WDS 2022: MBDA, SAMI sign agreement on missile maintenance

by Charles Forrester

SAMI and MBDA are furthering their relationship with an MRO agreement, and potential future manufacturing of the CAMM missile, seen here during a test firing from HMS Argyll . (MBDA)

Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) and European missile systems conglomerate MBDA signed a memorandum of understanding to further their relationship at the World Defense Show (WDS) in Riyadh on 8 March.

SAMI CEO Walid Abukhaled told Janes that under the agreement a centre for missile maintenance, repair, and overhaul would be established in the Kingdom, with SAMI staff also going to France to study at the company's Missile Systems University.

A SAMI spokesperson further told Janes that MBDA's Common Anti-air Modular Missile (CAMM) and CAMM-ER (extended range) missiles were planned to be produced by the joint venture with SAMI, as well as the SPEAR (Selective Precision Effects At Range) air-launched stand-off weapon. Further capacity building to help Saudi nationals design, develop, and produce complex missiles and missile systems would also be transferred. However, production would be subject to a contract award by the Saudi Ministry of Defence.

Saudi Arabia is also currently fielding the Thales Lightweight Multirole Missile (LMM) in a short-range air defence role within the Shikra air defence system. According to a SAMI spokesperson, LMM is currently being manufactured by Thales, as a larger quantity of missiles would need to be procured in order to warrant localised production.

Thales launched a joint venture with SAMI in January 2019 to cover air-defence, short-range, and counter-rockets radars, command-and-control systems, multi-mission missiles, fuses for guided bombs, and radio systems.

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/wds-2022-mbda-sami-sign-agreement-on-missile-maintenance

Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) and European missile systems conglomerate MBDA signed a mem...

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