Saudi Arabia Launches Project to Manufacture Unmanned Aircraft Systems

Visitors are seen at Saudi Military Drone manufacturing stand during inauguration of Bahrain International Defense Exhibition and Conference at the Bahrain Exhibition Center (Reuters)
Visitors are seen at Saudi Military Drone manufacturing stand during inauguration of Bahrain International Defense Exhibition and Conference at the Bahrain Exhibition Center (Reuters)
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Saudi Arabia Launches Project to Manufacture Unmanned Aircraft Systems

Visitors are seen at Saudi Military Drone manufacturing stand during inauguration of Bahrain International Defense Exhibition and Conference at the Bahrain Exhibition Center (Reuters)
Visitors are seen at Saudi Military Drone manufacturing stand during inauguration of Bahrain International Defense Exhibition and Conference at the Bahrain Exhibition Center (Reuters)

The Saudi General Authority of Military Industries (GAMI) is coordinating with the INTRA Defense Technologies to manufacture unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).


The project will be operational during the first quarter of 2021, with an expected investment amounting to $200 million.

The Authority aims to build an innovative technological base regionally and internationally to ensure maintenance, manufacture, and localization of unmanned aircraft systems.

INTRA, a Saudi company licensed by GAMI, will secure a number of categories of advanced and unmanned aircraft systems in tasks that are highly competitive in terms of technology and cost.

GAMI Governor, Eng. Ahmed al-Ohali, said that the project for the maintenance, manufacture, and localization of unmanned aircraft systems reflects the general strategy of the authority.

The project also aims to achieve the strategic goal of the Kingdom of localizing over 50 percent of its military spending by 2030.

Ohali added that the Authority seeks to enable the sector of military industries in Saudi Arabia to become a major tributary of its economy and a major contributor to providing employment opportunities for Saudi youth.

The governor confirmed there was a number of local manufacturers of the private sector interested in the field, noting that 25 companies operating in the field of military industries have been given licenses by the GAMI so far.

INTRA Defence Technologies is a private high-tech company which designs, develops, manufacture, and fully supports innovative Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), as well as all related sub-systems, which are ITAR-free, to customer and partners around the globe.



Putin Approves Military Focused 2025-2027 Budget

Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with the Governor of the Kirov region in Moscow, Russia, 29 November 2024.  EPA/VYACHESLAV PROKOFIEV / SPUTNIK / KREMLIN POOL
Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with the Governor of the Kirov region in Moscow, Russia, 29 November 2024. EPA/VYACHESLAV PROKOFIEV / SPUTNIK / KREMLIN POOL
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Putin Approves Military Focused 2025-2027 Budget

Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with the Governor of the Kirov region in Moscow, Russia, 29 November 2024.  EPA/VYACHESLAV PROKOFIEV / SPUTNIK / KREMLIN POOL
Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with the Governor of the Kirov region in Moscow, Russia, 29 November 2024. EPA/VYACHESLAV PROKOFIEV / SPUTNIK / KREMLIN POOL

Russian President Vladimir Putin has approved a military focused budget for 2025-2027, a document published on the official legal acts website showed on Sunday.
The state budget for next year includes a 25% hike in military spending but will be the most secretive in post-Soviet history, with almost a third of all spending closed to public scrutiny, Reuters reported.
The government has acknowledged that the needs of what Moscow calls its special military operation in Ukraine and support for the military will remain the budget priority along with social needs and technological development.
The government has presented the draft budget as "balanced", with the deficit falling to 0.5% against this year's projected deficit of 1.7% and state debt remaining below the 20% mark for the next three years.