Saudi Arabia Expands Local Manufacturing of Lockheed Missile Defense System

Lockheed Martin has signed agreements for Saudi Arabian companies to manufacture parts of its THAAD missile defense system, aiming to enhance manufacturing capabilities in Saudi Arabia and transfer expertise to strengthen the country’s defense industry. The deal was announced on the sidelines of the World Defense Show in Riyadh, where state-owned Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) signed 11 agreements. This comes amid rising tensions in the region, with the United States and Britain conducting military operations in the Middle East against Iran-backed groups, and some shipping companies suspending transit along the Red Sea route due to security concerns. Additionally, Qatar's Barzan Holdings has signed a preliminary agreement with SAMI, marking the first such deal between defense companies in the Gulf, following the restoration of ties between Saudi Arabia and Qatar after a bitter rivalry since 2017.