Saudi Arabia’s military expenditure now scales to levels that match the combined defense budgets of four Arab countries, placing the Kingdom at the forefront of the arms race in the Arab world. Driven by a calculated push to diversify suppliers and secure cutting-edge military hardware, Riyadh is aggressively reshaping its defense posture through international procurement and an ambitious domestic industrialization strategy.
Diversifying the Arsenal Across Global Superpowers
While the United States remains a primary defense supplier, Riyadh has systematically broadened its acquisition channels. Saudi Arabia relies on American combat aviation, including F-15SA Eagle fighter jets, E-3A AWACS airborne warning platforms, and C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft, alongside KC-130J transport and refueling aircraft. The Kingdom’s naval equipment includes MMSC multi-mission combat ships, Mark V patrol boats, Phalanx close-in weapon systems, and MH-60R Seahawk helicopters. The U.S. government also approved a potential deal in September 2026 for 48 F-35A Lightning II stealth fighters with an estimated value of $24.3 billion. Yet, the Kingdom’s defense diversification strategy actively engages non-Western powers.
According to regional reports, Riyadh has expanded military-technical cooperation with Russia, pursuing local production deals for the AK-103 assault rifle, the TOS-1 rocket launcher, Kornet missiles, and the Pantsir short-range air defense system. Simultaneously, defense ties with China have accelerated.
Military Spending Localization Reaches 27.30 Percent by 2025
Beyond foreign acquisitions, the Kingdom is aggressively pursuing domestic manufacturing to fulfill the Vision 2030 objective of localizing more than 50 percent of military spending by 2030. Data released during the Military Industries Forum in Riyadh shows that the localization rate of military spending climbed to 27.30 percent by the close of 2025, up from 24.89 percent the previous year.
![[object Object]](https://portalcdn.spa.gov.sa/backend/original/202610/F11086938.jpg "Photo: وكالة الأنباء السعودية")
The General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI) reported that the sector’s contribution to gross domestic product reached approximately $1.99 billion (7.468 billion Saudi riyals) in 2025, alongside employment impacts valued at $1.4 billion. National entities such as the Ministry of National Guard and the Ministry of Interior were formally recognized with excellence awards for advancing technical support localization for helicopters and adopting AI-driven procurement frameworks, as detailed by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
Riyadh Seeks Operational Autonomy Through Multi-Source Procurement
The pivot toward multi-source procurement and indigenous defense manufacturing reflects a deliberate push to reduce strategic dependency on traditional Western suppliers while establishing credible deterrence capabilities against regional security challenges. By cultivating partnerships with European nations, Turkey, Russia, and China alongside the United States, Riyadh is positioning its military-industrial ecosystem to absorb advanced technology transfers and build long-term operational autonomy.
The panel discussion featuring Their Excellencies at the #MilitaryIndustriesForum had insightful discussions on "Developing and Sustaining Investment in the Military Industries Sector".#MilitarySpendingLocalization pic.twitter.com/3MirLWt0OS
