Looks like Saudi Arabia and Utah have more in common than deserts.
SR2Vector, a joint venture between Saudi Arabia’s SR2 Defense Systems and Utah-based startup Vector, has unveiled a co-produced Shahed-esque (or in US terms, LUCAS-esque) long-range one-way attack drone called SKYWASP, which’ll be manufactured at the JV’s upcoming factory near Riyadh.
The news was first reported by Semafor.
Drones in the desert: SKYWASP is the first new-build system produced by SR2Vector after the two announced an MoU to “jointly explore opportunities for localized manufacturing, assembly, and sustainment of Vector systems” in Saudi Arabia in March.
- Vector, which raised $61M last year, has mostly focused on small drones, including the Hammer, a 10” long-range FPV with fiber optic integration, and the even smaller Dagger tactical UAS. Their backers include Point72 Ventures, Lightspeed, Harpoon Ventures, and Shield Capital.
- SR2, also a new kid on the block, is self-described as Saudi Arabia’s “first private-sector advanced defense technologies manufacturing group.” It’s backed by MASNA Ventures, a recently launched Saudi-based defense tech VC fund that SR2’s co-founder and CSO Lucien Zeigler is raising at least $100M for.
- Given Zeigler’s co-founding role in both, MASNA is naturally backing the SR2Vector joint venture and the Riyadh factory as well.
Mission critical: The announcement—and team-up—are well-timed.
Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states are speedrunning a build-up of their sovereign defense industries to help counter the continuing barrage of Iranian drone strikes on military and critical infrastructure, including several of the world’s most important energy facilities.
- Saudi Arabia—the world’s fifth-biggest military spender and a key US ally (and customer) in the region—has laid out plans to shift its reliance on weapons imports by localizing 50 percent of that defense spending by 2030.
- That’s pushed a whole lot of US defense primes and startups, Vector included, to set up shop in the region to avoid missing out on that spending surge.
Big buzz: Much of Saudi Arabia’s boom in investment and interest has focused on interceptors and defensive capabilities. But, with SKYWASP, SR2Vector is betting that the Saudis are also pretty interested in giving the Iranians a taste of their own Shahed-flavored medicine.
- The companies didn’t reveal too much about SKYWASP, but it reportedly has a range of about 930 miles, putting Tehran within striking distance. It’s designed to fly on pre-programmed routes and is jam-resistant.
- It’ll be produced in “operationally relevant volumes consistent with the kingdom’s strategic deterrence requirements,” Zeigler told Semafor. “SKYWASP is a program that can level the playing field and boost Saudi Arabia’s deterrence capabilities.”
For Vector, SKYWASP could also see some action stateside. Over the weekend, the startup was named to the Drone Dominance Program’s Phase 2 Qualifier list, which will put drones to the test “in one—or both—critical mission areas: Long Range Strike and Tactical Assault in Close Quarters.”
Good thing Vector now makes both.