Riyadh has signed a deal with Leonardo for four weaponized C-27J Maritime Patrol Aircraft, expanding its naval aviation capabilities. Scheduled for delivery from 2029, the aircraft will feature a mission suite capable of detecting surface and subsurface threats and deploying torpedoes or anti-ship missiles. The order follows a 2025 purchase of two non-armed C-27Js and aligns with Saudi Arabia’s broader naval modernization efforts.
