Saudi Press Agency
Saudi Minister of the National Guard Prince Abdullah bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz signed contracts and memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with international and domestic companies, on the sidelines of the World Defense Show (WDS) 2024 in Riyadh.
The Saudi minister signed an MoU with the Elm Technology Company for Industrial Development and Investment to localize the industry of unmanned aircraft systems and systems to respond to chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear attacks.
He signed another MoU with INTRA Defense Technologies Company regarding the localization of the unmanned aircraft systems industry and cooperation in operation, support, training, maintenance, and drone development.
The National Guard minister signed a contract with European land-defense association KNDS to supply ammunition, with the industrial participation rate for its localization reaching approximately 62%.
Two other contracts were signed with Saudi-based companies to localize the maintenance and operation of the fields of the Ministry of the National Guard and to localize the maintenance and operation of the ministry’s ground systems simulators.
These contracts and MoUs fall within the framework of increasing the localization of the military industries sector in the Kingdom, the localization of procurement operations for arming the Ministry of the National Guard, and the localization of capabilities appropriate to the ministry’s requirements in a way that supports the ministry’s operational and combat readiness.
Additionally, these contracts and MoUs provide more job opportunities for Saudi youth, provide a network of services and technical support for military industries, benefit from and developing local capabilities, and support its strategy to build a local and sustainable military industries sector.