diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index f22102f8b67..4601b7413d0 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -51,19 +51,79 @@ jobs:
           ssh-key: ${{ secrets.GHA_SSH_KEY }}
           fetch-depth: 0  # Full clone to also get the tags
 
+      - name: Setup Python Tools Scripts
+        uses: ./.github/actions/setup-python-tools-scripts
+
+      - name: Setup GnuPG
+        run: |
+          sudo install -d -m 0700 -o "$(id -u)" -g "$(id -g)" /run/gpg
+          GNUPGHOME="$(mktemp -d -p /run/gpg)"
+          echo "GNUPGHOME=${GNUPGHOME}" >> "$GITHUB_ENV"
+          cat <<EOF > "${GNUPGHOME}/gpg.conf"
+          batch
+          no-tty
+          pinentry-mode loopback
+          EOF
+
+      - name: Get Secrets
+        env:
+          SECRETS_KEY: ${{ secrets.SECRETS_KEY }}
+        run: |
+          SECRETS_KEY_FILE=$(mktemp /tmp/output.XXXXXXXXXX)
+          echo "$SECRETS_KEY" > "$SECRETS_KEY_FILE"
+          aws --region us-west-2 secretsmanager get-secret-value --secret-id /cmbu-saltstack/signing/repo-signing-keys-sha256-2023 \
+            --query SecretString --output text | jq .default_key -r | base64 -d \
+            | gpg --passphrase-file "${SECRETS_KEY_FILE}" -d - \
+            | gpg --import -
+          aws --region us-west-2 secretsmanager get-secret-value --secret-id /cmbu-saltstack/signing/repo-signing-keys-sha256-2023 \
+            --query SecretString --output text| jq .default_passphrase -r | base64 -d \
+            | gpg --passphrase-file "${SECRETS_KEY_FILE}" -o "${GNUPGHOME}/passphrase" -d -
+          rm "$SECRETS_KEY_FILE"
+          echo "passphrase-file ${GNUPGHOME}/passphrase" >> "${GNUPGHOME}/gpg.conf"
+
       - name: Configure Git
         shell: bash
         run: |
           git config --global user.name "Salt Project Packaging"
           git config --global user.email saltproject-packaging@vmware.com
+          git config --global user.signingkey 64CBBC8173D76B3F
+          git config --global commit.gpgsign true
 
-      - name: Download The Release Artifacts
+      - name: Release Salt ${{ inputs.salt-version }}
+        id: release
         run: |
-          aws --region us-west-2 s3 cp --recursive s3://salt-project-prod-salt-artifacts-staging/release-artifacts/${{ inputs.salt-version }}/ release-artifacts
-      - name: Apply Release Patch
-        shell: bash
+          tools pkg repo publish release ${{ inputs.salt-version }}
+
+      - name: Apply The Release Patch
         run: |
           git am --committer-date-is-author-date release-artifacts/salt-${{ inputs.salt-version }}.patch
+          rm release-artifacts/salt-${{ inputs.salt-version }}.patch
+
+      - name: Tag The v${{ inputs.salt-version }} Release
+        run: |
+          git tag -m "Release v${{ inputs.salt-version }}" -as v${{ inputs.salt-version }}
+
+      - name: Push Changes
+        uses: ad-m/github-push-action@v0.6.0
+        with:
+          ssh: true
+          tags: true
+          atomic: true
+
+      - name: Create Github Release
+        uses: ncipollo/release-action@v1.12.0
+        with:
+          artifactErrorsFailBuild: true
+          artifacts: ${{ steps.release.outputs.release-artifacts }}
+          bodyFile: ${{ steps.release.outputs.release-messsage-file }}
+          draft: false
+          generateReleaseNotes: false
+          makeLatest: ${{ steps.release.outputs.make-latest }}
+          name: v${{ inputs.salt-version }}
+          prerelease: ${{ contains(inputs.salt-version, 'rc') }}
+          removeArtifacts: true
+          replacesArtifacts: true
+          tag: v${{ inputs.salt-version }}
 
   set-pipeline-exit-status:
     # This step is just so we can make github require this step, to pass checks
diff --git a/.github/workflows/templates/release.yml.jinja b/.github/workflows/templates/release.yml.jinja
index 6a350890ef6..aca8f08ab69 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/templates/release.yml.jinja
+++ b/.github/workflows/templates/release.yml.jinja
@@ -64,19 +64,80 @@ permissions:
           ssh-key: ${{ secrets.GHA_SSH_KEY }}
           fetch-depth: 0  # Full clone to also get the tags
 
