Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) and the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE’s) Nimr signed a teaming agreement on 22 February at the International Defence Exhibition & Conference (IDEX) 2021 trade show in Abu Dhabi.
Under the agreement, the two companies will work to localise production of the Nimr Jais 4×4 mine-resistant, ambush-protected (MRAP) vehicle in Saudi Arabia. According to a statement issued by the two companies, an initial batch of vehicles will be built in the UAE at the Nimr facility before the transfer of production and technology to Saudi Arabia. Further development of Saudi Arabia’s supply chain capabilities will enable the two companies to jointly manufacture all the Jais vehicles that will be provided to the Kingdom in the future.
SAMI and Nimr have signed a teaming agreement to transfer armored vehicle production and technology to Saudi Arabia. (SAMI)
SAMI CEO Walid Abukhaled said in a statement that the teaming agreement “represents a major leap forward in our efforts to build a flourishing military industries sector in the Kingdom. This achievement also supports PIF’s [Public Investment Fund’s] efforts through SAMI in localising cutting-edge technology and knowledge, as well as building strategic economic partnerships.”
The Nimr Jais family of 4×4 and 6×6 vehicles is based on the former BAE Land Systems South Africa RG35 MRAP before the design and development rights of the vehicle were purchased by Nimr. A contract for 1,500 vehicles for the UAE Army was announced at IDEX in 2017 but by 2019 had been cancelled, with an executive for Nimr telling Janes that it “did not progress for several reasons”.
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