Can Saudi Arabia Create an Indigenous Defense Industry?

[theman111]

It is a huge boost for their domestic industry.

domestic its only of you use saudi arabia people

 

[Saif al-Arab]

Smart-er. Not smartest. Egypt produces better engineers and scientists, more PhD grads and file for more patents than the oil rich peninsula.

Basically everything that you wrote, jungle dweller, was false. I saw that you ignored my post number 15 in this thread. Did it hurt?

Egypt has a IQ lower (your initial method of measurement) than all countries of the Arabian Peninsula expect for Qatar. Significantly lower.

https://iq-research.info/en/page/average-iq-by-country

As for patents, that is also very much wrong.

https://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/ac/ido/oeip/taf/cst_all.htm

KSA has the 34th most patents in the world. Way better than 99% of all Muslim countries. Egypt had 5 times less patents than KSA.

Let's get some facts onboard for once in this useless thread.

Oiling the wheels on a road to success
​

Pakinam Amer
Nature 532,
Published online
27 April 2016

With the benefit of a sustainable plan and the funds to back it, Saudi Arabia is aiming high.
Saudi Arabia's scientific development may be in its infancy, but the oil-rich Kingdom is making strides in terms of research investment and publication — with a clear ambition to one day join those in the highest echelons.

KAUST students embark on a new school year with a commencement ceremony. The relatively new university has quickly made an impact on the Nature Index.​

In 2012, Saudi Arabia had a weighted fractional count (WFC) of 52.84 in the index, sitting behind Turkey, Iran, Mexico, Chile and South Africa. In four years it rose 86.8% to reach a WFC of 98.67, leapfrogging all these countries to compete with Chile and Argentina globally. Saudi Arabia ranks at number 31 in the world in terms of WFC — up from 39 in 2012.

The country has risen even higher in specific subject areas. In chemistry, for example, it has surpassed countries with a strong scientific impact like Finland and Ireland, with its WFC rising to 66.54, achieving almost a three-fold increase from its position in 2012.

Institutionally, the country's leading science hub King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) made an impressive leap in its WFC between 2012 and 2015, carving a place for itself to compete with American and European research powerhouses.

In just four years, its WFC has risen to become higher than those of prestigious institutions including the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), the University of Georgia, United States, and Dresden University of Technology, Germany, to name a few. The output of all of these institutions dwarfed KAUST's in 2012, but KAUST's impressive trajectory since then has seen its WFC shoot to 72 in 2015, overtaking these heavy-hitters.

The country's science development ambitions have been backed by action. Since 2008, the country has embarked on a multi-tiered strategy that will see the Kingdom overhaul its science infrastructure, build high-spec labs, secure grants for research in priority areas in applied science, and link science to industries that drive the economy.

The strategy, broken into four stages to be implemented by 2030, aims to eventually “see Saudi Arabia become a leader in Asia and give it an economic power based on science,” says Abdulaziz Al-Swailem, vice president of scientific research support at King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST).

The Saudi Human Genome Project will sequence 100,000 human genomes to conduct biomedical research in the Saudi population.​

Saudi Arabia's march to the top
Saudi Arabia's efforts to boost its scientific research have been paying off, with its output in the Nature Index (WFC) rising steadily over the years. The two graphs below highlight Saudi Arabia's rise compared to other nations, both overall and for chemistry.

Overall output
In 2012 Saudi Arabia's overall output in the index was below all the countries shown, but continuous efforts have seen the Kingdom's WFC rise to overtake them all in 2015.



Chemistry
More marked than its overall rise, Saudi Arabia has made great strides in chemistry. After accelerated growth, which saw the Kingdom's chemistry WFC triple since 2012, it has outshone many larger players in the field in 2015.



The Kingdom's science investments focus on applied research that feeds directly into the country's industrial interests, particularly the oil and energy sector. But even in its strong subjects, chemistry and the physical sciences, Saudi Arabia's WFC remains modest compared to big players in Asia like China, Japan and South Korea.

To truly swim comfortably with these bigger fish, Saudi Arabia may benefit from looking at successful emerging economies in Asia.

One inspiration could be India. In addition to multi-disciplinary scientific and technical advancements that have improved its output in the index from 736.5 to 901.4 in the past four years, the subcontinental giant has joined the exclusive club of countries that have launched successful space missions.

Like Saudi Arabia, India's leading research institutes focus on chemistry, and their total output currently outstrips their Saudi Arabian counterparts by almost a factor of seven (the latter surpassing 472 in 2015, while the former is 66.5).

India's prowess in chemistry is something that Saudi Arabia can aspire to, considering that working conditions for researchers in the Kingdom are more conducive.

India's science ecosystem is far from perfect. Research funding cannot keep up with inflation and a general slowdown in the country's economy. In addition, commentators from the research community say the funding processes are lengthy, bureaucratic, and provide little feedback when applications for grants are turned down. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia's healthy stream of oil revenue provides assured funding for the country's state-of-the-art research facilities.

While India has slightly increased spending and dedicated US$1.19 billion for the next fiscal year (2016–2017) for science, it has around 700 universities and 200,000 full-time researchers drawing on the same funding pot. By contrast, Saudi Arabia has pledged an education and training budget of US$50.9 billion for next year, which includes higher education and scientific research. With a total population of just 30 million, it has a much lower number of full-time researchers competing for the available resources.

Another impressive trajectory that Saudi Arabia might look to emulate is that of Singapore, which has a smaller population as well and has managed to climb high in the index. Like the Kingdom, Singapore also has a focus on chemistry research, and it has put together a similar top-down national science strategy for research institutes across the country. Both countries have strong collaborations with top universities around the world and are welcoming of foreign researchers in their efforts to drive innovation.

Mansour Alghamdi, director of the general directorate of scientific awareness and publishing at KACST, is optimistic that Saudi Arabia can bridge the large gap that currently exists in the volume of scientific output between it and such countries as India and Singapore.

“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has a clear plan to do so and it has the resources,” he says.

Future growth
An internationally rising star
This graph shows KAUST's rise compared to a selection of other institutions*.
*Institutions shown are those that were furthest above KAUST in 2012, have experienced overall growth in WFC by 2015 and have been overtaken by KAUST in 2015. For clarity, only 2012 and 2015 data points are shown.

In 2012, Saudi's ranking in research output, with a WFC of 52.8, meant it was comparable with countries like South Africa, Turkey and Iran, all hovering around the 60–70 mark. Its WFC stood way below countries like Mexico, Hungary, Chile, Greece and Argentina.

Saudi Arabian researchers benefit from cutting-edge labs and generous funding that has boosted the country's R&D.​

Four years later, the country's research outlook is very different and it is surpassing countries like Argentina, Mexico and Hungary in the index, and levelling the playing field with Chile. Chemistry research led the country's rapid rise to surpass these countries, but its life sciences and physical sciences WFCs of 8.5 and 31.5 still lag behind.

