logo
Saudi Military Personnel Graduate from US THAAD Missile Defense Training Program

Saudi Military Personnel Graduate from US THAAD Missile Defense Training Program

Asharq Al-Awsat09-04-2025
The Royal Saudi Air Defense Forces have announced the graduation of the second unit trained to operate the US-made Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system. The training was completed at Fort Bliss Military Base in El Paso, Texas.
This latest graduation follows the completion of training for the first unit several months ago and is part of a broader initiative to build a fully qualified Saudi operational and maintenance crew for the THAAD system- one of the world's most advanced and precise missile defense technologies. The system is considered a key pillar of Saudi Arabia's air defense capabilities.
During their training, the Saudi personnel underwent an intensive program that included technical and operational instruction, combat simulation, and advanced field exercises. The course was conducted under the supervision of experts from the system's manufacturing company, in cooperation with the United States as part of ongoing military collaboration agreements between the two nations.
This training initiative is aligned with the Saudi Ministry of Defense's strategic objective to enhance the operational readiness and technical proficiency of its forces through advanced and specialized training. The goal is to equip Saudi forces with the skills required for modern military operations, in line with Vision 2030's focus on military modernization and technological localization.
The Royal Saudi Air Defense Forces continue to implement comprehensive plans to qualify national cadres capable of managing and operating advanced defense systems, strengthening national security and protecting Saudi airspace against potential threats.
The graduation ceremony was held at Fort Bliss in the presence of Major General Abdullah Al-Rubaie, Commander of the Air Defense Forces Institute, representing Lieutenant General Mazyad Al-Amro, Commander of the Royal Saudi Air Defense Forces. The event was also attended by US counterparts and representatives from relevant training bodies.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Zain KSA appoints Saad Al-Sadhan as chief executive
Zain KSA appoints Saad Al-Sadhan as chief executive

Arab News

time7 hours ago

  • Arab News

Zain KSA appoints Saad Al-Sadhan as chief executive

Telecom and digital services provider Zain KSA announced that its board of directors has appointed Acting CEO Saad bin Abdulrahman Al-Sadhan, as the chief executive of the company, effective from July 1. Al-Sadhan has held the position of the acting CEO of Zain KSA since August 2024. He brings more than 22 years of expertise in telecommunications and information technology. Prior to this role, he served as the chief business and wholesale officer of Zain KSA and led B2B sector growth across the company, positioning its portfolio of business solutions and services as a key enabler of the Kingdom's digital business transformation. He also led Zain KSA's strategic partnerships and stakeholder relations while driving the development of cutting-edge digital products and solutions. Additionally, Al-Sadhan played a key role in the launch of Zain Cloud, supporting the digital transformation of Saudi Arabia's public and private sectors in line with Saudi Vision 2030's goal of building a fully integrated digital economy. He was also instrumental in developing a comprehensive digital ecosystem that brings together innovative telecom services and cloud solutions, underpinned by advanced 5G technologies. Additionally, he strengthened Zain KSA's business and wholesale operations, enhancing network capabilities through strategic investments aimed at meeting the full range of market demands in these segments. Al-Sadhan also played a key role in advancing the enterprise sector by building Zain KSA's integrated business services and solutions ecosystem. His efforts aligned with the company's strategic objectives to support government entities in achieving their digital goals and to empower companies across various industries to grow, enhance their competitiveness locally and regionally, and stay ahead of the evolving business landscape. Since joining Zain KSA in April 2016, Al-Sadhan has placed strategic partnerships at the heart of his approach. He contributed to developing a forward-looking strategy for long-term partnerships with government entities and leading global tech companies. This has enabled the swift introduction of cutting-edge technologies into the Kingdom, while also driving knowledge transfer and localization. Before joining Zain KSA, Al-Sadhan held various leadership roles at prominent local and international telecom companies. He holds a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from King Fahad University of Petroleum and Minerals, in addition to several professional certifications in leadership and information technology, as well as a General Management Program certificate from Institut Européen d'Administration des Affaires.

