WDS 2026: HAVELSAN Expands Saudi Defense Localization with Simulation and Command System Agreements.

At the World Defense Show in Riyadh on February 11, 2026, Turkish defense firm HAVELSAN signed multiple memoranda of understanding with Saudi and regional partners to expand cooperation in defense electronics, simulation, and command systems. The agreements align with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 strategy to localize military production while reinforcing Türkiye’s growing influence in advanced defense technologies across the Gulf.

HAVELSAN signed a series of memoranda of understanding with Saudi and regional partners during the World Defense Show, outlining expanded cooperation in simulation systems, defense electronics, and digital command architectures. Company officials said the agreements are designed to advance local industrial participation and structured technology transfer, aligning closely with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 objectives.
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HAVELSAN strengthens Gulf presence through Saudi command system and simulation partnerships
 (Picture source: Havelsan)

HAVELSAN’s presence at the show extends beyond symbolic participation. The company, a key actor within Türkiye’s defense technological and industrial base, presents a portfolio spanning command and control software, network-enabled simulation environments, autonomous systems, and secure information technologies. At its stand, discussions with Pioneers, AIC Steel, Midana, Al Ahlia, and ACES culminate in signed MoUs that outline joint development frameworks in information and communication technologies, smart platforms, and advanced engineering solutions. These agreements establish channels for cooperative production, local integration, and technical training, aligning industrial policy objectives with operational requirements in both civil and defense domains.

Among the capabilities highlighted in Riyadh is HAVELSAN’s GENESIS combat management system, an integrated naval command and control architecture designed to fuse sensor inputs, tactical data links, and weapons control functions within a unified software environment. GENESIS supports Link 11 and Link 16 tactical data links, enabling real-time exchange of target tracks and engagement data across networked naval units. Its open architecture allows incremental upgrades and adaptation to different ship classes, a feature that has facilitated its integration on frigates and corvettes within the Turkish Navy. By emphasizing modularity and software sovereignty, HAVELSAN positions such systems as adaptable solutions for navies seeking to localize mission-critical software layers.

The company also promotes its ADVENT combat management system, a next-generation network-centric platform built to operate across distributed maritime task groups. ADVENT enables simultaneous coordination of air, surface, and subsurface engagements, integrating radar inputs, electro-optical sensors, and electronic support measures into a consolidated operational picture. Designed to manage multiple threat axes in high-density environments, the system supports cooperative engagement concepts and remote weapon assignment within a task force. Its service-oriented architecture permits integration with indigenous radars and missile systems, an attribute that resonates with states aiming to reduce dependence on single foreign suppliers.

In parallel, HAVELSAN showcases its simulation and training technologies, including full-mission simulators and constructive simulation environments capable of modeling battalion- and brigade-level operations. These systems incorporate high-fidelity terrain databases, physics-based vehicle dynamics, and real-time after-action review tools. By replicating sensor behavior, weapon trajectories, and communication latency, they allow armed forces to rehearse complex scenarios without expending live munitions or mobilizing large formations. For countries investing in force modernization, such simulation infrastructures represent both a cost-control mechanism and a means to accelerate doctrinal adaptation.

The combination of network-enabled command systems and advanced simulation environments contributes to shorter decision cycles and improved force coordination. In maritime contexts, a combat management system like ADVENT can process radar tracks at ranges exceeding 200 kilometers, correlate them with identification data, and assign surface-to-air or anti-ship missiles within seconds. The integration of tactical data links ensures that a single sensor platform can cue multiple shooters, enhancing distributed lethality while preserving command oversight. On land, brigade-level simulation frameworks permit staffs to test maneuver concepts, evaluate logistics throughput, and refine fire support coordination before deployment. The cumulative effect is not merely technical; it reshapes how units train, plan, and execute in contested environments characterized by dense electronic and missile threats.

The MoUs signed in Riyadh therefore extend beyond procurement discussions. They embed commitments to joint engineering, local assembly, and knowledge transfer. For Saudi entities, collaboration in ICT infrastructure and autonomous systems aligns with national objectives to cultivate domestic design and maintenance capabilities. For HAVELSAN, partnership models anchored in co-production and localized integration open access to a market that increasingly prioritizes industrial participation clauses. This reciprocity reflects a broader recalibration in defense trade, where technology sharing and in-country capability development often determine contract viability.

Furthermore, the Riyadh exhibition environment amplifies these dynamics. The World Defense Show has evolved into a venue where regional actors articulate long-term industrial visions rather than short-term acquisition plans. By facilitating direct engagement between system integrators, component manufacturers, and state authorities, the event reinforces a layered ecosystem approach to defense modernization. The presence of multiple MoUs signed during the exhibition illustrates how industrial diplomacy now operates alongside traditional military-to-military cooperation.

Over time, such partnerships may influence the balance of technological autonomy in the Middle East. As regional states invest in indigenous software architectures, secure data networks, and autonomous platforms, reliance on external turnkey solutions could gradually diminish. This shift does not imply isolation; rather, it signals a transition toward collaborative sovereignty, where international firms participate in local ecosystems instead of exporting closed systems. In a security environment marked by evolving missile threats, maritime competition, and cyber vulnerabilities, the ability to control and adapt one’s digital defense backbone acquires strategic weight. The initiatives announced in Riyadh thus carry implications that extend beyond commercial cooperation, contributing to a reconfiguration of defense industrial interdependence and regional security architecture.