DAMMAM —Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Defense and the General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI) announced on Tuesday the completion of implementing the project of locally manufacturing HSI32 speed interceptor boats. The local manufacturing and Saudization of the project were undertaken in accordance with the latest international specifications and standards, and that is in cooperation between Zamil Offshore Services Company, the Advanced Electronics Company, one of the subsidiary companies of the French CMN Group, and the Saudi Military Industries Company (SAMI), Asharq Al-Awsat reported. The announcement about the delivery of the last batch of speed interceptor boats comes as part of achieving the goals of localizing the military industries sector in the Kingdom. The Ministry of Defense and GAMI announced the launch of local manufacturing and localizing of the speed interceptor boats in October 2020. Commander of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces Lt. Gen. Fahd Al-Ghufaili said that the HSI32 speed interceptor boat system will contribute to raising the level of combat readiness of the naval forces to enhance maritime security in the region, in addition to participating with the various units of the eastern and western fleets in protecting Saudi Arabia's vital and strategic interests. "The localization of the speed interceptor boat systems industry is a realistic embodiment of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which comes in accordance with the directives of Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman. This is aimed to achieve the strategic objectives of the Ministry of Defense in improving spending efficiency and supporting the Saudization of the local manufacturing sector," he said. On his part, GAMI Deputy Governor for the military procurement sector Muhammad Al-Athel praised the support and care being accorded to the military industries sector from the Saudi leadership, which harnessed all capabilities and resources to support this promising sector. "The completion of the manufacture and localization of speed interceptor boats and taking delivery of the last batch of this strategic system comes within the authority's strategic direction in terms of achieving national priorities, directing localization obligations to local companies, supporting and empowering local manufacturers, as well as developing promising local companies to be leading companies, and supporting major national companies to enhance their position globally, which contributes to supporting the ambitious Saudization process," he said. Al-Athel said that this system will contribute to raising the level of military and security readiness of the Saudi naval forces, strengthening the maritime security force in the region, and protecting the vital and strategic interests of the Kingdom. "The localization of the speed interceptor boat industry will contribute to supporting the national endeavors represented in the localization of more than 50 percent of the Kingdom's spending on military equipment and services by 2030," he said. For his part, Eng. Sufyan Al-Zamil, CEO of Zamil Marine Services Company, said that the success of completing the project of speed interceptor boats is evidence of the serious and complementary work with the partners in the system represented by the Zamil Marine Services Company, the Advanced Electronics Company, and the French company CMN with the support and sponsorship of GAMI to manufacture interceptor boats. He pointed out that this national project will contribute to strengthening the strategic independence of the Kingdom and raising the level of contribution to increasing local content, in addition to the contribution of national competencies to support the directions of this promising sector. Iskandar Safa, chairman of the Board of Directors of the French CMN NAVAL Group, stated that this partnership embodies complementary work, which contributes to the completion of this important and strategic system. He also stressed his group's intention to move forward with cooperation in other projects in the field of military industry.
