The US "Lockheed Martin" strives to make a joint military manufacturing with Saudi Arabia

Lockheed Martin then strives for American Defense Industries to enter the joint production phase and develop products with Saudi Arabia, to overcome the phase of components and maintenance work currently undertaken in the kingdom, according to CEO Joseph Rank. He added in an interview with “Al -Sharq” that the target is a joint development of products and systems that meet the needs of the kingdom and the region, and even world markets, and note that the company’s strategy is in line with the “Kingdom’s Vision 2030”. Since 1965, the company has penetrated its relationship with Saudi Arabia, which began selling its products from aircraft, helicopters, radars and satellites to follow a new stage proposed at the production of components for defense equipment, in addition to establishing a maintenance, repair and rehabilitation center in the Kingdom. Ray Beselle, Vice President of International Affairs at the US Company, said in an interview with “Al Sharq” in 2023: “We have the requirements of decades -shaped relocation requirements … We need a lot of investments, but we need more.” He pointed out that there are pieces for the “thaad” system manufactured in Saudi Arabia, saying: “We want to establish the operations in the kingdom, instead of producing a piece of a system purchased, we are trying to manufacture locally.” Rank noted that the maintenance center in the kingdom enabled the business to conduct maintenance, repair of errors and rehabilitation of equipment in the kingdom, which exempted the company to load the equipment to the United States to do so. In addition, in the human element, the company also invests in Saudi human capital by providing practical experience and real practice for them to develop their capabilities to lead the Saudi Market in the defense and air and satellite industries sector. Rank is of the opinion that a partnership with Saudi Arabia benefits the two parties, as increasing cooperation between them contributes to the creation of jobs in the United States and Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia aims to reach the localization of military industries to 50% by the end of the decade. According to the “Vision 2030” annual report for the year 2024, it reached 19%at the end of last year. The Kingdom allocated 272 billion Riyale to spend on the sector in the 2025 budget, accounting for about 21% of total expenses. According to the national operating strategy, which was launched in October 2022 by the Saudi Kroon Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, the contribution of defense and military industries in the local product is supposed to reach 95 billion Riyals in 2030.