Sky Guardian - Saudi UAV

Saudi Arabia is working to locally produce drones mostly for the use of the Saudi army, according to the Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) defense firm. “The company is working to establish one of the largest munitions factories in the world, and to localize various defense sectors,” said SAMI CEO Walid Abu Khaled 07 March 2022.

Khaled confirmed that his company is “working to produce a Saudi drone” in an interview with the Saudi TV network Al-Ekhbariya, and that they are “working with local partners, including the General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI), to produce a drone.” “Designed with 100 percent Saudi hands, they will be produced and used by our armed forces,” Khaled added.

The UAV drone fleet is to increase by around 900. The General Authority for Military Industries, established in 2017 to oversee procurement, has signed an agreement with SAMI for the development of a Saudi drone to be named “Sky Guardian” [not to be confused with the American MQ-9B SkyGuardian] with Prince Sultan Studies and Research Centre to work on developing the drone’s capabilities.

Saudi and Chinese industry joined forces in March 2022 to design and build military drones in the kingdom. Advanced Communications and Electronics Systems Co. signed an agreement with China Electronics Technology Group Corp. The joint venture, named Aerial Solutions, will see CETC establish a research and development center and create a team that would manufacture different types of UAV systems.

In 2017, Saudi Arabia ordered Chinese-made Wing Loong II drones. Chinese news agency Xinhua described the deal as the country’s largest-ever arms export. China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp. also signed a partnership with King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology to build a manufacturing facility in Saudi Arabia for the CH drone class.