GAMI and Lockheed Martin to localise work on THAAD projects

The first, for localising the manufacture of missile interceptor launchers, and the second for producing the missile interceptor canisters locally.

In collaboration with Lockheed Martin, these projects fall under the programme for localisation of the THAAD Weapon System.

Such projects serve GAMI’s strategy to bolster relations with its international partners from across the globe along the Kingdom’s localisation journey, with the ultimate target of localising more than 50% of expenditure on defence equipment and services by the year 2030.

Gasem Al-Maimani, GAMI Deputy Governor, Military Industry stated that these two localisation projects, are in further service of this promising sector’s national priorities. Along this localisation journey, and with the robust relations with our international defence partners, air domain defence readiness is expected to be greatly enhanced, said Al-Maimani. He further noted that this project supports investment in building indigenous national capabilities, via empowering new and up-and-coming manufacturing entities, as well as leveraging the integration of efforts with large national companies, to secure their position of prominence globally. Ultimately, all of this facilitation and enablement, pours into achieving the sector’s strategic localisation target of more than 50%, and amplifying the scope and impact of existing capabilities, by 2030.

“For over 50 years, Lockheed Martin has been a committed partner to Saudi Arabia, as the country continues its journey toward ensuring a safe, secure and sustainable future for its people,” said Joseph Rank, chief executive for Lockheed Martin in Saudi Arabia and Africa. “Along with state-of-the-art defence products and innovative solutions, Lockheed Martin is engaged with its Saudi partners across several capacity building programs that are formulated to contribute to the realisation of the country’s development goals. This announcement will significantly boost global and regional security while supporting job creation and economic prosperity in Saudi Arabia.”

GAMI looks to secure its core national priorities, namely Military Readiness, Strategic Autonomy, Transparency and Efficiency of Spend, Sustainability of Local Military Industries, and Interoperability within and across Entities.