Riyadh, February 06, 2024, Prince Abdullah bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, the Saudi Minister of the National Guard, engaged in a series of significant signings on the sidelines of the prestigious World Defense Show (WDS) 2024 in Riyadh, signaling a robust commitment to advancing the Kingdom's military capabilities.
Among the notable agreements inked, the Minister signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Elm Technology Company for Industrial Development and Investment, aimed at localizing the unmanned aircraft systems industry and systems designed to counter chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats. Another MoU was formalized with INTRA Defense Technologies Company, focusing on the localization of unmanned aircraft systems and collaboration in various operational aspects including support, training, maintenance, and drone development.
In a move to enhance the Kingdom's defense capabilities, the National Guard Minister sealed a contract with the European land-defense association KNDS for the supply of ammunition, with a significant industrial participation rate of approximately 62% earmarked for localization efforts.
Additionally, contracts with Saudi-based companies were finalized to localize maintenance and operation services for Ministry of the National Guard fields, as well as ground systems simulators, further bolstering the domestic defense infrastructure.
These strategic agreements and MoUs align with the broader objective of enhancing the localization of the military industries sector in the Kingdom, streamlining procurement processes for arming the Ministry of the National Guard, and developing capabilities tailored to the ministry's operational needs to bolster its readiness.
Furthermore, these initiatives are poised to create numerous job opportunities for Saudi youth, establish a robust network of services and technical support for military industries, nurture and harness local capabilities, and advance the strategy of building a self-reliant and sustainable military industries sector in the Kingdom.