However, the Kingdom's AC has been steadily growing in these two fields over the past four years, hinting at the ever-increasing significance of international collaborations. It seems that Saudi Arabian researchers are casting their nets ever wider and are participating in publishing more articles, to the detriment of the WFC accredited for these articles.

Though international collaboration has proved fruitful, Saudi Arabia must keep a focus on nurturing home-grown talent, says Nasser Al-Aqeeli, dean of research at King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM), based in Dhahran's 'techno valley' in the eastern region of the Kingdom. In the next five years, he says, the country will focus on a programme for national capacity building.

A good first step was the Saudi government's decision to create a large scholarship programme in 2005, arguably the largest in the world, which has seen more than 200,000 young Saudi Arabians studying abroad. This makes Saudi Arabian students in the United States the fourth largest bloc of expatriate students, following those of China, India and South Korea. The government hopes these students will come back and drive a scientific culture in the country.
Saudi Arabia is also looking to increase its applied research focus, which is an integral part of the current phase of its national science strategy, while securing good funding for basic research as well. Al-Aqeeli says that Saudi's journey involves what he termed a “self-correcting mechanism” where the country is having a slow start in high-impact research, but a more sustainable one. An eventual future move towards basic research might help Saudi Arabia's research capacity to mature.

http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v532/n7600_supp_ni/full/532S13a.html

@WebMaster @Horus

This thread is a repost by a formerly permanently banned "Israeli" user and this thread was discussed to death. So far, as can be seen, this thread is dominated by empty statements that have no credibility on the ground realities. One ignorant after the other with no clue about the topic is commenting based on some inaccurate initial article.

 

[theman111]

View attachment 371860
Saudi Arabian made MRAP 'Al-Masmak'

the "latest tech" like f 22

 

[Hassan Guy]

Saudi Arabian Saqr drone
http://www.arabnews.com/news/467431

 

[Awan68]

Probably not.

The arabs can if they are free of the saudis, but as long as those dummy saudis keep the arabs dumbed down they just cannot, any indigenious industry will have foriegn admins, scientists and workers, the arabs simply doont have the educational and research skills to embark on such an endevour, they need to invest on education heavily for 20 yrs befoe they can even think of developing a totally arab run indigenous defence industry..

 

[theman111]

Basically everything that you wrote, jungle dweller, was false. I saw that you ignored my post number 15 in this thread. Did it hurt?

Egypt has a IQ lower (your initial method of measurement) than all countries of the Arabian Peninsula expect for Qatar. Significantly lower.

https://iq-research.info/en/page/average-iq-by-country

As for patents, that is also very much wrong.

https://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/ac/ido/oeip/taf/cst_all.htm

KSA has the 34th most patents in the world. Way better than 99% of all Muslim countries. Egypt had 5 times less patents than KSA.

Let's get some facts onboard for once in this useless thread.

Oiling the wheels on a road to success
​

Pakinam Amer
Nature 532,
Published online
27 April 2016

With the benefit of a sustainable plan and the funds to back it, Saudi Arabia is aiming high.
Saudi Arabia's scientific development may be in its infancy, but the oil-rich Kingdom is making strides in terms of research investment and publication — with a clear ambition to one day join those in the highest echelons.

KAUST students embark on a new school year with a commencement ceremony. The relatively new university has quickly made an impact on the Nature Index.​

In 2012, Saudi Arabia had a weighted fractional count (WFC) of 52.84 in the index, sitting behind Turkey, Iran, Mexico, Chile and South Africa. In four years it rose 86.8% to reach a WFC of 98.67, leapfrogging all these countries to compete with Chile and Argentina globally. Saudi Arabia ranks at number 31 in the world in terms of WFC — up from 39 in 2012.

The country has risen even higher in specific subject areas. In chemistry, for example, it has surpassed countries with a strong scientific impact like Finland and Ireland, with its WFC rising to 66.54, achieving almost a three-fold increase from its position in 2012.

Institutionally, the country's leading science hub King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) made an impressive leap in its WFC between 2012 and 2015, carving a place for itself to compete with American and European research powerhouses.

In just four years, its WFC has risen to become higher than those of prestigious institutions including the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), the University of Georgia, United States, and Dresden University of Technology, Germany, to name a few. The output of all of these institutions dwarfed KAUST's in 2012, but KAUST's impressive trajectory since then has seen its WFC shoot to 72 in 2015, overtaking these heavy-hitters.

The country's science development ambitions have been backed by action. Since 2008, the country has embarked on a multi-tiered strategy that will see the Kingdom overhaul its science infrastructure, build high-spec labs, secure grants for research in priority areas in applied science, and link science to industries that drive the economy.

The strategy, broken into four stages to be implemented by 2030, aims to eventually “see Saudi Arabia become a leader in Asia and give it an economic power based on science,” says Abdulaziz Al-Swailem, vice president of scientific research support at King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST).

The Saudi Human Genome Project will sequence 100,000 human genomes to conduct biomedical research in the Saudi population.​

Saudi Arabia's march to the top
Saudi Arabia's efforts to boost its scientific research have been paying off, with its output in the Nature Index (WFC) rising steadily over the years. The two graphs below highlight Saudi Arabia's rise compared to other nations, both overall and for chemistry.

Overall output
In 2012 Saudi Arabia's overall output in the index was below all the countries shown, but continuous efforts have seen the Kingdom's WFC rise to overtake them all in 2015.



Chemistry
More marked than its overall rise, Saudi Arabia has made great strides in chemistry. After accelerated growth, which saw the Kingdom's chemistry WFC triple since 2012, it has outshone many larger players in the field in 2015.



The Kingdom's science investments focus on applied research that feeds directly into the country's industrial interests, particularly the oil and energy sector. But even in its strong subjects, chemistry and the physical sciences, Saudi Arabia's WFC remains modest compared to big players in Asia like China, Japan and South Korea.

To truly swim comfortably with these bigger fish, Saudi Arabia may benefit from looking at successful emerging economies in Asia.

One inspiration could be India. In addition to multi-disciplinary scientific and technical advancements that have improved its output in the index from 736.5 to 901.4 in the past four years, the subcontinental giant has joined the exclusive club of countries that have launched successful space missions.

Like Saudi Arabia, India's leading research institutes focus on chemistry, and their total output currently outstrips their Saudi Arabian counterparts by almost a factor of seven (the latter surpassing 472 in 2015, while the former is 66.5).

India's prowess in chemistry is something that Saudi Arabia can aspire to, considering that working conditions for researchers in the Kingdom are more conducive.

