Saudi Arabian Military Industries Company (SAMI) has announced that one of its key units, SAMI Land Systems, has signed a strategic partnership agreement with South Korea’s Kia Corporation in a move that will see the duo build light tactical vehicles through collaboration, research, and development.

 

Announcing the deal at the ongoing World Defence Show 2024 in Riydh, SAMI said its Land Systems unit is building and enhancing local industrial capabilities, as well as strengthening national talents to offer products and services of high quality in the field of land systems. 

 

Its products include wheeled and tracked combat systems; wheeled and tracked artillery systems; tactical logistics trucks; unmanned ground vehicles; turrets and remote weapon stations; maintenance, repair, and overhaul services; and integrated logistics support.

 

One of the oldest vehicle manufacturers in South Korea, Kia Corporation has proven strengths in developing chassis for light tactical military vehicles and other land systems. 

 

Through the agreement, SAMI aims to drive enhanced cooperation to produce military vehicles within the Kingdom and thereby strengthen the support provided by the SAMI Land Systems division to the Kingdom’s defense and security sector.

 

On the global partnership forged at WDS 2024, SAMI Chief Executive Officer Engineer Walid Abukhaled said: "As the Kingdom’s defence and security champion, we are committed to strengthening the company's skills and competencies to build high quality products within Saudi Arabia."

 

"This is part of our strategy to deliver on the goal of Saudi Vision 2030 to localize 50 per cent of the Kingdom’s defense spending by 2030," stated Abukhaled.

 

According to him, the MoU with the Korean auto giant is aimed at strengthening the competencies of SAMI Land Systems, which focuses on building national industrial capabilities, to build light tactical vehicles through collaboration, research, and development.

 

"It will help us build on our strengths in developing land systems products," he added.

 

SAMI has set up a 3,000-sq-m pavilion at the World Defence Show 2024 where it is showcasing its latest products and innovations in five defence sectors: SAMI Aerospace, SAMI Defence Systems, SAMI Advanced Electronics, SAMI Land and SAMI Sea.

 

Abukhaled pointed out that SAMI remains dedicated to develop and enhance the national capabilities, staying at the forefront of the future by providing services, products, and innovations to support the readiness of the Saudi Armed Forces. 

 

The company is working to be among the top 25 defense industries companies in the ‎world by 2030, he added.

 

Commenting on the deal, Kia Senior Vice President Ik Tae Kim said: "We are a global mobility brand with extensive experience and high-level technological expertise not only in passenger vehicles but also in military vehicles."

 

"Through our 50 years of experience in manufacturing military vehicles and alongside the collaboration tied during WDS 2024 with SAMI, Kia hopes to establish a new paradigm and system for Saudi military vehicles," he noted. 

 

"Based on this partnership, Kia will continue to develop special vehicles based on our global leading mobility technologies to provide safe and reliable transportation at all circumstances," he added.-TradeArabia News Service