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- Feb 13, 2012
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Lockheed Martin looks at the growth and development of the aviation and defense industry sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Lockheed Martin has a prominent presence in Saudi Arabia, and a vital role in achieving Vision 2030, as a supplier and partner in innovation.
Joseph Rank:
The prospects for cooperation and joint work between Lockheed and the Kingdom are continuing to grow, which is reflected in the aviation and defense sector.
– Localization of the industry represents an important opportunity to enhance the flexibility of the global supply chain in cooperation with Saudi partners in the sector.
We are committed to partnering with the Kingdom to create job opportunities, transfer technology, and enhance its defense capabilities against threats.
– Providing maintenance, repair and renewal services for multi-mission combat ships and manufacturing them locally.
– Investing in the development of the capabilities of local national competencies and future Saudi leaders, and promoting innovation.
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, May 17, 2024: As part of its continuous endeavor to support the aerospace and defense industry sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in line with its strategic objectives and “Saudi Vision 2030,” Lockheed Martin plays a vital, pioneering role in driving the growth and development of the sector toward... New horizons of progress and prosperity, as one of the most prominent supply chains in the industry, and a strategic partner in innovation and manufacturing to pioneer the future.
Lockheed Martin's presence in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia dates back to 1965, when the Kingdom received its first C-130 tactical transport aircraft. Today, the company's role and presence has gone beyond the mere field of defense systems, reaching a new stage of cooperation, joint work, and partnership, including providing products, services, technical support, manufacturing, and educational expertise to enhance the aerospace and defense industry sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Through its future vision for security solutions in the twenty-first century, by focusing on network-based technologies “security in the twenty-first century,” Lockheed Martin seeks to enable its partners to deal with threats comprehensively across various fields - land, air, sea, and electronic, and satellite.
To talk more fully about this partnership between Lockheed Martin and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Joseph (Joe) Rank, CEO of Lockheed Martin Saudi Arabia, tells us about the most prominent milestones in which Lockheed plays a strategic role, and its continuing efforts in the field of innovation and supply, defense contracting, and the provision of various products and services, in addition to technical support and educational expertise within the aviation and defense sector, to contribute In achieving “Saudi Vision 2030”.
Joseph (Joe) Rank, CEO of Lockheed Martin Saudi Arabia, says: “The prospects for cooperation and joint work between Lockheed and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have been reflected in the landscape of the aviation and defense sector in the Kingdom, and have begun to grow towards a new phase of strategic partnerships with Saudi national institutions, to include manufacturing operations.” And maintenance, innovative solutions and defense systems in the sector. When looking at the past 5 years, we see the remarkable development in this partnership with the Kingdom, after our role was limited to supplying and selling defense systems in the Kingdom, and until today Lockheed has become one of the main players in transformative impact makers. Positive action based on innovation and modern technologies in the aviation and defense sector in the Kingdom.”
Rank added: “When looking at the near future, i.e. after five years, the horizons of this partnership will be greatly expanded and capabilities enhanced, and will include all areas of our business and specializations, including manufacturing spare parts and repairing equipment, using many of our systems such as satellites and transport aircraft.” C-130 tactical aerial vehicles, Black Hawk helicopters, missiles, radars, and C4I systems to name a few, and perhaps a number of these goals and capabilities will be achieved soon.”
Lockheed inside the Kingdom
Joe said: “Lockheed Martin is committed to partnering with the Kingdom to create job opportunities and transfer technology, as well as helping to enhance the Kingdom’s defense capabilities against the growing threats in the region, in a way that supports the “Saudi Vision 2030” and promotes sustainable economic development, as Lockheed’s large investments contribute. In the local industry, which is estimated at hundreds of millions of dollars, with a focus on exploring joint development opportunities in the field of technology, in achieving this approach and common goals.”
Rank believes that the localization file in the industry represents an important opportunity to enhance the flexibility of the global supply chain in cooperation with Saudi partners in the sector, and it is a strategic axis that emerged during the Covid-19 pandemic, and the weaknesses it revealed, as our supply chains and most institutions in the sector faced. A set of challenges that can be overcome through localization, and with the desire of our Saudi partners to invest with us, this is considered beneficial for us, for them, and for our customers around the world, who will benefit from the Kingdom’s presence within our global supply chain.
The CEO of Lockheed Martin Saudi Arabia pointed out that there are still a group of challenges, including: Determining the scope of technology transfer that manufacturers of original equipment and systems can export to the Kingdom. This balance between technology transfer and security remains a subject of ongoing discussion. One of the challenges in the defense sector is the need for experienced and competent human capital, as this challenge directly affects the “vision.” 2030,” and from another perspective on the available opportunities, the Kingdom has many of its citizens who have scientific degrees and world-class education, and the real opportunity lies in developing their capabilities and training them so that they possess experience, practical tools, and exposure to experiences in the industry, to lead the future of the aviation and defense sector in the Kingdom.” .
Joe stressed the importance of “Saudi Vision 2030” and its components that support the Kingdom and its efforts to develop a sovereign defense capability that is manufactured locally, which reduces its dependence on imports, provides job opportunities, and enhances the knowledge economy and technical capabilities, noting that Lockheed Martin’s cooperation with the General Authority Saudi Military Industries (GAMI) and the Saudi Military Industries Company “SAMI” is an affirmation of the company’s commitment to achieving the national goals of the sector, as the speed and efficiency in implementing the existing agreement between them has achieved remarkable progress, and there is joint cooperation, directly or indirectly, on a daily basis. This was reflected in the speed of reaching agreements with the General Authority for Military Industries during the past 18 months, and this is thanks to the two sides working in a cooperative manner and considering this partnership an opportunity for development and growth.”