India's science ecosystem is far from perfect. Research funding cannot keep up with inflation and a general slowdown in the country's economy. In addition, commentators from the research community say the funding processes are lengthy, bureaucratic, and provide little feedback when applications for grants are turned down. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia's healthy stream of oil revenue provides assured funding for the country's state-of-the-art research facilities.

While India has slightly increased spending and dedicated US$1.19 billion for the next fiscal year (2016–2017) for science, it has around 700 universities and 200,000 full-time researchers drawing on the same funding pot. By contrast, Saudi Arabia has pledged an education and training budget of US$50.9 billion for next year, which includes higher education and scientific research. With a total population of just 30 million, it has a much lower number of full-time researchers competing for the available resources.

Another impressive trajectory that Saudi Arabia might look to emulate is that of Singapore, which has a smaller population as well and has managed to climb high in the index. Like the Kingdom, Singapore also has a focus on chemistry research, and it has put together a similar top-down national science strategy for research institutes across the country. Both countries have strong collaborations with top universities around the world and are welcoming of foreign researchers in their efforts to drive innovation.

Mansour Alghamdi, director of the general directorate of scientific awareness and publishing at KACST, is optimistic that Saudi Arabia can bridge the large gap that currently exists in the volume of scientific output between it and such countries as India and Singapore.

“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has a clear plan to do so and it has the resources,” he says.

Future growth
An internationally rising star
This graph shows KAUST's rise compared to a selection of other institutions*.
*Institutions shown are those that were furthest above KAUST in 2012, have experienced overall growth in WFC by 2015 and have been overtaken by KAUST in 2015. For clarity, only 2012 and 2015 data points are shown.

In 2012, Saudi's ranking in research output, with a WFC of 52.8, meant it was comparable with countries like South Africa, Turkey and Iran, all hovering around the 60–70 mark. Its WFC stood way below countries like Mexico, Hungary, Chile, Greece and Argentina.

Saudi Arabian researchers benefit from cutting-edge labs and generous funding that has boosted the country's R&D.​

Four years later, the country's research outlook is very different and it is surpassing countries like Argentina, Mexico and Hungary in the index, and levelling the playing field with Chile. Chemistry research led the country's rapid rise to surpass these countries, but its life sciences and physical sciences WFCs of 8.5 and 31.5 still lag behind.

However, the Kingdom's AC has been steadily growing in these two fields over the past four years, hinting at the ever-increasing significance of international collaborations. It seems that Saudi Arabian researchers are casting their nets ever wider and are participating in publishing more articles, to the detriment of the WFC accredited for these articles.

Though international collaboration has proved fruitful, Saudi Arabia must keep a focus on nurturing home-grown talent, says Nasser Al-Aqeeli, dean of research at King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM), based in Dhahran's 'techno valley' in the eastern region of the Kingdom. In the next five years, he says, the country will focus on a programme for national capacity building.

A good first step was the Saudi government's decision to create a large scholarship programme in 2005, arguably the largest in the world, which has seen more than 200,000 young Saudi Arabians studying abroad. This makes Saudi Arabian students in the United States the fourth largest bloc of expatriate students, following those of China, India and South Korea. The government hopes these students will come back and drive a scientific culture in the country.
Saudi Arabia is also looking to increase its applied research focus, which is an integral part of the current phase of its national science strategy, while securing good funding for basic research as well. Al-Aqeeli says that Saudi's journey involves what he termed a “self-correcting mechanism” where the country is having a slow start in high-impact research, but a more sustainable one. An eventual future move towards basic research might help Saudi Arabia's research capacity to mature.

http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v532/n7600_supp_ni/full/532S13a.html

and where the teachers from usa europe?

 

[Awan68]

Which world do u live in u dumb idiot, we just conducted a mirv missle test and ur comparing ur iq to pakistan's, u need to accept reality before things can get better for u, u need education, u need research facilities, u need experience, u can get there but it will yake time, pakistan and india had high class educational facilities and a long list of scientists since thier independence, u have atleast 70 yrs worth catching up to do before u can compare ur self with pakistani's, im not saying this to get u down, i hate the alsaud family but i love the arabs more than any other nation on earth, i have arab anscestroy myself, but u need to accept reality and focus on ways to get ahead, we pakistani's xan ofcourse help u with that as we already train most of ur army s.and airforce..

The average IQ of the Arab world is higher than South Asia and the same as in Iran and the Middle East region.

KSA and Iran have the same IQ as do Pakistan btw according to this.

https://iq-research.info/en/page/average-iq-by-country

Bangladesh, India, Bhutan, Nepal etc. have a lower IQ.

As for the entire discussion of IQ. It is mostly useless as documented by numerous sources.

Cretin. Back to your tiny swamp, jungle dweller.

Your achievements as a people don't even reach the angles of our achievements throughout history. So know your place.

As for insulting, I don't ever insult people out of nowhere but when you have clowns like this guy they will get a reply they will understand.

 

[Saif al-Arab]

As for people claiming that KSA does not produce ammunition (lol).

$240-million Al-Kharj (KSA) facility to produce top-class artillery​

RIYADH: South African President Jacob Zuma, who was on a one-day state visit to Riyadh on Sunday, opened a projectiles factory along with Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Both were taken on a tour by Mohamed Al-Mady, head of Saudi Military Industries Corporation. He briefed the visitors on the services and facilities at the new complex.
The complex features nine industrial buildings, each allocated to a specific productivity, such as processing, packaging, assembly and filling, destructive testing and nondestructive testing, heat and surface treatments.
The complex produces military projectiles ranging from shells of medium caliber such as mortar rounds (60mm, 81mm 120mm), artillery shells (105mm and 155mm) and heavy shells such as aircraft bombs weighing from 500 pounds to 2,000 pounds.
Al-Mady said the SR900 million Saudi Military Industries Corporation is a licensed company, which will be operating in alliance with South Africa-based Rheinmetall Denel Munition.
The facility is expected to produce 300 artillery shells or 600 mortar projectiles a day, Al-Mady said, adding that this plant would be managed by 130 engineers and operators.
South Africa-based RDM specializes in the development, design and manufacture of large- and medium-caliber ammunition families and is a world leader in the field of artillery, mortar and infantry systems as well as plant engineering.

Source. Arab News (I cannot yet post any direct links).

South African defence company partners Saudi Arabian counterpart in new factory
South African defence company Rheinmetall Denel Munition (RDM) has helped set up a munitions manufacturing plant in Saudi Arabia in a venture with that country's Military Industries Corporation (MIC), the Saudi Press Agency has reported. According to MIC head Mohammad Almadhi, the establishment of the plant cost some $240-million and it was built under license from, and with the assistance of, RDM. The new factory was opened on March 27 by South African President Jacob Zuma and by Saudi Deputy Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz. (Prince Mohammad is also his country's Second Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and chairperson of the board of directors of the MIC). The facility is located at Al-Kharj, in central Saudi Arabia, south of the capital, Riyadh.

