KING ABDULAZIZ, THE FOUNDER OF THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA, GAVE UTMOST ATTENTION TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ARMED FORCES. THE DEFENSE AGENCY WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1353 AH, AND MOHAMMED TARIQ AL-AFRIQI WAS THE FIRST CHIEF OF STAFF. WITH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE DEFENSE MINISTRY, PRINCE MANSOUR BIN ABDULAZIZ WAS APPOINTED AS THE FIRST DEFENSE MINISTER 0N NOV 10, 1943. UNDER PRINCE MANSOUR THE SAUDI ARMED FORCES WITNESSED A REMARKABLE DEVELOPMENT. WHEN PRINCE MANSOUR DIED, HE WAS SUCCEEDED BY PRINCE MISHAAL BIN ABDULAZIZ ON 5/8/1370 AH. DURING THE TENURE OF PRINCE MISHAAL BIN ABDULAZIZ, THE PROJECT OF THE MILITARY FACTORIES WAS COMPLETED. THE GOLDEN AGE FOR THE ARMED FORCES CAME WITH THE APPOINTMENT OF PRINCE SULTAN BIN ABDULAZIZ AS DEFENSE AND AVIATION MINISTER AND INSPECTOR GENERAL ON 3/6/1382 AH. PRINCE TURKI BIN ABDULAZIZ WAS APPOINTED AS HIS DEPUTY IN 1389 AH, AND IN 1403AH PRINCE ABDULRAHMAN BIN ABDULAZIZ WAS APPOINTED AS THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF DEFENSE AND AVIATION. PRINCE SULTAN HAS GIVEN A GREAT ATTENTION NOT ONLY TO THE ARMED FORCES, BUT ALSO TO THE CIVIL AVIATION. FOR THE TIME BEING, THE KINGDOM HAS THREE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS AND TENS OF REGIONAL AND LOCAL AIRPORTS. THE BIRTH OF SAUDI NAVAL FORCES CAME IN DAMMAM IN 1377 AH, BUT SINCE 1395AH, THEY HAVE BEEN REMARKABLY DEVELOPING. IN 1394AH, THE LATE KING FAISAL, OPENED THE WEAPONS FACTORY . THAT DEVELOPMENT WAS FOLLOWED BY THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A CENTER FOR INDUSTRIAL TRAINING . IN 1406AH, A ROYAL APPROVAL WAS ISSUED TO TURN THE MILITARY FACTORIES INTO AN ESTABLISHMENT AND TO BE MANAGED BY A BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF CROWN PRINCE SULTAN BIN ABDULAZIZ, AND MEMBERSHIP OF THE ASSISTANT OF DEFENSE AND AVIATION MINISTER FOR MILITARY AFFAIRS, THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND NATIONAL ECONOMY, THE MINISTER OF INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE, THE PRESIDENT OF KING ABDULAZIZ CITY FOR SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY, THE CHIEF OF STAFF AND DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE GENERAL ORGANIZATION FOR MILITARY INDUSTRIES.