+      - name: Setup Python Tools Scripts
+        uses: ./.github/actions/setup-python-tools-scripts
+
+      - name: Setup GnuPG
+        run: |
+          sudo install -d -m 0700 -o "$(id -u)" -g "$(id -g)" /run/gpg
+          GNUPGHOME="$(mktemp -d -p /run/gpg)"
+          echo "GNUPGHOME=${GNUPGHOME}" >> "$GITHUB_ENV"
+          cat <<EOF > "${GNUPGHOME}/gpg.conf"
+          batch
+          no-tty
+          pinentry-mode loopback
+          EOF
+
+      - name: Get Secrets
+        env:
+          SECRETS_KEY: ${{ secrets.SECRETS_KEY }}
+        run: |
+          SECRETS_KEY_FILE=$(mktemp /tmp/output.XXXXXXXXXX)
+          echo "$SECRETS_KEY" > "$SECRETS_KEY_FILE"
+          aws --region us-west-2 secretsmanager get-secret-value --secret-id /cmbu-saltstack/signing/repo-signing-keys-sha256-2023 \
+            --query SecretString --output text | jq .default_key -r | base64 -d \
+            | gpg --passphrase-file "${SECRETS_KEY_FILE}" -d - \
+            | gpg --import -
+          aws --region us-west-2 secretsmanager get-secret-value --secret-id /cmbu-saltstack/signing/repo-signing-keys-sha256-2023 \
+            --query SecretString --output text| jq .default_passphrase -r | base64 -d \
+            | gpg --passphrase-file "${SECRETS_KEY_FILE}" -o "${GNUPGHOME}/passphrase" -d -
+          rm "$SECRETS_KEY_FILE"
+          echo "passphrase-file ${GNUPGHOME}/passphrase" >> "${GNUPGHOME}/gpg.conf"
+
       - name: Configure Git
         shell: bash
         run: |
           git config --global user.name "Salt Project Packaging"
           git config --global user.email saltproject-packaging@vmware.com
+          git config --global user.signingkey 64CBBC8173D76B3F
+          git config --global commit.gpgsign true
 
-      - name: Download The Release Artifacts
+      - name: Release Salt ${{ inputs.salt-version }}
+        id: release
         run: |
-          aws --region us-west-2 s3 cp --recursive s3://salt-project-prod-salt-artifacts-staging/release-artifacts/${{ inputs.salt-version }}/ release-artifacts
-      - name: Apply Release Patch
-        shell: bash
+          tools pkg repo publish release ${{ inputs.salt-version }}
+
+      - name: Apply The Release Patch
         run: |
           git am --committer-date-is-author-date release-artifacts/salt-${{ inputs.salt-version }}.patch
+          rm release-artifacts/salt-${{ inputs.salt-version }}.patch
+
+      - name: Tag The v${{ inputs.salt-version }} Release
+        run: |
+          git tag -m "Release v${{ inputs.salt-version }}" -as v${{ inputs.salt-version }}
+
+      - name: Push Changes
+        uses: ad-m/github-push-action@v0.6.0
+        with:
+          ssh: true
+          tags: true
+          atomic: true
+
+      - name: Create Github Release
+        uses: ncipollo/release-action@v1.12.0
+        with:
+          artifactErrorsFailBuild: true
+          artifacts: ${{ steps.release.outputs.release-artifacts }}
+          bodyFile: ${{ steps.release.outputs.release-messsage-file }}
+          draft: false
+          generateReleaseNotes: false
+          makeLatest: ${{ steps.release.outputs.make-latest }}
+          name: v${{ inputs.salt-version }}
+          prerelease: ${{ contains(inputs.salt-version, 'rc') }}
+          removeArtifacts: true
+          replacesArtifacts: true
+          tag: v${{ inputs.salt-version }}
+
 
