SAMI Launches Initiatives to Strengthen Saudi Defense Industry Capability at World Defence Show 2024

SAMI announced the launch of the Naval Systems Integration and Development (NSID) Center of Excellence for SAMI Navantia, a SAMI Sea Division company, marking another milestone for the Kingdom as the first-ever Saudi-based hub for the development of naval systems.
The center will enhance the current range of SAMI Navantia products and assist the development of new capabilities. It is designed to be a collaborative space for knowledge sharing between technological partners, universities, and potential customers, and it will enhance the development and integration of advanced solutions based on new technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity.
The center contributes to the localization of defense industries through technology transfer and by nurturing national capabilities through on-the-job training programs. It will focus on enhancing and developing the combat management system, gunfire control system, integrated communication control system, integrated platform management system, and HAZEM simulation and training system.
In line with the initiatives of Saudi Vision 2030, SAMI Navantia will offer Saudi products and aims to provide solutions through the NSID Center of Excellence to contribute to the localization of 50 percent of the Kingdom’s military spending by 2030, in line with the localization process led by the General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI). It will also contribute to empowering Saudi capabilities by strengthening their technical competencies and increasing their employment in the defense industry sector.
SAMI also signed a training agreement with the Academy of Defense Industries (ADI), a part of the Military Industry Human Capital (MIHC) strategy of GAMI, to launch the SAMI Apprenticeship Program. Supported by the Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF), the Program will sponsor selected candidates at ADI, provide them technical training, and offer them career opportunities at SAMI upon the successful completion of their studies.
The SAMI Apprentice Program will empower young Saudis with technical training to meet various job requirements across SAMI’s five business domains, covering four key specializations: mechanical, electrical, chemical, and electronics. The pioneering vocational training program is a pivotal step towards creating opportunities young Saudis, fostering their technical capabilities, and shaping a promising future for the defense industry.
At World Defense Show 2024, the company launched the first edition of the SAMI Women in Defense program, which provides a unique platform for empowering and enhancing the participation of women in the defense and security sector to achieve national aspirations.
The SAMI Women in Defense program includes multiple initiatives, with four focused objectives. These include: enhancing the number of Saudi women for jobs in core professions, including but not limited to engineering and supply chain management, through hiring, academic scholarship and sponsorship programs; building and developing the capabilities of talented women through structured intervention initiatives; enabling competent women in leadership roles through continuous mentorship and coaching pathways; and creating a healthy work environment and fostering a culture of inclusion.
SAMI already has several ongoing structured human capital development programs aimed at strengthening the competencies of its employees and attracting national talent in various specializations. These include the SAMI Talent Essential Program (STEP) to develop the capabilities of entry-level employees in the engineering track, as well as the IMPACT and IGNITE programs to build a future generation of leaders.
SAMI’s pavilion hosted a series of lectures and sessions delivered by SAMI’s female employees and engineers at SAMI Talks, focusing on the role of women in the development of defense industries.
SAMI showcased its latest products and innovations across five defense sectors: SAMI Aerospace Systems, SAMI Defense Systems, SAMI Advanced Electronics, SAMI Ground Systems, and SAMI Naval Systems.
SAMI is dedicated to developing and enhancing national capabilities, staying at the forefront of the future by providing services, products, and innovations to support the readiness of the Saudi Armed Forces. SAMI aims to contribute to the localization of 50% of the Kingdom’s total government defense spending, in alignment with Saudi Vision 2030, and to be among the top 25 defense industry companies in the ‎world by 2030.
–SPA