logo
Kuwait incorporates Bayraktar TB2 combat drone into armed forces

Kuwait incorporates Bayraktar TB2 combat drone into armed forces

Arab News17-07-2025
LONDON: Kuwaiti armed forces incorporated the Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2 drone into their air combat fleet during a ceremony at Salem Al-Sabah Air Base on Thursday.
Minister of Defense Sheikh Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Sabah was joined by Major General Sabah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, deputy chief of staff of the Kuwaiti Army, Brig. Gen. Mohammad Al-Hamdan, the Air Force commander, as well as the commander of the Salem Al-Sabah Air Base and several air force officers.
In 2023, Kuwait signed a $367-million contract with Turkish defense firm Baykar to purchase its TB2 drones, which have been used in conflicts in Ukraine, Syria, Libya and Azerbaijan.
Sheikh Abdullah said that integrating drones aligned with Kuwait's leadership vision to enhance military readiness and adopt cutting-edge defense technologies, according to the Kuwait News Agency. The ceremony featured a comprehensive technical presentation showcasing TB2 drone's surveillance, reconnaissance and air-support capabilities.
In February, pilots and shooters from the Kuwaiti air force trained and tested the Bayraktar TB2 at the Baykar company training center in the Kisah region of Turkiye.
The defense minister emphasized the need to invest in local expertise and train personnel to operate advanced systems for protecting Kuwait's airspace, borders and resources. The incorporation of TB2 marked a significant step in Kuwait's defense modernization efforts, he added.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

The vision architect: Princess Nouf Al-Saud's blueprint for Saudi sport
The vision architect: Princess Nouf Al-Saud's blueprint for Saudi sport

Arab News

time2 hours ago

  • Arab News

The vision architect: Princess Nouf Al-Saud's blueprint for Saudi sport

When Princess Nouf Al-Saud started her role as general manager of marketing at Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Sport in 2018, she confronted a world unfamiliar with the Kingdom's pulse. 'When I first began this journey,' she said, 'I realized that many people around the world had never truly experienced our culture, our energy or our vision.' Six years and more than 135 global events later — from the electrifying debut of Formula 1 to the pioneering E1 Electric Boat Race — Al-Saud now orchestrates a marketing portfolio that has drawn more than 3 million attendees and broadcast Saudi Arabia's evolution to more than 160 countries. Her greatest triumph? Rewriting the narrative. Al-Saud told Arab News: 'We've evolved from being seen simply as a destination that hosts events, to being recognized as a forward‑thinking leader in sports.' Where skepticism once lingered, Al-Saud now projects certainty: 'Today, the most important message is that Saudi Arabia is not only open to the world, but actively shaping the global sports narrative.' This conviction permeates every campaign — whether amplifying community participation at Extreme E or embedding cultural storytelling into the WTA Finals. The most profound transformations, however, unfold in Saudi stands. 'A decade ago, it was rare to see parents, daughters and sons attending events side by side,' Al-Saud said. Now, stadiums brim with multi-generational energy. Al-Saud said: 'Girls are proudly wearing team jerseys, parents are cheering with their children and young fans are recognizing themselves in the athletes they watch.' She calls this phenomenon 'a ripple effect where sport becomes a shared cultural language' — a testament to Vision 2030's societal impact. Challenging global perceptions remains intrinsic to her work. 'We viewed every global event as a fresh opportunity to open a new window,' she said, countering stereotypes with experiential proof — be it through world-class venues or volunteers' warmth. Her creative arsenal relies on authentic storytelling: 'We flip the script by designing campaigns that don't just market a match or a race, they tell stories.' These narratives, showcasing international fans' pilgrimages or homegrown talent, serve a higher purpose: 'Our role goes far beyond ticket sales; it is about inspiring the next generation of athletes.' As chair of the Women's Sports Committee, Al-Saud wields platforms like the WTA Finals as catalysts. 'It's never been enough to simply host a women's tournament,' she added. Her strategy is inclusion at every level: 'We use these platforms to show that Saudi women are athletes, leaders, strategists and innovators.' From mentorship programs to leadership panels, the objective is unequivocal: 'Redefining roles not just on the court, but in boardrooms, production teams and strategy tables.' Amid the scale of progress, human moments anchor her. She vividly recounts the Italian Super Cup: 'Watching them, dressed in their club colors, walking through our fan zones with their children, laughing, taking photos, I felt an overwhelming sense of pride.' In that instant, the mission crystallized: 'It wasn't just about the game. It was about Saudi Arabia becoming a magnet for people who love sport, wherever they come from.' For Al-Saud, those smiles are more than rewards — they are proof that sport can build bridges no statistic can measure.

