Saudi Arabia Expands Ballistic Missile Production Facility

Kathmandu. Reuters has reported that Saudi Arabia is expanding its factory to produce long-range ballistic missiles capable of carrying larger payloads of explosives. US researchers, analyzing satellite imagery, estimate the factory could be ready for production by the end of this year. The report states that new structures are being built at the Al-Dawadimi missile factory, located about 200 kilometers west of Saudi Arabia's capital, Riyadh. Researchers Sam Lawyer and Michael Duitzman from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) in the US reached this conclusion after studying satellite images for over a year. According to them, the new structures are estimated to contain pits used for manufacturing solid-fuel missile motors. The factory expansion suggests the potential to produce larger and more capable missiles than before. Experts speculate that Saudi Arabia could produce missiles like China's DF-15 or the longer-range DF-21, based on Chinese technology, although the exact type of missile to be produced has not been confirmed. Analysts say that long-range missiles could enhance Saudi Arabia's military capability to deter potential attacks from Iran. It could also boost Saudi Arabia's capacity against Iran-backed Houthi fighters in Yemen. However, concerns have been raised that Saudi Arabia's expansion of missile capabilities could escalate the arms race in the Middle East and also affect the proposed civilian nuclear agreement between the US and Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia had purchased about 40 DF-3 ballistic missiles from China in 1987. It is analyzed that Saudi Arabia may have increased its reliance on Chinese technology, as the US has imposed restrictions on the export of long-range missile systems. The Saudi government, the Chinese embassy, and US officials have not responded to Reuters' requests for comment regarding the factory expansion.