Latest news with #JosephRank
Arab News
14-05-2025
- Automotive
- Arab News
Saudi-US business ties grow through deeper partnerships
RIYADH: Mutual investments between Saudi Arabia and the US are expanding in key sectors as industry leaders from both countries eye deeper partnerships and co-development opportunities. Speaking to Arab News on the sidelines of the Saudi-US Investment Forum, held during US President Donald Trump's state visit to the Kingdom on Tuesday, Joseph Rank, vice president and CEO of Lockheed Martin for Saudi Arabia and Africa, said that enhanced partnerships are paving the way for two-way investments. 'This is an opportunity to really enhance our partnership and grow business. There's actually almost too many to talk about. But the real key is growing our partnership, which then leads to investment on both sides,' Rank said. Lockheed Martin's role in the Kingdom is shifting from traditional collaboration to advanced manufacturing and technology sharing, Rank said. 'We used to build things here. Now we're actually manufacturing things here. So the big opportunity is manufacturing, co-production, co-development and transfer of technology,' he said. 'This is jobs for Lockheed Martin in the US and jobs for Saudi industry here. A win-win-win.' Marc Winterhoff, interim CEO of electric vehicle manufacturer Lucid Group Inc., stressed the importance of Saudi Arabia as a manufacturing base, with its King Abdullah Economic City facility expected to reach a 150,000-unit capacity. 'We have very, very close ties to Saudi Arabia, both from an investment point of view, but also we're building a big plant in KAEC here,' he said, adding that 65 percent of the workforce is currently made up of Saudi citizens. 'There's a lot of investment going into this plant to build vehicles for the local market, but then also for exports.' Winterhoff said Lucid is also working with Saudi research institutions, including King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, to co-develop advanced technologies like artificial intelligence models, autonomous driving, and crash simulation. Sadek Wahba, chairman and managing partner of I Squared Capital, echoed the sentiment, describing the forum as a reflection of enduring US-Saudi economic cooperation and the role infrastructure will play in future development. 'The event represents the best of what you can find in Saudi in the cooperation that can exist between the United States and Saudi Arabia. 'Cooperation that already exists for the last decades, and I think will continue to flourish over the coming period,' Wahba said. He said the company sees significant opportunity in Saudi Arabia's infrastructure sector, particularly in telecoms, digital infrastructure, transport and logistics. • $1billion+ Planned investment by I Squared Capital, with backing from the Saudi PIF and others. • 65% Of Lucid's workforce in the Kingdom is made up of Saudi citizens. The biggest investment opportunities are in transport and logistics, he said, citing the growing needs of a rapidly developing economy. Wahba also announced a memorandum of understanding with the Public Investment Fund to establish a Middle East infrastructure fund focused mainly on Saudi Arabia. 'I Squared Capital is looking to invest over $1 billion over the coming years, and PIF and others will be contributing to that effort,' he said. Meanwhile, Kathy Warden, president and CEO of Northrop Grumman Corp., emphasized the company's longstanding partnership with the Kingdom and its commitment to investing in defense and local talent. Warden said that the company signed a memorandum of intent with the Saudi government's General Authority of Military Industries to procure capabilities from Northrop Grumman, which total nearly $14 billion. The US company is also partnering locally with Saudi Arabian Military Industries to deliver its capabilities. 'These investments will contribute to the security and safety of the Kingdom and also create local jobs that are high-skilled engineering jobs,' she added. From a technology perspective, Chris Rouland, founder and CEO of Phosphorus Cybersecurity Inc., emphasized the need to secure AI and data-driven systems as Saudi Arabia ramps up its digital transformation. 'I think one thing that was overlooked in today's conversations was the importance of security in artificial intelligence,' Rouland said. 'Just as security and safety has made the Kingdom such a great place to do business, security and privacy are very important for AI and data centers.' He said that the company is exploring a joint venture in Saudi Arabia aimed at securing Internet of Things infrastructure and AI systems to prevent exploitation by cybercriminals. The forum underscored the Kingdom's growing role as a magnet for American industry leaders seeking to invest in sectors aligned with Vision 2030 — from defense and infrastructure to advanced manufacturing and cybersecurity — reinforcing Saudi-US economic ties built on shared long-term objectives.
