirty-Five.

00:04:17: But it wasn't just sitting there.

00:04:18: No.

00:04:19: It was a full-scale mock-up, and it had a Saudi flag right on it.

00:04:24: Bilal Hussein posted about this, and he did not mince words.

00:04:28: He called it not a subtle move.

00:04:30: Well,

00:04:30: it's definitely not subtle.

00:04:31: It's basically a billboard for geopolitical ambition.

00:04:34: And Abdullah al-Malki also weighed in on this.

00:04:37: He pointed out that the F- Thirty-Five symbolizes the future of air combat.

00:04:41: Which isn't about dog fighting anymore.

00:04:43: Not really.

00:04:43: It's about being networked.

00:04:45: It's software-centric.

00:04:46: It's

00:04:46: a flying data center that can also shoot.

00:04:48: Pretty much.

00:04:49: And Muhammad al-Ashkar added some concrete details, noting plans to purchase up to forty-eight of them.

00:04:54: Plus, they had demo flyovers.

00:04:56: It's a very public statement of intent from the Royal Saudi Air Force.

00:04:59: But, and this is where you see the multipolar nature of the show.

00:05:02: It wasn't just American hardware turning heads.

00:05:05: The Turkish aerospace presence was massive.

00:05:08: Huge.

00:05:09: Two SI's, Turkish Aerospace.

00:05:11: They really brought their A-game.

00:05:13: Goksel Yildirim shared some incredible details about their display.

00:05:16: They didn't just bring static models of the K-AN fighter.

00:05:20: They

00:05:20: showed the autonomous wingman concept.

00:05:22: Yes.

00:05:23: And this is a crucial concept for the future.

00:05:25: You have the man K-AN fighter acting in sync with Anka III drones.

00:05:30: The pilot is kind of like a quarterback for the drones.

00:05:32: And the display wasn't just a poster on a wall, it was dynamic.

00:05:36: Exactly.

00:05:36: It was a glimpse into to real manned-unmanned teaming.

00:05:40: And honestly, the way they sold it was just as interesting.

00:05:43: Ramazan Talayu posted about their marketing.

00:05:46: He noted they shifted from just listing specs.

00:05:48: This goes mock-to, this carries X pounds.

00:05:50: Right.

00:05:51: They moved to what he called conceptual storytelling.

00:05:54: They sell the problem first and let the visitor experience the solution.

00:05:58: It shows a real maturity in how they engage with customers.

00:06:00: And we can't talk air power without the home team.

00:06:03: Syed Sadaquian-Heider noted the first public operational display of the Hawk- one sixty-five by the Saudi Hawks.

00:06:10: A very proud moment for the kingdom for sure.

00:06:12: It just reinforces that idea of operational readiness.

00:06:15: Okay,

00:06:15: let's get down from the clouds for a minute and talk about what's happening on the ground.

00:06:19: Theme three, unmanned and robotics.

00:06:22: This is where the innovation cycle feels the fastest.

00:06:25: The barrier to entry is lower, so you see all this rapid prototyping.

00:06:29: Alexander K. from Lockheed Martin UK showed off something that really caught my eye.

00:06:35: An uncrewed turret.

00:06:36: But the key phrase he used was platform agnostic.

00:06:40: That modularity is the key trend.

00:06:43: Platform agnostic means you can bolt that turret onto a tracked vehicle, a four by four or whatever.

00:06:49: It gives commanders so much more flexibility.

00:06:51: But

00:06:51: the bigger trend... and Walid Meskin from the Unmanned Zone pointed this out, is that we're moving past just building better remote control cars.

00:06:59: He's the phrase systems of systems.

00:07:01: That's the holy grail of modern defense tech.

00:07:03: It's not about the individual drone.

00:07:05: It's about perception, comms, and command, all working as one seamless network.

00:07:09: So if a drone sees something, the artillery knows about it instantly.

00:07:13: Without a human having to pick up a radio, that's the goal.

00:07:16: And of course, if everyone has drones, everyone needs a way to stop them.

00:07:19: Counter-UAS was a huge topic.

00:07:21: It

00:07:21: had to be.

00:07:22: Martin Appell from Drone Shield made a great point.

00:07:24: He said, CUAS isn't about a single sensor in a quiet field anymore.

00:07:29: It's about systems that can operate in really congested airspace.

00:07:33: Because the sky is just getting crowded.

00:07:35: Friendly drones, commercial traffic, threats, all mixed up.

00:07:39: Exactly.

00:07:40: And Verona Kumar Supermanium from TRD Singapore was there showcasing combat proven solutions.

00:07:46: that phrase combat proven was everywhere.

00:07:50: People don't want experiments, they want what works.

00:07:52: Before we move on, I have to mention a slightly more sci-fi moment.

00:07:56: Gerovsch Fultonovy from the Slovak delegation shared something pretty wild.

00:08:00: The

00:08:01: AI soldier.

00:08:02: The AI soldier.

00:08:02: They had a hologram box with an AI soldier in a Slovak uniform.

00:08:06: It sounds a bit like a movie prop.

00:08:07: A little, but Gerovsch said it was a way to present complex tech in an engaging way.

00:08:11: I mean, at a trade show, capturing attention is half the battle.

00:08:14: True.

00:08:14: Okay, so moving to Theme Four.

00:08:16: Land, naval, and geopolitics, we're seeing a lot of cross-border integration.

00:08:20: A

00:08:20: prime example of that co-production theme.

