Thursday, January 24, 2019

Is Saudi Arabia About To Build Its Own Ballistic Missiles?

SAUDI ARABIA displays Chinese-made DF3 ballistic missiles . (photo credit: Courtesy)

SFGate/Washington Post: Satellite imagery raises suspicion of Saudi Arabia's ability to produce missiles

Satellite images suggest that Saudi Arabia has constructed its first known ballistic missile factory, according to weapons experts and image analysts, a development that raises questions about the kingdom's increasing military and nuclear ambitions under its 33-year-old crown prince.

If operational, the suspected factory near the missile base in al-Watah, southwest of Riyadh, would allow Saudi Arabia to manufacture its own ballistic missiles, fueling fears of an arms race against its regional rival Iran.

Saudi Arabia does not possess nuclear weapons, so any missiles produced at the apparent factory are likely to be conventionally armed. But a missile-making facility would be a critical component of any eventual Saudi nuclear weapons program, hypothetically giving the kingdom capability to produce the preferred delivery systems for nuclear warheads.

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WNU Editor: Saudi Arabia has been buying missiles from other countries for years. So why not build your own.

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