Morocco World
05-05-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
Morocco Joins Global F-16 Fighter Production Chain
Doha – Morocco has officially joined the global production chain for the latest generation of F-16 fighter jets. A major industrial project for manufacturing and assembling structures for these aircraft will soon be established in the Midparc industrial zone in Nouaceur, near Casablanca. The United States has formally authorized Morocco to receive defense equipment, technical data, and specialized services for manufacturing F-16 components, according to a notification published by the US State Department's Bureau of Political-Military Affairs in the Federal Register on April 29. This authorization falls under the Arms Export Control Act and involves a technology transfer program valued at over $50 million. The planned industrial site will focus on producing key components for the F-16, particularly the advanced F-16V 'Viper' version, equipped with AESA radar systems and sophisticated weaponry. This model remains one of the most widely used multi-role aircraft worldwide. The Moroccan facility will feature high-precision production lines employing advanced technologies, with the participation of locally trained engineers and technicians in aeronautical fields. This project strengthens the growing strategic partnership between Rabat and Washington in the military domain. Lockheed Martin, the F-16 manufacturer, has already increased its initiatives in Morocco. A high-level delegation from the American company, led by General Joseph Rank, CEO of Lockheed Martin for Africa and Saudi Arabia, visited Morocco in late April. The delegation met with officials in Rabat and toured several industrial partners in Casablanca, including TDM Maroc, SABCA Maroc, Collins Aerospace RFM, and Exellia Maroc. The US defense giant's relationship with Morocco dates back to 1974 when it delivered the first C-130H aircraft to the Royal Moroccan Air Force. Since then, the partnership has evolved to include the supply of F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft, Sikorsky helicopters, and radar systems. Today, Morocco is a major F-16 client in the region. The North African country has ordered 24 F-16 Viper (Block 70/72) fighters, the most advanced version of Lockheed Martin's famous aircraft, with first deliveries expected before 2026. Simultaneously, it is upgrading its current F-16 fleet to the Viper standard. These new aircraft will be equipped with cutting-edge technologies, including the AN/APG-83 AESA radar, known for its resistance to electronic jamming, and the Viper Shield electronic warfare system developed by L3Harris Technologies. Beyond Morocco, other strategic US partners included in the F-16 production authorization list are Italy, South Korea, Turkiye, and the United Arab Emirates. The project aligns with Morocco's ambitious modernization program for its Royal Air Force. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Morocco's military spending increased by 2.6% in 2024, reaching $5.5 billion. The integration of Morocco into the F-16 industrial chain reinforces choices made since the signing of several defense agreements with the United States in 2018, which established the foundation for a deeper strategic partnership. A bilateral roadmap for 2020-2030 aims to deepen this military and technological cooperation. The Nouaceur project is expected to create hundreds of direct and indirect jobs, strengthen the local industrial base, and establish Morocco as a strategic player in Lockheed Martin's global supply chain. It comes as the country increasingly attracts major defense industry players such as Baykar (Turkiye), BlueBird (Israel), and Tata Systems (India), consolidating its position as an emerging regional hub in this sector. Although the majority of reports confirm the F-16 news, some sources indicate otherwise. According to specialists from the FAR-Maroc forum, these announcements might be premature. They claim there is currently no F-16 assembly project in Morocco, suggesting the news stems from misinterpreted American procurement documents. The experts assert that current cooperation with Lockheed Martin is limited to maintenance and repair facilities for F-16 and C-130 aircraft, though potential expansion through industrial offset agreements remains possible. The forum cautions against speculation, noting similar unconfirmed reports regarding projects with Brazilian aerospace company Embraer that have yet to materialize into concrete industrial ventures. Read also: Will Morocco Become First Arab, African Nation to Acquire the F-35? Tags: F-16V ViperLockheed MartinMoroccan Military
Morocco World
10-04-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
US Defense Giant Lockheed Martin Eyes Moroccan Manufacturing Hub
Rabat – A high-level delegation from Lockheed Martin swept through Morocco last week, signaling the American defense behemoth's serious interest in the North African country's rapidly evolving defense industry landscape. Led by retired Brigadier General Joseph Rank, Lockheed's CEO for Africa and Saudi Arabia, the team networked between Rabat and Casablanca, meeting officials and touring industrial facilities in what industry circles describe as more than just a courtesy visit. The visit was not mere window shopping, as it reflects the company's 'enduring relationship with Morocco' and 'a shared commitment to innovation, security, and economic progress,' according to Rank. In Casablanca's industrial zone, the delegation, facilitated by Morocco's Investment and Export Development Agency, reportedly toured several potential partners, including TDM Maroc, SABCA Maroc, Collins Aerospace RFM, and Exellia Maroc. These companies are at the forefront of Morocco's push to develop sophisticated aerospace and defense manufacturing capabilities. Behind closed doors in Rabat, sources say Rank's team engaged in substantive talks with senior officials about cementing Morocco as a critical node in Lockheed's global supply chain — a relationship that began in 1974 with the delivery of Morocco's first C-130H Hercules transport aircraft. Today, that partnership has evolved dramatically. Moroccan pilots now operate Lockheed's F-16 Fighting Falcons, while the country's military employs Sikorsky helicopters, advanced radar systems, and integrated air defense technologies—all bearing the Lockheed Martin stamp. Read also: Will Morocco Become First Arab, African Nation to Acquire the F-35? For Morocco, the stakes couldn't be higher. The North African country has invested heavily in creating a self-sustaining defense ecosystem, viewing it as both a security imperative and an economic catalyst. As Rank departed, he left little doubt about Lockheed's intentions: 'As we continue to deepen our collaboration, we aim to advance Morocco's defense capabilities, expand local expertise, and contribute to long-term industrial growth.' The company's executives conducted a visit to the sector's key industrial facilities in Morocco in December 2024 to reinforce its five-decade presence in the country. With billions in potential investments hanging in the balance, all eyes are now on what concrete steps might follow this high-profile courtship. The visit comes as Morocco positions itself as a defense manufacturing hub, already attracting global players like India's Tata Advanced Systems, Turkish drone-maker Baykar, and Israel's Bluebird Aero Systems, creating what some analysts call Africa's defense manufacturing triangle. Tags: Defense IndustryLockheed MartinMorocco Defense Industry