The plant will manufacture 60 mm, 81 mm and 120 mm mortar bombs, 105 mm and 155 mm artillery shells and aircraft bombs ranging from 226 kg (500 lb) to 907 kg (2000 lb). It is composed of nine industrial buildings, each with its own specific function, including heat treatment and surface treatment, assembly and filling, processing, packaging and destructive and nondestructive testing. According to Almadhi, the factory has a production capacity of 300 artillery shells or 600 mortar bombs a day. It will be staffed by 130 engineers and operators. He further noted that his company was now able to make many different defence products.

RDM is a joint venture between German defence group Rheinmetall Waffe Munition and South African State-owned defence industrial group Denel and was created in 2008. Rheinmetall holds 51% of RDM and Denel the remaining 49%. RDM describes itself on its website as a company that "specialises in the development, design and manufacture of large- and medium-calibre ammunition families and is a world leader in the field of artillery, mortar and infantry systems, as well as plant engineering". The Middle East is one of its target markets.

Zuma was in Saudi Arabia on March 27 and 28 on a State visit. The aim of the visit was to strengthen political and economic ties between the two countries, including increasing trade and investment.
Consequnetly, one of the members of his delegation was Trade and Industry Minister Dr Rob Davies.

The defence industry was one of the sectors that received special attention. Other sectors highlighted by the South African delegation included agricultural products, agroprocessed goods and services, manufacturing and mineral beneficiation. The involvement of South African companies in construction and engineering in infrastructure development in Saudi Arabia, under the Saudi National Transformation Plan, was also stressed.

"We are very pleased that this State visit will ensure, among other things, continued Saudi private-sector investment in our country's renewable-energy sector in support of the National Development Plan; the South African petrochemicals sector; banking and finance; and tourism infrastructure, as well as Saudi participation as a maritime State in our Operation Phakisa," affirmed Zuma. During his visit he also addressed a meeting of high-level South African and Saudi business leaders. He urged them to set up an entity to promote business-to-business cooperation between the two countries, with the aim of increasing Saudi investment in South Africa and South African exports to Saudi Arabia.

Source: Engineering News (I cannot yet post any direct links).

------------------------

Very soon these "babies" below will be mass produced.

KSA is moving forward slowly but steadily. The tempo of the developments will likely increase as the goal is to create a successful indigenous arms industry. By 2030, if not sooner, 50% of KSA's military purchases will be local. That is the declared official policy and concrete steps have already been taken towards fulfilling that goal.

http://www.defensenews.com/story/breaking-news/2016/04/25/united-arab-emirates/83497394/

Besides all NATO-type small arms used by Saudi Arabia are produced in Saudi Arabia alongside ammunition from 9mm up to 20mm cannon shells.
Recently, the factories were upgraded with the help of Denel corporation (of South Africa) to produce mortar bombs and artillery shells up to 155mm caliber.
Many of the light armored vehicles and MRAPs are now produced in Saudi Arabia (Shibl-1, Shibl-2 and Masmak MRAP)
In cooperation with Antonov, Saudi Arabia will produce Antonov Cargo planes in-country
Czech Manufacturer Tatra has an assembly plant in country that already provides medium and heavy transport trucks for Saudi forces
Saudi Arabia already produces the British Thales Damocles targeting pod in country
The same company maintains the spares for the Sniper targeting pods
Taqnia Aernoautics will build a helicopter production facility in country with the help of Sikorsky
The recent F-15SA deal included parts by Al Salam Aircraft company Most notably the front fuselage and the wing portions

Overall, it's not where it needs to be (far from it) but the situation is getting better. After all we only have around 27 million locals (albeit we have a growing population) locals so this limits the capabilities especially as we are a developing country despite very high living standards.

The youth of KSA today (over 2/3 of the population is below 30 years of age) is highly educated and if the private sector became much more developed (a key area for future success and a key focus area in the "Saudi Arabia Vision 2030") an indigenous arms industry could provide thousands upon thousands of jobs for local engineers, manufacturing firms etc.

The focus should be on JVs with fellow Arab, Muslim and allied countries but not only. Cooperation should reach new heights. It's the necessity of the hour for all Arab and Muslim countries. The future is highly promising if given the chance to blossom.

Reading this article below will give you more information about the local arms industry in relation to the "Saudi Arabia Vision 2030".

http://saudigazette.com.sa/opinion/saudi-vision-2030-arms-imports-military-industrialization/

As for building fighter jets, that is currently not a realistic goal and even if it was it would require huge investments and cooperation with military partners that have mastered this field. Not something that can be done overnight. I believe that such a project, if it happens, should be a joint GCC/Arab/friendly partners project.

Which world do u live in u dumb idiot, we just conducted a mirv missle test and ur comparing ur iq to pakistan's, u need to accept reality before things can get better for u, u need education, u need research facilities, u need experience, u can get there but it will yake time, pakistan and india had high class educational facilities and a long list of scientists since thier independence, u have atleast 70 yrs worth catching up to do before u can compare ur self with pakistani's, im not saying this to get u down, i hate the alsaud family but i love the arabs more than any other nation on earth, i have arab anscestroy myself, but u need to accept reality and focus on ways to get ahead, we pakistani's xan ofcourse help u with that as we already train most of ur army s.and airforce..

Stop posting absolute nonsense. If we had 200 million people we would be doing much, much better than you are currently in terms of military and you are no juggernaut by any means whatsoever.

An stop talking about military. Before Pakistan was created in 1947, Arabs had created 3 of the 11 largest empires in human history (more than any other ethnic group in the top 15) and created countless of kingdoms, emirates, sultanates, imamates, sharfiates on 3 continents (Asia, Africa and Europe) and even conquered what is modern-day Pakistan.

Nobody insulted Pakistan. I replied to some idiotic Bangladeshi troll who started talking about IQ. I told him the truth namely that the Arab world has a higher IQ than South Asia and that all countries of the Arabian Peninsula have a higher IQ than Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Bhutan expect for Qatar. He is the one who started talking about IQ in the first place.

 

[Saif al-Arab]

and where the teachers from usa europe?

They could be from Papua New Guinea for all I care. The achievements are still those of Saudi Arabia and Saudi Arabians. And unlike the diarrhea of ignorant clowns in this thread so far (dominating so far) I have actually provided official sources and credible and well-respected ones such as Nature and ground realities (numbers solely). Not mumbo jumbo.

Oiling the wheels on a road to success​

Pakinam Amer
Nature 532,
Published online
27 April 2016

With the benefit of a sustainable plan and the funds to back it, Saudi Arabia is aiming high.
Saudi Arabia's scientific development may be in its infancy, but the oil-rich Kingdom is making strides in terms of research investment and publication — with a clear ambition to one day join those in the highest echelons.

