On the occasion of the IDEX2019 fair, which was held from February 17 to 21 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, the Saudi state-owned Science Technology company, responsible for promoting and developing Saudi defense research and industry, has announced the co-development of a new heavy air combat drone, presented as a "drone bomber",in partnership with South Korea, Ukraine and the United States.
The program, presented as a large twin-engine aircraft, would be capable of carrying "several tons" of equipment and weapons of all types, ranging from anti-ship missiles to guided bombs, as well as a wide variety of sensors ranging from radar with electro-optical and ESM sensors, allowing the aircraft to ensure a wide range of missions. Interestingly, naval missions are heavily highlighted in the presentation of this new drone.
However, no development and commissioning schedule has been specified, nor the precise role of the various partners in the program.
This program is reminiscent of the technological choices of the EuroMale drone, very often criticized for certain of its choices, such as its twin-engine configuration. It seems that, ultimately, this configuration is not so much meaningless as sustained.