 <%- endblock pre_jobs %>
 
diff --git a/tools/pkgrepo.py b/tools/pkgrepo.py
index 5988c4e0cbc..b4a35339fa7 100644
--- a/tools/pkgrepo.py
+++ b/tools/pkgrepo.py
@@ -835,12 +835,21 @@ def staging(ctx: Context, repo_path: pathlib.Path, rc_build: bool = False):
         "rc_build": {
             "help": "Release Candidate repository target",
         },
+        "key_id": {
+            "help": "The GnuPG key ID used to sign.",
+            "required": True,
+        },
     }
 )
-def release(ctx: Context, salt_version: str, rc_build: bool = False):
+def release(
+    ctx: Context, salt_version: str, key_id: str = None, rc_build: bool = False
+):
     """
     Publish to the release bucket.
     """
+    if TYPE_CHECKING:
+        assert key_id is not None
+
     if rc_build:
         bucket_folder = "salt_rc/py3"
     else:
@@ -850,7 +859,7 @@ def release(ctx: Context, salt_version: str, rc_build: bool = False):
     files_to_delete: list[str] = []
     files_to_duplicate: list[tuple[str, str]] = []
 
-    ctx.info("Grabing remote file listing of files to copy...")
+    ctx.info("Grabbing remote file listing of files to copy...")
 
     glob_match = f"{bucket_folder}/**/minor/{salt_version}/**"
     files_to_copy = _get_repo_file_list(
@@ -890,6 +899,10 @@ def release(ctx: Context, salt_version: str, rc_build: bool = False):
                 if "onedir" not in onedir_listing:
                     onedir_listing["onedir"] = []
                 onedir_listing["onedir"].append(fpath)
+            else:
+                if "package" not in onedir_listing:
+                    onedir_listing["package"] = []
+                onedir_listing["package"].append(fpath)
             ctx.info(f" * Copying {fpath}")
             try:
                 s3.copy_object(
@@ -909,6 +922,8 @@ def release(ctx: Context, salt_version: str, rc_build: bool = False):
                 progress.update(task, advance=1)
 
     # Now let's get the onedir based repositories where we need to update several repo.json
+    update_latest = False
+    update_minor = False
     major_version = packaging.version.parse(salt_version).major
     with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory(prefix=f"{salt_version}_release_") as tsd:
         repo_path = pathlib.Path(tsd)
@@ -973,6 +988,7 @@ def release(ctx: Context, salt_version: str, rc_build: bool = False):
             release_minor_repo_json[salt_version] = release_json
 
             if latest_version <= salt_version:
+                update_latest = True
                 release_repo_json["latest"] = release_json
                 glob_match = f"{bucket_folder}/{distro}/**/latest/**"
                 files_to_delete.extend(
@@ -988,6 +1004,7 @@ def release(ctx: Context, salt_version: str, rc_build: bool = False):
                     )
 
             if latest_minor_version <= salt_version:
+                update_minor = True
                 release_minor_repo_json["latest"] = release_json
                 glob_match = f"{bucket_folder}/{distro}/**/{major_version}/**"
                 files_to_delete.extend(
@@ -1012,6 +1029,44 @@ def release(ctx: Context, salt_version: str, rc_build: bool = False):
             ctx.info(f"Writing {repo_json_path} ...")
             repo_json_path.write_text(json.dumps(release_repo_json, sort_keys=True))
 
+        # Now lets handle latest and minor updates for non one dir based repositories
+        onedir_based_paths = (
+            f"{bucket_folder}/windows/",
+            f"{bucket_folder}/macos/",
+            f"{bucket_folder}/onedir/",
+        )
+        if update_latest:
+            glob_match = f"{bucket_folder}/**/latest/**"
+            for fpath in _get_repo_file_list(
+                bucket_name=tools.utils.RELEASE_BUCKET_NAME,
+                bucket_folder=bucket_folder,
+                glob_match=glob_match,
+            ):
+                if fpath.startswith(onedir_based_paths):
+                    continue
+                files_to_delete.append(fpath)
+
+            for fpath in onedir_listing["package"]:
+                files_to_duplicate.append(
+                    (fpath, fpath.replace(f"minor/{salt_version}", "latest"))
+                )
+
+        if update_minor:
+            glob_match = f"{bucket_folder}/**/{major_version}/**"
+            for fpath in _get_repo_file_list(
+                bucket_name=tools.utils.RELEASE_BUCKET_NAME,
+                bucket_folder=bucket_folder,
+                glob_match=glob_match,
+            ):
+                if fpath.startswith(onedir_based_paths):
+                    continue
+                files_to_delete.append(fpath)
+
+            for fpath in onedir_listing["package"]:
+                files_to_duplicate.append(
+                    (fpath, fpath.replace(f"minor/{salt_version}", str(major_version)))
+                )
+
         if files_to_delete:
             with tools.utils.create_progress_bar() as progress:
                 task = progress.add_task(
@@ -1069,6 +1124,89 @@ def release(ctx: Context, salt_version: str, rc_build: bool = False):
                         Callback=tools.utils.UpdateProgress(progress, task),
                     )
 