KAUST students embark on a new school year with a commencement ceremony. The relatively new university has quickly made an impact on the Nature Index.

In 2012, Saudi Arabia had a weighted fractional count (WFC) of 52.84 in the index, sitting behind Turkey, Iran, Mexico, Chile and South Africa. In four years it rose 86.8% to reach a WFC of 98.67, leapfrogging all these countries to compete with Chile and Argentina globally. Saudi Arabia ranks at number 31 in the world in terms of WFC — up from 39 in 2012.

The country has risen even higher in specific subject areas. In chemistry, for example, it has surpassed countries with a strong scientific impact like Finland and Ireland, with its WFC rising to 66.54, achieving almost a three-fold increase from its position in 2012.

Institutionally, the country's leading science hub King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) made an impressive leap in its WFC between 2012 and 2015, carving a place for itself to compete with American and European research powerhouses.

In just four years, its WFC has risen to become higher than those of prestigious institutions including the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), the University of Georgia, United States, and Dresden University of Technology, Germany, to name a few. The output of all of these institutions dwarfed KAUST's in 2012, but KAUST's impressive trajectory since then has seen its WFC shoot to 72 in 2015, overtaking these heavy-hitters.

The country's science development ambitions have been backed by action. Since 2008, the country has embarked on a multi-tiered strategy that will see the Kingdom overhaul its science infrastructure, build high-spec labs, secure grants for research in priority areas in applied science, and link science to industries that drive the economy.

The strategy, broken into four stages to be implemented by 2030, aims to eventually “see Saudi Arabia become a leader in Asia and give it an economic power based on science,” says Abdulaziz Al-Swailem, vice president of scientific research support at King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST).

The Saudi Human Genome Project will sequence 100,000 human genomes to conduct biomedical research in the Saudi population.

Saudi Arabia's march to the top
Saudi Arabia's efforts to boost its scientific research have been paying off, with its output in the Nature Index (WFC) rising steadily over the years. The two graphs below highlight Saudi Arabia's rise compared to other nations, both overall and for chemistry.

Overall output
In 2012 Saudi Arabia's overall output in the index was below all the countries shown, but continuous efforts have seen the Kingdom's WFC rise to overtake them all in 2015.



Chemistry
More marked than its overall rise, Saudi Arabia has made great strides in chemistry. After accelerated growth, which saw the Kingdom's chemistry WFC triple since 2012, it has outshone many larger players in the field in 2015.



The Kingdom's science investments focus on applied research that feeds directly into the country's industrial interests, particularly the oil and energy sector. But even in its strong subjects, chemistry and the physical sciences, Saudi Arabia's WFC remains modest compared to big players in Asia like China, Japan and South Korea.

To truly swim comfortably with these bigger fish, Saudi Arabia may benefit from looking at successful emerging economies in Asia.

One inspiration could be India. In addition to multi-disciplinary scientific and technical advancements that have improved its output in the index from 736.5 to 901.4 in the past four years, the subcontinental giant has joined the exclusive club of countries that have launched successful space missions.

Like Saudi Arabia, India's leading research institutes focus on chemistry, and their total output currently outstrips their Saudi Arabian counterparts by almost a factor of seven (the latter surpassing 472 in 2015, while the former is 66.5).

India's prowess in chemistry is something that Saudi Arabia can aspire to, considering that working conditions for researchers in the Kingdom are more conducive.

India's science ecosystem is far from perfect. Research funding cannot keep up with inflation and a general slowdown in the country's economy. In addition, commentators from the research community say the funding processes are lengthy, bureaucratic, and provide little feedback when applications for grants are turned down. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia's healthy stream of oil revenue provides assured funding for the country's state-of-the-art research facilities.

While India has slightly increased spending and dedicated US$1.19 billion for the next fiscal year (2016–2017) for science, it has around 700 universities and 200,000 full-time researchers drawing on the same funding pot. By contrast, Saudi Arabia has pledged an education and training budget of US$50.9 billion for next year, which includes higher education and scientific research. With a total population of just 30 million, it has a much lower number of full-time researchers competing for the available resources.

Another impressive trajectory that Saudi Arabia might look to emulate is that of Singapore, which has a smaller population as well and has managed to climb high in the index. Like the Kingdom, Singapore also has a focus on chemistry research, and it has put together a similar top-down national science strategy for research institutes across the country. Both countries have strong collaborations with top universities around the world and are welcoming of foreign researchers in their efforts to drive innovation.

Mansour Alghamdi, director of the general directorate of scientific awareness and publishing at KACST, is optimistic that Saudi Arabia can bridge the large gap that currently exists in the volume of scientific output between it and such countries as India and Singapore.

“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has a clear plan to do so and it has the resources,” he says.

Future growth
An internationally rising star
This graph shows KAUST's rise compared to a selection of other institutions*.
*Institutions shown are those that were furthest above KAUST in 2012, have experienced overall growth in WFC by 2015 and have been overtaken by KAUST in 2015. For clarity, only 2012 and 2015 data points are shown.

In 2012, Saudi's ranking in research output, with a WFC of 52.8, meant it was comparable with countries like South Africa, Turkey and Iran, all hovering around the 60–70 mark. Its WFC stood way below countries like Mexico, Hungary, Chile, Greece and Argentina.

Saudi Arabian researchers benefit from cutting-edge labs and generous funding that has boosted the country's R&D.

Four years later, the country's research outlook is very different and it is surpassing countries like Argentina, Mexico and Hungary in the index, and levelling the playing field with Chile. Chemistry research led the country's rapid rise to surpass these countries, but its life sciences and physical sciences WFCs of 8.5 and 31.5 still lag behind.

However, the Kingdom's AC has been steadily growing in these two fields over the past four years, hinting at the ever-increasing significance of international collaborations. It seems that Saudi Arabian researchers are casting their nets ever wider and are participating in publishing more articles, to the detriment of the WFC accredited for these articles.

Though international collaboration has proved fruitful, Saudi Arabia must keep a focus on nurturing home-grown talent, says Nasser Al-Aqeeli, dean of research at King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM), based in Dhahran's 'techno valley' in the eastern region of the Kingdom. In the next five years, he says, the country will focus on a programme for national capacity building.

A good first step was the Saudi government's decision to create a large scholarship programme in 2005, arguably the largest in the world, which has seen more than 200,000 young Saudi Arabians studying abroad. This makes Saudi Arabian students in the United States the fourth largest bloc of expatriate students, following those of China, India and South Korea. The government hopes these students will come back and drive a scientific culture in the country.
Saudi Arabia is also looking to increase its applied research focus, which is an integral part of the current phase of its national science strategy, while securing good funding for basic research as well. Al-Aqeeli says that Saudi's journey involves what he termed a “self-correcting mechanism” where the country is having a slow start in high-impact research, but a more sustainable one. An eventual future move towards basic research might help Saudi Arabia's research capacity to mature.

http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v532/n7600_supp_ni/full/532S13a.html

Maybe you should read the article before writing one-line nonsense.

