Saudi Arabia is seeking to mirror its investment in the South African defence industry to provide indigenous manufacturing and design capabilities in the near future, with Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) hopeful multiple joint ventures will be authorised in the next two years.
The first two of these deals are anticipated to be signed by the end of 2018.
A significant importer of foreign technology and hardware, Saudi Arabia has looked to build up its own industrial base in recent years. In 2017 a deal was signed with China that will see the local manufacture of CH-4 UAVs, one of