Saudi Arabia's NEOM port halves Cairo-Iraq trade transit times in regional trade pilot
Saudi Arabia's NEOM port halves Cairo-Iraq trade transit times in regional trade pilot

Al Arabiya

time5 hours ago

  • Al Arabiya

Saudi Arabia's NEOM port halves Cairo-Iraq trade transit times in regional trade pilot

Saudi Arabia's Port of NEOM has successfully completed a pilot program that reduced transit times by more than 50 percent on a key regional trade route connecting Egypt and Iraq, as the Kingdom seeks to establish itself as a major logistics hub under its Vision 2030 economic diversification plan. The initiative, conducted in partnership with the Logistics Partnership Council, tested an intermodal corridor spanning over 900 kilometers from Cairo via Egypt's Port of Safaga, across the Red Sea to Port of NEOM, and then overland to commercial warehouses in Erbil, Iraq. The pilot involved collaboration between Saudi government agencies including the Transport General Authority and the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority, along with private sector partners including shipowners, importers, exporters, and logistics companies. 'The Port of NEOM is the catalyst for overall economic development for the northwest region of the Kingdom and the broader region,' said Sean Kelly, managing director at the Port of NEOM. 'The intermodal corridor opening up this historical trade lane is a primary initiative in this effort. It's been proven many times that opening up supply chain options—reducing costs, reducing transit times—accelerates regional economic development and prosperity, and the intermodal corridor can play this role.' The project represents part of Saudi Arabia's broader strategy to develop its logistics sector and reduce the economy's dependence on oil revenues. The Kingdom is investing heavily in ports, roads, and customs infrastructure to capture more of the trade flows between Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. Port of NEOM's location on the Red Sea and proximity to the Arar border crossing into Iraq positions it to serve growing trade between the regions. The success of the pilot suggests the route could offer an alternative to traditional shipping paths that currently handle Egypt–Iraq trade. The corridor is designed to be scalable and could be expanded to other regional trade routes, according to project organizers. Saudi officials say such initiatives support the Vision 2030 goal of building what they describe as a world-class integrated logistics ecosystem. The pilot's completion comes as regional countries seek to boost intra-regional trade and reduce logistics costs amid ongoing global supply chain challenges.

Amazon brings color to Saudi Arabia with new Kindle Colorsoft devices
Amazon brings color to Saudi Arabia with new Kindle Colorsoft devices

Arab News

time12 hours ago

  • Arab News

Amazon brings color to Saudi Arabia with new Kindle Colorsoft devices

Kindle customers globally are reading more than ever — so far this year, they have read more than 129 billion pages, which is already billions more pages than this time last year. To support Kindle customers' love of reading, and to make their reading experience even better, Amazon has launched Kindle Colorsoft in Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Kindle Colorsoft has everything customers love about Kindle in color — a high contrast Colorsoft display, fast page turns, an adjustable warm light, weeks of battery life, and access to the Kindle bookstore. Kindle Colorsoft features Amazon's 7-inch Colorsoft display technology, offering 300 ppi for black and white content and 150 ppi for color. It includes a built-in light and optimized font technology, with a 16-level grayscale. The device weighs 215 grams and comes with 16 GB of on-device storage for thousands of books, complemented by free cloud storage for all Amazon content. Meanwhile, its battery life extends for up to 8 weeks on a single charge under typical usage conditions, reaching a full charge in under 2.5 hours. Users can browse covers in color in the Kindle Library or store, experience a graphic novel come to life in color, see book photos and images in color, or add highlights in yellow, orange, blue, and pink which they can easily filter through later. Plus, for customers who prefer to read on pages with a dark background, the Page Color feature inverts the black text and white backgrounds of the pages inside books. Kindle Colorsoft with 16 GB of storage is available starting at SR1,069 ($285), while Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition is available at SR1,199 and adds an auto-adjusting front light, wireless charging, and 32 GB of storage.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store