As for patents that another genius was talking about.

https://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/ac/ido/oeip/taf/cst_all.htm

KSA has the 34th most patents in the world. Way better than 99% of all Muslim countries. Egypt had 5 times less patents than KSA.

Click on the link and see the source.

 

[AmirPatriot]

As for people claiming that KSA does not produce ammunition

I didn't say that... I clearly said Saudi produces some types of ammunition and doesn't produce other types.

The complex produces military projectiles ranging from shells of medium caliber such as mortar rounds (60mm, 81mm 120mm), artillery shells (105mm and 155mm)

I literally said this... read up.

up to 20mm cannon shells

I've heard this before, but it conflicts with the DSCA info about the arms deal including purchase of 20 mm shells, so I'm curious why Saudi bought 20 mm shells if it could produce them itself.

 

[Saif al-Arab]

I didn't say that... I clearly said Saudi produces some types of ammunition and doesn't produce other types.



I literally said this... read up.

I've heard this before, but it conflicts with the DSCA info about the arms deal including purchase of 20 mm shells, so I'm curious why Saudi bought 20 mm shells if it could produce them itself.

Maybe because its old news or inaccurate? Not the first time that we see nonsense reports is it?

As for importing, KSA imports the best weapons that money can buy because it can afford it. If we HAD to and were forced to do reverse engineering of mostly Russian, North Korean, Ukrainian weaponry (nothing that we created) we could very well be in the same boot as Iran. Especially if we had spent 40 + years on doing that. Nothing remarkable or extraordinary.

Syria, Iraq, Egypt and a few other Arab countries were more developed militarily than Iran less than 20 years ago.

 

[Awan68]

As for people claiming that KSA does not produce ammunition (lol).

$240-million Al-Kharj (KSA) facility to produce top-class artillery​

RIYADH: South African President Jacob Zuma, who was on a one-day state visit to Riyadh on Sunday, opened a projectiles factory along with Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Both were taken on a tour by Mohamed Al-Mady, head of Saudi Military Industries Corporation. He briefed the visitors on the services and facilities at the new complex.
The complex features nine industrial buildings, each allocated to a specific productivity, such as processing, packaging, assembly and filling, destructive testing and nondestructive testing, heat and surface treatments.
The complex produces military projectiles ranging from shells of medium caliber such as mortar rounds (60mm, 81mm 120mm), artillery shells (105mm and 155mm) and heavy shells such as aircraft bombs weighing from 500 pounds to 2,000 pounds.
Al-Mady said the SR900 million Saudi Military Industries Corporation is a licensed company, which will be operating in alliance with South Africa-based Rheinmetall Denel Munition.
The facility is expected to produce 300 artillery shells or 600 mortar projectiles a day, Al-Mady said, adding that this plant would be managed by 130 engineers and operators.
South Africa-based RDM specializes in the development, design and manufacture of large- and medium-caliber ammunition families and is a world leader in the field of artillery, mortar and infantry systems as well as plant engineering.

Source. Arab News (I cannot yet post any direct links).

South African defence company partners Saudi Arabian counterpart in new factory
South African defence company Rheinmetall Denel Munition (RDM) has helped set up a munitions manufacturing plant in Saudi Arabia in a venture with that country's Military Industries Corporation (MIC), the Saudi Press Agency has reported. According to MIC head Mohammad Almadhi, the establishment of the plant cost some $240-million and it was built under license from, and with the assistance of, RDM. The new factory was opened on March 27 by South African President Jacob Zuma and by Saudi Deputy Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz. (Prince Mohammad is also his country's Second Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and chairperson of the board of directors of the MIC). The facility is located at Al-Kharj, in central Saudi Arabia, south of the capital, Riyadh.

The plant will manufacture 60 mm, 81 mm and 120 mm mortar bombs, 105 mm and 155 mm artillery shells and aircraft bombs ranging from 226 kg (500 lb) to 907 kg (2000 lb). It is composed of nine industrial buildings, each with its own specific function, including heat treatment and surface treatment, assembly and filling, processing, packaging and destructive and nondestructive testing. According to Almadhi, the factory has a production capacity of 300 artillery shells or 600 mortar bombs a day. It will be staffed by 130 engineers and operators. He further noted that his company was now able to make many different defence products.

RDM is a joint venture between German defence group Rheinmetall Waffe Munition and South African State-owned defence industrial group Denel and was created in 2008. Rheinmetall holds 51% of RDM and Denel the remaining 49%. RDM describes itself on its website as a company that "specialises in the development, design and manufacture of large- and medium-calibre ammunition families and is a world leader in the field of artillery, mortar and infantry systems, as well as plant engineering". The Middle East is one of its target markets.

Zuma was in Saudi Arabia on March 27 and 28 on a State visit. The aim of the visit was to strengthen political and economic ties between the two countries, including increasing trade and investment.
Consequnetly, one of the members of his delegation was Trade and Industry Minister Dr Rob Davies.

The defence industry was one of the sectors that received special attention. Other sectors highlighted by the South African delegation included agricultural products, agroprocessed goods and services, manufacturing and mineral beneficiation. The involvement of South African companies in construction and engineering in infrastructure development in Saudi Arabia, under the Saudi National Transformation Plan, was also stressed.

"We are very pleased that this State visit will ensure, among other things, continued Saudi private-sector investment in our country's renewable-energy sector in support of the National Development Plan; the South African petrochemicals sector; banking and finance; and tourism infrastructure, as well as Saudi participation as a maritime State in our Operation Phakisa," affirmed Zuma. During his visit he also addressed a meeting of high-level South African and Saudi business leaders. He urged them to set up an entity to promote business-to-business cooperation between the two countries, with the aim of increasing Saudi investment in South Africa and South African exports to Saudi Arabia.

Source: Engineering News (I cannot yet post any direct links).

------------------------

Very soon these "babies" below will be mass produced.