00:08:23: Haka Alkan and Suleyman Shen shared an update about Esselson, the Turkish giant.

00:08:28: They integrated their gunshot detection system onto a South Korean vehicle.

00:08:32: The Hanwa Taigon, eight by eight.

00:08:34: So you have Turkish sensors on a Korean truck being showcased in Saudi Arabia.

00:08:38: That is the modern defense industry in a nutshell.

00:08:41: It's modular.

00:08:42: global and it's about fitting the best tech to the best platform.

00:08:46: Speaking of capability, Ali K. Chishti from Pakistan dropped a bombshell about the Samash missile.

00:08:51: The

00:08:51: hypersonic developments.

00:08:52: Right.

00:08:53: GITS Pakistan unveiled this missile and he said it travels at Mach eight point.

00:08:57: so plus.

00:08:58: Mach eight.

00:08:59: That is incredibly fast.

00:09:00: It's

00:09:00: blistering.

00:09:01: And Chishti called it a game changer for regional A to A D anti-accessory denial.

00:09:06: with a missile that fast you can deny an enemy Navy access to a huge patch of ocean.

00:09:11: Which brings us to the naval side.

00:09:13: Romel Kobani had another great observation, this time about Coast Guard boats from Zid Marine.

00:09:18: He noted the serious craftsmanship, but with a touch of fun.

00:09:21: Fun is not a word you hear often in defense analysis.

00:09:24: Right.

00:09:25: But I think he was talking about the design aesthetic, the pride in the build.

00:09:28: It shows a confidence in the sector.

00:09:30: No, I want to get your take on the geopolitical angle here.

00:09:32: Jack Mijuli had some really deep insights on who the kingdom's friends are on the show floor.

00:09:37: Mijuli's observations were very telling.

00:09:39: He noted the high visibility of Chinese defense tech.

00:09:43: He specifically saw a localized version of the JF-Seventeen Thunder.

00:09:48: And he quoted a Saudi friend who told him, we like to have many friends.

00:09:53: That is the crucial line.

00:09:55: Midsley's analysis is that the kingdom is driving for autonomy.

00:09:58: They're not putting all their eggs in one basket.

00:10:01: He explicitly said the US can no longer take Saudi business for granted.

00:10:05: So

00:10:05: if the US won't supply something or won't localize it, someone else will.

00:10:09: Exactly.

00:10:10: But it's not just China.

00:10:11: Samina Coret highlighted the huge French presence.

00:10:14: The

00:10:15: largest French pavilion ever deployed.

00:10:17: So you've got the

00:10:17: U.S.,

00:10:18: China, Turkey, France, Korea, all vying for position in this new ecosystem.

00:10:24: It's a geopolitical dance happening in real time.

00:10:26: It really is.

00:10:27: Okay, let's pivot to our final theme.

00:10:29: We've talked about all the hardware you can touch.

00:10:31: The theme five is about the invisible battlefield.

00:10:34: This is where the war is actually won or lost today.

00:10:37: It's the digital backbone.

00:10:39: Nasser Umar Damora put it, Very bluntly, he asked, who controls the data?

00:10:44: Who trains the models?

00:10:45: It's a profound shift.

00:10:46: He argued that AI and cybersecurity aren't support functions anymore.

00:10:51: They are frontline capabilities.

00:10:52: I mean, think about it.

00:10:53: If your enemy poisons your AI model, your Mock-Ate missile is useless.

00:10:58: So the data is the weapon?

00:11:00: Precisely.

00:11:00: And space is a huge part of this.

00:11:03: Gianluca Seroni from ArgoTech was there.

00:11:05: showing adaptable, small satellite platforms.

00:11:08: And

00:11:08: Abdullah Al-Nazi from NeoSpace Group highlighted how space tech is just fundamentally shaping modern operations.

00:11:14: You need those eyes in the sky.

00:11:16: And

00:11:16: you need connectivity.

00:11:17: Ahmed Lasla mentioned a big no-you between SDC and Ericsson.

00:11:20: Right.

00:11:21: Five G for defense.

00:11:22: Mission-critical, secure communications.

00:11:25: Why is five G so important here?

00:11:27: It's not just about faster downloads, right?

00:11:29: No, it's about latency and density.

00:11:31: It's the military's nervous system.

00:11:33: If you look at all the themes we've discussed, the F- Thirty-Five, the drone systems, the integrated vehicles, they all rely on massive amounts of data being transferred instantly and securely.

00:11:43: That deal is the plumbing that makes everything else work.

00:11:47: So when we step back and look at all these different posts, what's the big picture?

00:11:52: I think we're seeing a maturation.

00:11:54: The World Defense Show implies Saudi Arabia is transitioning from a passive buyer to a very active global industrial hub.

00:12:02: And they're doing it with a huge focus on Maiden Saudi weaving AI into everything and maintaining this really diverse portfolio of geopolitical partnerships.

00:12:12: Exactly.

00:12:12: They're building a resilient ecosystem that doesn't rely on any single outside power.

00:12:17: That for me is the big takeaway.

00:12:19: It's been a fascinating look into where defense is headed.

00:12:21: If you enjoyed this episode, new episodes drop every two weeks.

00:12:24: Also check out our other editions on ICT and tech insights, health tech, cloud, digital products and services, artificial intelligence, defense tech and sustainability in green ICT.

00:12:34: Thanks for listening and keep questioning what you see.

00:12:36: See you next time.