Charting New Waters: L3Harris and Zamil Shipyards Join Forces for Cutting-Edge Maritime Automation Solutions
L3Harris Technologies (NYSE: LHX) has forged an essential Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with its SAMI-L3Harris Joint Venture (JV) and Zamil Shipyards, a leading maritime company located in Saudi Arabia. The MOU strives to elevate local maritime engineering by integrating autonomous technologies into both existing and future vessels. This initiative is in line with Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Military Industries’ efforts to promote localization for domestic and international enterprises in associated sectors.
“This MOU represents a significant step forward in our commitment to assisting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with autonomous vehicle innovations,” expressed Dave Johnson, Vice President, International, L3Harris, and Vice Chairman, SAMI-L3Harris JV. “By collaborating with Zamil Shipyards, we are set to transform maritime surveillance and operational effectiveness through our joint venture and local industry knowledge.”
Zamil Shipyards will take the lead on the design and construction of autonomous maritime platforms. SAMI-L3Harris will bolster this initiative by employing its autonomous systems, sensors, and mission system expertise.
“We are excited to ratify this MOU to create one of the first ‘Saudi Made’ unmanned surface vessels (USV). We believe that USVs could significantly change how countries secure their borders, both above and below the ocean’s surface, against the increasing threat of asymmetric warfare,” stated Alastair Bisset, General Manager, Zamil Shipyards. “Through this partnership with SAMI-L3Harris, we aim to develop various modular options to provide a comprehensive range of surveillance and protective capabilities.”
The MOU is set to culminate with a series of on-water demonstrations planned for 2025. These presentations will showcase the progress made through collaborative efforts and underline the strategic importance of this initiative.
