Book

Shaheen - X

Dr. Iyad Talal Attar

Publication date: July 15, 2026 23:17 KSA

Unmanned aerial vehicles today are one of the most important areas of technical competition among world powers. China has emerged as one of the largest drone-manufacturing countries, developing a wide range of systems used in military and civilian fields. Turkey has also made significant progress in this sector by developing military drones that have become globally recognized, benefiting from investment in local defense industries. Similarly, the United States, Israel, and Iran have advanced expertise in autonomous aircraft technologies and anti-drone defense systems, while other countries have focused on developing low-cost solutions to meet their defense needs.

This global race no longer depends solely on possessing advanced drones, but rather on building an integrated system encompassing surveillance, analysis, and rapid response. With the increased use of drones in modern conflicts, there is a greater need for systems capable of detecting and dealing with enemy aircraft before they reach their targets. In this context, Saudi Arabia has begun entering the field of developing drone technologies and counter-drone systems, within a broader direction to enhance local defense industries and achieve the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 in technology transfer and building national capabilities. Reliance is no longer limited to purchasing ready-made systems; there is now interest in developing local solutions based on innovation, engineering, and artificial intelligence.

The Shaheen-X project comes within this direction, introduced as a Saudi-made interceptor drone designed to detect and pursue hostile attack drones. The system relies on artificial intelligence technologies that give it the ability to recognize and track targets intelligently, with a speed of up to about 300 km/h, placing it in the category of drones designed for rapid response to aerial threats. The development of Shaheen-X reflects an important shift in the Saudi defense industry sector, indicating a transition from the stage of using technologies to developing competitive national products. The project also represents an intersection of several modern technical fields, including aviation, programming, artificial intelligence, and smart control systems. The importance of these projects is not limited to the military aspect but extends to building national expertise and creating a new industrial environment that supports innovation in engineering and technology. The future in defense will not depend solely on traditional power but on the ability to develop smart systems capable of dealing with rapidly changing threats.

Drones Technical Competition