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Tuesday was another big day for the domestic defense industry as the World Defense show continued. The gathering will wrap tomorrow (Thursday, 8 February). Among yesterday’s highlights:
#1- The Defense Ministry struck a USD 3.2 bn contract with South Korean missile maker LIG Nex1 for the purchase of mid-range-surface-air-to-missiles (M-SAM II), Yonhap News Agency reported yesterday, citing a statement from Korea’s Defense Ministry.
What we know: Seoul’s Defense Ministry said a MoU was signed between the two parties in November. It did not provide details on when the so-called hit-to-kill missile system would be exported to the Kingdom. The missile system is said to provide surface-to-air defense capability at an altitude of about 40 kilometers from artillery and aircraft threats, according to LIG Nex1.
#2- South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) inked an MoU with the Saudi Defense Ministry on joint weapons development, the South Korean news agency added. As part of the agreement, a bilateral committee will be established to research and develop weapons systems.
#3- Saudi Arabian Military Industries (Sami) signaled even more ambitious plans to grow the nation’s domestic defense systems industry, signing agreements with local firms, state news agency SPA reported.
At the top of the list: An MoU with a unit of Al Zamil Industrial Holding set up an industrial complex at Al Kharj near capital Riyadh. The complex — the first of its kind in the Kingdom — will manufacture armed vehicles and land combat systems. It will serve as a main hub for the design and manufacture of 4×4, 6×6, and 8×8 armored vehicles.
Sami is the Public Investment Fund’s national defense and security champion.
#4- South African outfit looks to produce drones here: South African defense firm Milkor has obtained a manufacturing permit from the Kingdom to manufacture and assemble its in-development 380 combat drone as talks continue on a purchase order, the company’s Business Development Manager Harry Cassidy told Breaking Defense. “We are in talks on procurement with high-level Saudi Arabian officials,” Cassidy said. “We have a local office [in Riyadh], which could support full assembly and production” if an agreement is reached on an order, he added.
REMEMBER- The Kingdom has a target of localizing over 50% of its military equipment spending by 2030.
On the sidelines of WDS:
- Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman discussed with his Italian counterpart Guido Crosetto boosting cooperation in military industries between the two countries;
- National Guard Minister Prince Abdullah bin Abdelaziz discussed potential partnerships in military industries with South Korean National Defense Minister Shin Won-sik.