+    # Let's now download the release artifacts stored in staging
+    artifacts_path = pathlib.Path.cwd() / "release-artifacts"
+    artifacts_path.mkdir(exist_ok=True)
+    release_artifacts_listing: dict[pathlib.Path, int] = {}
+    continuation_token = None
+    while True:
+        kwargs: dict[str, str] = {}
+        if continuation_token:
+            kwargs["ContinuationToken"] = continuation_token
+        ret = s3.list_objects_v2(
+            Bucket=tools.utils.STAGING_BUCKET_NAME,
+            Prefix=f"release-artifacts/{salt_version}",
+            FetchOwner=False,
+            **kwargs,
+        )
+        contents = ret.pop("Contents", None)
+        if contents is None:
+            break
+        for entry in contents:
+            entry_path = pathlib.Path(entry["Key"])
+            release_artifacts_listing[entry_path] = entry["Size"]
+        if not ret["IsTruncated"]:
+            break
+        continuation_token = ret["NextContinuationToken"]
+
+    for entry_path, size in release_artifacts_listing.items():
+        ctx.info(f" * {entry_path.name}")
+        local_path = artifacts_path / entry_path.name
+        with local_path.open("wb") as wfh:
+            with tools.utils.create_progress_bar(file_progress=True) as progress:
+                task = progress.add_task(description="Downloading...", total=size)
+            s3.download_fileobj(
+                Bucket=tools.utils.STAGING_BUCKET_NAME,
+                Key=str(entry_path),
+                Fileobj=wfh,
+                Callback=tools.utils.UpdateProgress(progress, task),
+            )
+
+    for artifact in artifacts_path.iterdir():
+        if artifact.suffix == ".patch":
+            continue
+        tools.utils.gpg_sign(ctx, key_id, artifact)
+    # Export the GPG key in use
+    tools.utils.export_gpg_key(ctx, key_id, artifacts_path)
+
+    release_message = f"""\
+    # Welcome to Salt v{salt_version}
+
+    * For the latest release notes, see: [Release notes](https://docs.saltproject.io/en/latest/topics/releases/{salt_version}.html)
+    * For installation instructions, go to the [Salt install guide](https://docs.saltproject.io/salt/install-guide/en/latest/index.html)
+    * To access packages for the latest releases, go to the [Salt repository](https://repo.saltproject.io/)
+
+    The Salt Project Team.
+    """
+    release_message_path = artifacts_path / "gh-release-body.md"
+    release_message_path.write_text(textwrap.dedent(release_message).strip())
+
+    github_output = os.environ.get("GITHUB_OUTPUT")
+    if github_output is None:
+        ctx.warn("The 'GITHUB_OUTPUT' variable is not set. Stop processing.")
+        ctx.exit(0)
+
+    if TYPE_CHECKING:
+        assert github_output is not None
+
+    with open(github_output, "a", encoding="utf-8") as wfh:
+        wfh.write(f"release-messsage-file={release_message_path.resolve()}\n")
+
+    with open(github_output, "a", encoding="utf-8") as wfh:
+        wfh.write(f"make-latest={json.dumps(update_latest)}\n")
+
+    artifacts_to_upload = []
+    for artifact in artifacts_path.iterdir():
+        if artifact.suffix == ".patch":
+            continue
+        if artifact.name == release_message_path.name:
+            continue
+        artifacts_to_upload.append(str(artifact.resolve()))
+
+    with open(github_output, "a", encoding="utf-8") as wfh:
+        wfh.write(f"release-artifacts={','.join(artifacts_to_upload)}\n")
+    ctx.exit(0)
+
 
 def _get_repo_file_list(
     bucket_name: str, bucket_folder: str, glob_match: str