KSA is moving forward slowly but steadily. The tempo of the developments will likely increase as the goal is to create a successful indigenous arms industry. By 2030, if not sooner, 50% of KSA's military purchases will be local. That is the declared official policy and concrete steps have already been taken towards fulfilling that goal.

http://www.defensenews.com/story/breaking-news/2016/04/25/united-arab-emirates/83497394/

Besides all NATO-type small arms used by Saudi Arabia are produced in Saudi Arabia alongside ammunition from 9mm up to 20mm cannon shells.
Recently, the factories were upgraded with the help of Denel corporation (of South Africa) to produce mortar bombs and artillery shells up to 155mm caliber.
Many of the light armored vehicles and MRAPs are now produced in Saudi Arabia (Shibl-1, Shibl-2 and Masmak MRAP)
In cooperation with Antonov, Saudi Arabia will produce Antonov Cargo planes in-country
Czech Manufacturer Tatra has an assembly plant in country that already provides medium and heavy transport trucks for Saudi forces
Saudi Arabia already produces the British Thales Damocles targeting pod in country
The same company maintains the spares for the Sniper targeting pods
Taqnia Aernoautics will build a helicopter production facility in country with the help of Sikorsky
The recent F-15SA deal included parts by Al Salam Aircraft company Most notably the front fuselage and the wing portions

Overall, it's not where it needs to be (far from it) but the situation is getting better. After all we only have around 27 million locals (albeit we have a growing population) locals so this limits the capabilities especially as we are a developing country despite very high living standards.

The youth of KSA today (over 2/3 of the population is below 30 years of age) is highly educated and if the private sector became much more developed (a key area for future success and a key focus area in the "Saudi Arabia Vision 2030") an indigenous arms industry could provide thousands upon thousands of jobs for local engineers, manufacturing firms etc.

The focus should be on JVs with fellow Arab, Muslim and allied countries but not only. Cooperation should reach new heights. It's the necessity of the hour for all Arab and Muslim countries. The future is highly promising if given the chance to blossom.

Reading this article below will give you more information about the local arms industry in relation to the "Saudi Arabia Vision 2030".

http://saudigazette.com.sa/opinion/saudi-vision-2030-arms-imports-military-industrialization/

As for building fighter jets, that is currently not a realistic goal and even if it was it would require huge investments and cooperation with military partners that have mastered this field. Not something that can be done overnight. I believe that such a project, if it happens, should be a joint GCC/Arab/friendly partners project.



Stop posting absolute nonsense. If we had 200 million people we would be doing much, much better than you are currently in terms of military and you are no juggernaut by any means whatsoever.

An stop talking about military. Before Pakistan was created in 1947, Arabs had created 3 of the 11 largest empires in human history (more than any other ethnic group in the top 15) and created countless of kingdoms, emirates, sultanates, imamates, sharfiates on 3 continents (Asia, Africa and Europe) and even conquered what is modern-day Pakistan.

Nobody insulted Pakistan. I replied to some idiotic Bangladeshi troll who started talking about IQ. I told him the truth namely that the Arab world has a higher IQ than South Asia and that all countries of the Arabian Peninsula have a higher IQ than Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Bhutan expect for Qatar. He is the one who started talking about IQ in the first place.

U are talking as if those empires and that glorious age of islam belongs to u alone??, why do u forget that im a muslim my self and an arab as well whose family migrated a long time a go to subcontinent, those empires u are talking about were of the past, dont u think i want that age back??, the muslims of old were one body, there was no arab indian or turk back than just a muslim, that unity was what made us a superpower, now we are bound by national borders created by the british, u seem to ignore the fact that arabs are not a free people anymore, u were conquered in ww1 by the treachory of sharif ali and abdullah bin saud handled by lawrence, the alsaud heretic pro israel peo kaffir family was imposed on arabia, that famuly has done its best to keep the arabs away from education and keep them dumb, if the arabs are free im sure islam will roar again but first that family needs to be deposed and true republican caliphate needs to form in arabia, the arab people need to breath free air again, the world of islam is suffering because the arabs are slaves, we pakistanis have been facing jewish Usa, pagan india and the old atheist Ussr alone now for 70 yrs and we have succesfuly defended islam from them, if there was a not a nuclear bomb in pakistan the jews in israel will set fire to makkah and medina( Allah forbid), u the arab people need to rise against that satanic alsaud family if u want to reclaim the former lost glory of islam..

 

[Saif al-Arab]

U are talking as if those empires and that glorious age of islam belongs to u alone??, why do u forget that im a muslim my self and an arab as well whose family migrated a long time a go to subcontinent, those empires u are talking about were of the past, dont u think i want that age back??, the muslims of old were one body, there was no arab indian or turk back than just a muslim, that unity was what made us a superpower, now we are bound by national borders created by the british, u seem to ignore the fact that arabs are not a free people anymore, u were conquered in ww1 by the treachory of sharif ali and abdullah bin saud handled by lawrence, the alsaud heretic pro israel peo kaffir family was imposed on arabia, that famuly has done its best to keep the arabs away from education and keep them dumb, if the arabs are free im sure islam will roar again but first that family needs to be deposed and true republican caliphate needs to form in arabia, the arab people need to breath free air again, the world of islam is suffering because the arabs are slaves, we pakistanis have been facing jewish Usa, pagan india and the old atheist Ussr alone now for 70 yrs and we have succesfuly defended islam from them, if there was a not a nuclear bomb in pakistan the jews in israel will set fire to makkah and medina( Allah forbid), u the arab people need to rise against that satanic alsaud family if u want to reclaim the former lost glory of islam..

It belongs to those who build those empires and caliphates and ruled them which were people from modern-day KSA and Arabia mostly.

I don't care if you claim to be a Pakistani Arab or whatever you have written (I did not read). What I do react to are unmotivated insults and idiotic trolls talking mumbo jumpo on topics that they have absolutely no clue about.

I provided sources throughout the entire discussion which none of the trolls with their empty and moronic mumbo jumpo have done so far. There is nothing more to discuss.

 

[Attila the Hun]

The average IQ of the Arab world is higher than South Asia and the same as in Iran and the Middle East region.

KSA and Iran have the same IQ as do Pakistan btw according to this.

https://iq-research.info/en/page/average-iq-by-country

Bangladesh, India, Bhutan, Nepal etc. have a lower IQ.

As for the entire discussion of IQ. It is mostly useless as documented by numerous sources.

Cretin. Back to your tiny swamp, jungle dweller.

Your achievements as a people don't even reach the angles of our achievements throughout history. So know your place.

As for insulting, I don't ever insult people out of nowhere but when you have clowns like this guy they will get a reply they will understand.

Arabs are nothing without Oil. This is the truth.
Be thankful for cheap Indian labour too.

 

[Awan68]

And rh

As for people claiming that KSA does not produce ammunition (lol).

$240-million Al-Kharj (KSA) facility to produce top-class artillery​

RIYADH: South African President Jacob Zuma, who was on a one-day state visit to Riyadh on Sunday, opened a projectiles factory along with Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Both were taken on a tour by Mohamed Al-Mady, head of Saudi Military Industries Corporation. He briefed the visitors on the services and facilities at the new complex.
The complex features nine industrial buildings, each allocated to a specific productivity, such as processing, packaging, assembly and filling, destructive testing and nondestructive testing, heat and surface treatments.
The complex produces military projectiles ranging from shells of medium caliber such as mortar rounds (60mm, 81mm 120mm), artillery shells (105mm and 155mm) and heavy shells such as aircraft bombs weighing from 500 pounds to 2,000 pounds.
Al-Mady said the SR900 million Saudi Military Industries Corporation is a licensed company, which will be operating in alliance with South Africa-based Rheinmetall Denel Munition.
The facility is expected to produce 300 artillery shells or 600 mortar projectiles a day, Al-Mady said, adding that this plant would be managed by 130 engineers and operators.
South Africa-based RDM specializes in the development, design and manufacture of large- and medium-caliber ammunition families and is a world leader in the field of artillery, mortar and infantry systems as well as plant engineering.

