The Saudi General Authority for Military Industries announced its approval of two projects to localize the manufacture of interceptor missile launchers in addition to the manufacture of missile containers locally, in cooperation with Lockheed Martin Saudi Arabia Limited, which comes as one of the projects to localize the missile air defense system (THAAD).

These projects are in line with the strategy of the General Authority for Military Industries in terms of strengthening work with its international partners from various countries of the world to contribute to supporting the process of localizing military industries in the Kingdom, with more than 50% of government spending on military equipment and services by 2030.

For his part, the Deputy Governor for the Industry Sector, Engineer Qassim bin Abdulghani Al-Maimani, confirmed that the two projects to localize the manufacture of interceptor launch pads, in addition to manufacturing missile containers locally, come within the authority’s efforts to focus on achieving national priorities in this promising sector by continuing the process of localizing the military and defense industries. The local authorities in the Kingdom, in cooperation with its international partners, to contribute - God willing - to raising the level of military and security readiness of the air defense system.

He said: This project would support investment in building local industrial capabilities by empowering new and growing entities in the field of manufacturing, and integrating with the efforts of large national companies to enhance their global position, pointing out that the localization of the industry of this system comes as an affirmation of the authority's determination to move forward towards Achieving its first strategic objective of localizing more than 50% of the Kingdom’s spending on military equipment and services, in addition to expanding the scope and impact of current capabilities by 2030.

Joseph Rank, CEO of Lockheed Martin Saudi Arabia Ltd., confirmed that Lockheed Martin has been cooperating with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for more than 50 years, which confirms the common desire and the strategic relationship based on the principle of cooperation in achieving common interests at the level of localizing the military and defense industries in the sector. .

He pointed out that in addition to its advanced defense products and innovative solutions, Lockheed Martin is working with its partners in the Kingdom on several capacity building programs, with the aim of being part of the system led by the General Authority for Military Industries in achieving the Kingdom's development goals in the sector.

It is noteworthy that the authority’s announcement of the localization of the manufacture of interceptor missile launchers, in addition to the manufacture of missile containers locally in cooperation with Lockheed Martin Saudi Arabia Ltd., is part of the agreement to localize the system to contribute to the development of military industries in the Kingdom and support the process of its localization.

The General Authority for Military Industries seeks to achieve the national priorities of raising military readiness, enhancing strategic independence and joint operation between all security and military authorities, developing a sustainable local military industries sector, and raising transparency and spending efficiency.