RIYADH - In recent months, Saudi Arabia has taken significant steps to diversify its air defenses and expand its local defense industry. In February, Lockheed Martin awarded two subcontracts to Saudi companies for manufacturing components of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system, making Saudi Arabia the first country outside the U.S. to produce these parts locally. Riyadh had ordered 44 THAAD launchers and 360 interceptor missiles in a 2017 deal worth $15 billion, with the first systems set to be operational by 2026.

Additionally, Saudi Arabia signed a $3.2 billion deal with South Korea in November for 10 KM-SAM Block II medium-range air defense systems. This agreement includes technology transfers and establishes a committee to develop defense industry cooperation.

The urgency of bolstering air defenses is underscored by regional conflicts, including the current Gaza war and previous Houthi missile attacks on Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Diversifying its suppliers and producing defense components locally will reduce Saudi dependency on any single source and enhance its ability to maintain and operate its air defense systems independently. These moves reflect Riyadh's strategic shift to a more self-reliant and resilient defense posture.

Source: Forbes
Associated URL: https://www.forbes.com/sites/pauliddon/2024/05/14/saudi-arabia-diversifying-air-defenses-and-boosting-local-industries/?sh=43963152377d

WASHINGTON - The United States Department of Defense (DoD) and Japan Ministry of Defense (MOD) have finalized a formal agreement for a Glide Phase Interceptor (GPI) Cooperative Development (GCD) Project Arrangement under the U.S.-Japan bilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for Research, Development, Test and Evaluation Projects (RDT&E).

By pursuing an agreement on GPI development, the U.S. and Japan will strengthen regional deterrence while enhancing long-standing missile defense cooperation between the two countries.

The U.S. Missile Defense Agency is leading the development of GPI for the DoD, which will provide hypersonic missile defense capability during the glide-phase portion of hypersonic flight. Per the signed GPI Cooperative Development (GCD), Japan will lead development of rocket motors and propulsion components of GPI.

GPI will deliver a regional defensive capability over time as part of a holistic layered defensive architecture. The GPI co-development will build upon long-standing U.S.-Japan missile defense cooperation and strengthen the Alliance deterrence posture.

Source: DoD
Associated URL: https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3775546/us-department-of-defense-statement-on-the-signing-of-the-glide-phase-intercepto/

MELBOURNE, FL. - Aerojet Rocketdyne, an L3Harris Technologies company, will be the propulsion provider for the Missile Defense Agency's (MDA) Next Generation Interceptor (NGI) as part of the Lockheed Martin team. On April 15, MDA announced it selected Lockheed Martin for NGI, the nation's first line of defense against long-range ballistic missile threats from rogue nations.

NGI is part of MDA's Ground-based Midcourse Defense system and will provide a new, advanced interceptor to protect the homeland.

"Our propulsion technology has powered the nation's missile defense for decades," said Christopher E. Kubasik, Chair and CEO, L3Harris. "As the industry-leading propulsion provider to all MDA interceptor programs currently in production, our team has the expertise needed to provide this specialty propulsion to defend the homeland from evolving threats."

According to MDA, once fielded, NGI will be capable of defeating expected threat advances into the 2030s and beyond.

Source: L3Harris
Associated URL: https://www.l3harris.com/newsroom/press-release/2024/05/aerojet-rocketdyne-be-propulsion-provider-ngi