Source. Arab News (I cannot yet post any direct links).

South African defence company partners Saudi Arabian counterpart in new factory
South African defence company Rheinmetall Denel Munition (RDM) has helped set up a munitions manufacturing plant in Saudi Arabia in a venture with that country's Military Industries Corporation (MIC), the Saudi Press Agency has reported. According to MIC head Mohammad Almadhi, the establishment of the plant cost some $240-million and it was built under license from, and with the assistance of, RDM. The new factory was opened on March 27 by South African President Jacob Zuma and by Saudi Deputy Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz. (Prince Mohammad is also his country's Second Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and chairperson of the board of directors of the MIC). The facility is located at Al-Kharj, in central Saudi Arabia, south of the capital, Riyadh.

The plant will manufacture 60 mm, 81 mm and 120 mm mortar bombs, 105 mm and 155 mm artillery shells and aircraft bombs ranging from 226 kg (500 lb) to 907 kg (2000 lb). It is composed of nine industrial buildings, each with its own specific function, including heat treatment and surface treatment, assembly and filling, processing, packaging and destructive and nondestructive testing. According to Almadhi, the factory has a production capacity of 300 artillery shells or 600 mortar bombs a day. It will be staffed by 130 engineers and operators. He further noted that his company was now able to make many different defence products.

RDM is a joint venture between German defence group Rheinmetall Waffe Munition and South African State-owned defence industrial group Denel and was created in 2008. Rheinmetall holds 51% of RDM and Denel the remaining 49%. RDM describes itself on its website as a company that "specialises in the development, design and manufacture of large- and medium-calibre ammunition families and is a world leader in the field of artillery, mortar and infantry systems, as well as plant engineering". The Middle East is one of its target markets.

Zuma was in Saudi Arabia on March 27 and 28 on a State visit. The aim of the visit was to strengthen political and economic ties between the two countries, including increasing trade and investment.
Consequnetly, one of the members of his delegation was Trade and Industry Minister Dr Rob Davies.

The defence industry was one of the sectors that received special attention. Other sectors highlighted by the South African delegation included agricultural products, agroprocessed goods and services, manufacturing and mineral beneficiation. The involvement of South African companies in construction and engineering in infrastructure development in Saudi Arabia, under the Saudi National Transformation Plan, was also stressed.

"We are very pleased that this State visit will ensure, among other things, continued Saudi private-sector investment in our country's renewable-energy sector in support of the National Development Plan; the South African petrochemicals sector; banking and finance; and tourism infrastructure, as well as Saudi participation as a maritime State in our Operation Phakisa," affirmed Zuma. During his visit he also addressed a meeting of high-level South African and Saudi business leaders. He urged them to set up an entity to promote business-to-business cooperation between the two countries, with the aim of increasing Saudi investment in South Africa and South African exports to Saudi Arabia.

Source: Engineering News (I cannot yet post any direct links).

------------------------

Very soon these "babies" below will be mass produced.

KSA is moving forward slowly but steadily. The tempo of the developments will likely increase as the goal is to create a successful indigenous arms industry. By 2030, if not sooner, 50% of KSA's military purchases will be local. That is the declared official policy and concrete steps have already been taken towards fulfilling that goal.

http://www.defensenews.com/story/breaking-news/2016/04/25/united-arab-emirates/83497394/

Besides all NATO-type small arms used by Saudi Arabia are produced in Saudi Arabia alongside ammunition from 9mm up to 20mm cannon shells.
Recently, the factories were upgraded with the help of Denel corporation (of South Africa) to produce mortar bombs and artillery shells up to 155mm caliber.
Many of the light armored vehicles and MRAPs are now produced in Saudi Arabia (Shibl-1, Shibl-2 and Masmak MRAP)
In cooperation with Antonov, Saudi Arabia will produce Antonov Cargo planes in-country
Czech Manufacturer Tatra has an assembly plant in country that already provides medium and heavy transport trucks for Saudi forces
Saudi Arabia already produces the British Thales Damocles targeting pod in country
The same company maintains the spares for the Sniper targeting pods
Taqnia Aernoautics will build a helicopter production facility in country with the help of Sikorsky
The recent F-15SA deal included parts by Al Salam Aircraft company Most notably the front fuselage and the wing portions

Overall, it's not where it needs to be (far from it) but the situation is getting better. After all we only have around 27 million locals (albeit we have a growing population) locals so this limits the capabilities especially as we are a developing country despite very high living standards.

The youth of KSA today (over 2/3 of the population is below 30 years of age) is highly educated and if the private sector became much more developed (a key area for future success and a key focus area in the "Saudi Arabia Vision 2030") an indigenous arms industry could provide thousands upon thousands of jobs for local engineers, manufacturing firms etc.

The focus should be on JVs with fellow Arab, Muslim and allied countries but not only. Cooperation should reach new heights. It's the necessity of the hour for all Arab and Muslim countries. The future is highly promising if given the chance to blossom.

Reading this article below will give you more information about the local arms industry in relation to the "Saudi Arabia Vision 2030".

http://saudigazette.com.sa/opinion/saudi-vision-2030-arms-imports-military-industrialization/

As for building fighter jets, that is currently not a realistic goal and even if it was it would require huge investments and cooperation with military partners that have mastered this field. Not something that can be done overnight. I believe that such a project, if it happens, should be a joint GCC/Arab/friendly partners project.



Stop posting absolute nonsense. If we had 200 million people we would be doing much, much better than you are currently in terms of military and you are no juggernaut by any means whatsoever.

An stop talking about military. Before Pakistan was created in 1947, Arabs had created 3 of the 11 largest empires in human history (more than any other ethnic group in the top 15) and created countless of kingdoms, emirates, sultanates, imamates, sharfiates on 3 continents (Asia, Africa and Europe) and even conquered what is modern-day Pakistan.

Nobody insulted Pakistan. I replied to some idiotic Bangladeshi troll who started talking about IQ. I told him the truth namely that the Arab world has a higher IQ than South Asia and that all countries of the Arabian Peninsula have a higher IQ than Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Bhutan expect for Qatar. He is the one who started talking about IQ in the first place.[/QUOTE and the bangalis are a stupid and despecable people by the way, we got rid of them in 71..