How Saudi Arabia is using innovation, research, and regulation to turn waste into a circular economy success
How Saudi Arabia is using innovation, research, and regulation to turn waste into a circular economy success

Arab News

time2 days ago

  • Arab News

How Saudi Arabia is using innovation, research, and regulation to turn waste into a circular economy success

RIYADH: As Saudi Arabia accelerates toward a circular economy under Vision 2030, experts say universities, research institutions, and business leaders are playing a crucial role in developing innovative waste management solutions that align with national sustainability goals. In early 2024, Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture announced a waste management plan aiming to recycle up to 95 percent of waste and add SR120 billion ($31.99 billion) to the Kingdom's gross domestic product. Saudi Arabia generates more than 110 million tons of waste each year, much of it originating from cities like Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam. Its waste management market is projected to grow from $5.97 billion in 2025 to $8.72 billion by 2030, according to Mordor Intelligence. To meet this challenge, academic partnerships, regulatory reforms and emerging technologies are coming together to reshape the sector, Sultan Al-Muaythir, chairman of the civil engineering department at Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, told Arab News. Forming knowledge-sharing agreements with leading countries in waste management, he said, is a strategic step toward building a sustainable, locally adapted system that draws on global best practices and aligns with Saudi Arabia's circular economy ambitions. To drive innovation in the sector, Al-Muaythir emphasized the importance of interdisciplinary support. Fields like civil engineering, landfill and waste management, geotechnical engineering, and soil sciences all contribute to the design and development of critical infrastructure. Mechanical engineering plays a key role in advancing collection and treatment equipment, while chemical, agricultural and biotechnology engineering disciplines help analyze waste composition and develop transformation processes. Electrical engineering, he added, is essential for operating smart systems and managing energy generated through treatment. Al-Muaythir also pointed to the Kingdom's updated regulatory landscape, particularly the introduction of the Waste Management Law and its executive regulations, as a strong foundation for encouraging innovation and investment in sustainable practices. He explained that the next phase calls for faster plan implementation, broader international research collaboration and direct incentives for advanced processing technologies — steps that would speed up the Kingdom's progress toward its environmental and development goals. While government action is essential, Al-Muaythir said innovation in waste management is not a luxury, but a necessity for building a clean environment and a functioning circular economy. He added that individual responsibility plays an equally important role. 'Adopting conscious behaviors towards waste and committing to sorting and reuse/recycling constitute the first building blocks in creating a more sustainable future,' he said. Expanding on this vision, Abdullah Alakel, chairman of the Saudi Scientific Research and Innovation Association, said waste management innovation is a cornerstone of Vision 2030's broader goal to build a circular and sustainable economy. He told Arab News that scientific research is a key driver in tackling environmental challenges — from recycling and waste-to-energy technologies to the use of artificial intelligence to improve sorting and collection processes — ultimately boosting operational efficiency and reducing environmental harm. To support this ecosystem, the association provides business incubators and innovation accelerators, offering technical and financial assistance. It also facilitates connections between researchers, donors and investors to help turn ideas into market-ready solutions. Alakel noted that several joint initiatives with academic and industrial partners are already underway, including efforts to convert organic waste into economic products such as fertilizers and biofuels. DID YOU KNOW? • Saudi Arabia aims to recycle up to 95 percent of its waste by 2040. Waste management sector is projected to contribute $32bn to GDP by 2040. • Half of the Kingdom's waste comes from Riyadh (21 percent), Jeddah (14 percent) and Dammam (8 percent). (Sources: Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture and the National Center for Waste Management) Other projects aim to develop scalable recycling technologies and improve overall waste management efficiency. Beyond research, the association works to foster a culture of sustainability across society. Alakel said it organizes public awareness campaigns, educational workshops in schools and universities, and national competitions that encourage creative, environmentally responsible solutions. He added that the association plays a critical role in bridging academia and implementation by hosting scientific conferences, building strategic partnerships and supporting national innovation deployment in alignment with Vision 2030's environmental goals. Farah Al-Gharib, CEO of Precision & Choice Environmental Solutions, echoed those views, underscoring the opportunity to enhance coordination between stakeholders as Saudi Arabia moves toward a circular economy. She told Arab News that aligning regulations, expanding infrastructure for sorting and collection, and stimulating private investment remain key challenges. Raising public awareness and promoting innovation are also essential to achieving sector-wide transformation. To accelerate progress, Al-Gharib called for a more integrated and flexible system that encourages public-private partnerships. Activating source-level sorting and offering financial incentives to investors, she said, would help drive growth in the sector. Clear metrics, such as waste reduction, cost savings and job creation, should be used to measure success. Looking ahead, she expects more companies to invest in smart technologies and expand their collection and treatment networks. Seamless integration across the entire waste value chain — from source to processing and redistribution — is essential, she said, to avoid bottlenecks and uphold the core principles of the circular economy. 'Based on our experience in the sector, we believe that unifying and updating regulations under a single, clear, and transparent regulatory framework would directly contribute to attracting investors, reducing the complexity of procedures and the classification of recyclable products, thereby accelerating regulatory processes and stimulating production,' said Al-Gharib. She concluded that clear legislation and coordinated responsibilities across authorities are key to scaling up circular economy initiatives effectively and sustainably.

