The CEO and Managing Director of Italian company Leonardo, Lorenzo Mariani, said that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is one of the most important defense markets for the company, noting that cooperation extends for many years through participation in the Eurofighter program in partnership with the British side, in addition to cooperation in the helicopter sector, where Saudi Helicopter Company operates Leonardo's AW139 helicopters.

Mariani added, in an interview with "Al Arabiya Business" on the sidelines of the Farnborough International Airshow in Britain, that cooperation with the Kingdom also includes the defense electronics sector, particularly in the fields of radars and sensors, stressing that the company sees greater opportunities for expansion in the next phase, not only through joint manufacturing, but also through joint development of technologies, especially in the fields of advanced air defense, which have become a priority amid rising modern threats.

He stated that recent conflicts, from the war in Ukraine to tensions in the Middle East, have reshaped defense sector priorities and highlighted the importance of military readiness and investment in advanced technologies to confront the nature of new threats.

He stressed that the lessons learned from current conflicts are not limited to the need to possess sufficient quantities of military equipment to enhance deterrence and defense, but also include preparedness to deal with unconventional threats such as drones, electronic warfare, and cyberattacks, affirming that investment in technology will be the decisive factor in building more efficient defense systems in the coming years.

He pointed out that Middle Eastern countries have been among the most interested regions in investing in defense technologies, not only with Leonardo, but with various global companies, explaining that the company is ready to support these trends, especially as many countries in the region seek to develop their local defense industries.

He explained that Leonardo has already begun partnerships with a number of Middle Eastern countries, considering that these partnerships will benefit both sides, as they represent a platform for innovation, knowledge transfer, and technology development serving both the region and Europe alike.

Regarding the future of wars over the next five to ten years, Mariani predicted that defense investments will focus on developing capabilities to counter unmanned systems, explaining that drones will significantly change security and defense concepts.

He also noted that developing systems to counter hypersonic missiles and ballistic missiles will become one of the most prominent challenges for Europe and its partners, stressing that building effective deterrence capabilities against these threats will be a major focus of international defense cooperation in the coming years.

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