He added: “The same applies to our partnership with the Saudi Military Industries Company, which is witnessing rapid and remarkable growth. Advanced Electronics Company AEC, a subsidiary of the Saudi Military Industries Company (SAMI), has entered into a strategic partnership with Lockheed Martin, to officially designate SAMI-AEC’s Advanced Targeting Position (ATP) Repair Center, as the world’s first repair facility located in the Middle East. Middle East Replaceable Units (LRUs), and this partnership represents an achievement for both SAMI-AEC and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in enhancing their defense capabilities through technology and innovation.”
Rank pointed out the great progress with SAMI AEC, which included enhancing the ability to repair warehouses using the SNIPER container as an example, and in cooperation with AACC, the company became an approved supplier for many of Lockheed Martin’s equipment, while we supported them with SAMI Aero in enhancing their composite capabilities for manufacturing aircraft fuselages. And other important equipment, explaining that these are just a few examples, and there are many other initiatives that we are working on with the Saudi Military Industries Company (SAMI).
Lockheed programs in Saudi Arabia
Regarding the Lockheed Martin programs available in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Joseph (Joe) Rank says: “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia benefits from a number of Lockheed programs approved in Saudi Arabia, one of which is a ground-to-air defense system against targets flying at high altitudes (THAAD). For this program, Lockheed Martin entered into a partnership with many Saudi industrial partners in the Kingdom, as the company manufactures, locally in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the containers for the THAAD missile system, which are necessary to have the ability to withstand the extreme heat and pressure to which the missile is exposed during Flying into space, as well as manufacturing a large part of the missile launcher that is assembled and installed in the Kingdom.”
Rank added: “As part of its efforts to provide comprehensive security solutions, Lockheed Martin seeks, through its future vision for security solutions in the twenty-first century, with a focus on technologies that rely on networks (security in the twenty-first century), to enable its partners to deal with threats.” Comprehensively across various domains - land, air, sea, electronic and space.
He explained that this category of projects will not be implemented only once, as the production capacity that helped Lockheed Martin develop these programs, according to the highest quality standards, can be adopted and used by its partners in the Kingdom, and other manufacturers of original American defense equipment and systems in the country. the future.
The multi-mission combat ship is manufactured locally
Joe pointed out that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is currently seeking to provide services for the maintenance, repair, and refurbishment of multi-mission combat ships, which are manufactured in the United States, within the Kingdom, and an agreement has recently been reached to launch services dedicated to the maintenance, repair, and refurbishment of multi-mission combat ships here in the Kingdom. , which will provide the latest sustainability capabilities with many Saudi partners.
Rank explained that Lockheed Martin had won, in July 2018, a contract to begin detailed design and develop plans for the manufacture of 4 multi-mission combat ships. Obtaining the aforementioned ships falls within the context of part of the Eastern Fleet modernization program of the Royal Saudi Navy, which is called “Saudi Maritime Expansion Programme,” where the Multi-Mission Combat Ship (MMSC) is built on the Freedom-class (LCS) Littoral Combat Ship, which belongs to the US Navy. It uses the COMBATSS-21 combat management system, which is made from the joint information program for the components and equipment of the Aegis combat system, which provides combat capabilities against air targets and against ground targets, within the scope of a small-area combat platform. The LCS is classified as one of the... The most complex ship in the US Navy.
He added: “The four ships on order for the Royal Saudi Navy are being manufactured at the Fincantieri Marinette shipyard of the Navy in Wisconsin, in cooperation with Lockheed Martin, which plays the role of the main contractor, and each of these ships will bear the name of one of the kings.” The Saudis, where they will be called respectively - His Majesty King Saud's Ship -, - His Majesty King Fahd's Ship -, - His Majesty King Abdullah's Ship -, and - His Majesty King Salman's Ship -, and each ship will be manufactured on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, Specifically at the Fincantieri Marinette Marine shipyard, which is located on Lake Michigan.”
Joe said: “By benefiting from a series of interconnected, previously proven combat management systems, the multi-mission combat ships produced by Lockheed Martin have the ability to communicate the information necessary for the maneuvers currently being carried out by joint and allied naval forces, and the program of the Royal Saudi Navy The multi-mission combat ship, also known as “Project Tuwaiq”, is proceeding according to a pre-determined schedule.
Enhancing innovation and capabilities
The CEO of Lockheed Martin Saudi Arabia pointed out that Lockheed Martin enhances innovation and develops the capabilities of local national competencies and future Saudi leaders, by working with a number of stakeholders within the system for both the space agency and the defense system in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and this role reflects the vision of Lockheed Martin is a security solutions company in the 21st century, as the company seeks to empower its partners, enhance innovation, and develop the local capabilities of the Saudi workforce and future leaders.
Rank said: “We have supported innovative research at the level of local universities in the Kingdom, such as King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, King Saud University, and King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, and we have also provided support for internal training programs for Saudi students in our office in Saudi Arabia, as well as in our centers.” For innovation and technology in the United States, where this summer we trained female students from Princess Noura University and Al Yamamah University in artificial intelligence technology and information vision technologies. Saudi students are provided with advice and guidance at the hands of officials and managers at Lockheed, or researchers and specialists who have unique experience.”
Joe pointed out that the company adopts graduate students at universities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with the aim of helping them complete their master’s and doctoral theses, in the fields related to Lockheed Martin’s programs, which we are developing in cooperation and coordination with our industrial partners in the Kingdom.”
He added: “The smooth transfer of Saudi students who have undergone training at Lockheed Martin is ensured and guaranteed to local defense research and development organizations, or to Lockheed Martin’s industrial partners such as the Saudi Military Industries Company.”
