Saudi Arabia Plans To Locally Produce 16000 Defense Items By 2020

Saudi Arabia plans to produce 16000 items for its armed forces locally by 2020.

The long-term goal would be to focus on producing at least 50 percent of critical items used by the armed forces by 2030, Maj. Gen. Atiya Al-Maliki, general manager of the General Department for Local Manufacturing said during a meeting on Wednesday at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI).

Saudi Arabia launched new military industries company ‘Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) Thursday.

SAMI will manufacture products and provide services across four business units: Air Systems, which includes maintenance and repair of fixed-wing aircraft as well as manufacturing and repair of unmanned air vehicles; Land Systems, which includes manufacturing and repair of military vehicles; Weapons & Missiles - including ammunition; and Defense Electronics, which includes radars and sensors as well as communication systems and electronic warfare.

SAMI’s four business units closely complement the Kingdom’s future military requirements and build on existing local capabilities. SAMI will establish companies through joint ventures with global original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), as well as cooperating with local military companies. SAMI will consider creating new business units, to ensure the company is aligned with the latest developments in the military industries sector.