Alkhorayef Commercial Company partners with XSQUARE Technologies to elevate logistics automation in Saudi Arabia
Alkhorayef Commercial Company partners with XSQUARE Technologies to elevate logistics automation in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Gazette

time4 days ago

  • Saudi Gazette

Alkhorayef Commercial Company partners with XSQUARE Technologies to elevate logistics automation in Saudi Arabia

Alkhorayef Commercial Company (ACC), a leading provider of industrial and commercial solutions in Saudi Arabia, has entered into a strategic partnership with Singapore-based XSQUARE Technologies. The two companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during the Saudi Warehousing & Logistics Expo 2025 to support the advancement of intelligent automation in warehouse operations across the Kingdom. The collaboration will bring together ACC's strong presence in the Saudi market and its expertise in logistics solutions with XSQUARE's state-of-the-art automation technologies – including Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) and intelligent orchestration systems – to deliver tailored, efficient, and future-ready intralogistics solutions. Through this agreement, both companies will jointly explore opportunities to implement automation systems in key logistics zones, with a focus on pilot initiatives and live demonstrations that highlight the practical benefits of AMRs in improving operational efficiency, safety, and scalability. Fahad AlJaddan, CEO of Alkhorayef Commercial Company, remarked: "At ACC, we're always looking to drive innovation that adds value to our customers and the wider logistics sector. Our partnership with XSQUARE is a strategic move that aligns with our ambition to enable smarter, more agile supply chains in Saudi Arabia. Together, we aim to introduce cutting-edge automation that supports Vision 2030 and sets a new benchmark for operational excellence.' ACC will play a key role in facilitating market entry and adaptation for XSQUARE's solutions by leveraging its deep industry relationships and knowledge of local logistics challenges. ACC will also lead customer engagement, support deployment, and provide strategic feedback to ensure a strong market fit. XSQUARE Technologies will contribute with its technological know-how, offering training, integration support, and access to dedicated experts who will assist in localizing the solutions for the Saudi market and executing successful pilots. Jens Bohnwagner, CEO of XSQUARE Technologies, said: "We're thrilled to partner with ACC, a company that shares our vision for transforming logistics through innovation. Their established reputation and insight into the Saudi market make them an ideal collaborator. This partnership gives us the opportunity to demonstrate how adaptable and impactful our solutions can be in one of the region's most dynamic logistics environments.' This agreement marks the beginning of a long-term collaboration focused on modernizing Saudi Arabia's logistics infrastructure through technology, innovation, and shared expertise.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store