Lockheed Martin to invest $1 billion into weapons manufacturing in Saudi Arabia

Lockheed Martin will invest over $1 billion into the domestic weapons manufacturing industry of Saudi Arabia, announced Ray Piselli, vice president of international business for Lockheed Martin.

According to a report by Asharq Business on 8 March, Lockheed Martin will work with Saudi General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI), the kingdom’s industry regulator, and Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI), the state-owned weapons manufacturer.

While Piselli did not give many details of the agreement, GAMI declared that its partnership with Lockheed Martin will include making parts for its THAAD missile defense system.

Piselli declared that Saudi Arabia will become part of the global export market, where products and parts manufactured in the kingdom will be linked to global supply chains.

Saudi Arabia has been seeking to reduce its dependence on Western arms sales, as well as its reliance on its oil revenues.

On Mar. 3, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman (MbS) suggested that the Gulf kingdom may reduce its investments in the US, which has been the steady supplier of arms to Saudi Arabia, helping to fuel its war against Yemen.