Exclusive: Saudi Arabia Achieves Milestone with First Locally Produced U.S. THAAD Missile Transporter.

American Defense Company Lockheed Martin announced via its official Lockheed Martin ME & Africa X account on May 11, 2025, that Saudi Arabia has unveiled its first domestically produced Missile Round Pallet – Transportable (MRP-T) for the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile system. This marks a key milestone in the Kingdom’s ongoing efforts to localize military production under the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030. The THAAD system is currently in service with Saudi Arabia, forming a central pillar of the country's ballistic missile defense capabilities.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link

Saudi Arabia's first locally produced Missile Round Pallet – Transportable (MRP-T) for the THAAD missile system, developed in collaboration with Lockheed Martin, GAMI, and AIC Steel, marking a major step in defense localization under Vision 2030. (Picture source: U.S. DoD)

This landmark achievement stems from a strategic collaboration between Lockheed Martin, Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI), and the local industrial powerhouse AIC Steel. The MRP-T, a critical logistical component of the THAAD air defense missile system, is essential for transporting and supporting THAAD interceptor missiles. By manufacturing this component domestically, Saudi Arabia underscores its commitment to localizing over 50 percent of defense spending by the end of the decade.

The localization of the MRP-T reduces reliance on foreign imports, enhances supply chain sovereignty, and boosts the Kingdom’s economic resilience. In the face of regional security threats, particularly from Iran-backed groups, this move strengthens Saudi Arabia’s defense posture with faster deployment and higher system readiness.

The MRP-T is engineered for robust transportability and seamless integration with the THAAD launcher. Designed to carry a payload of approximately 27,783 pounds (12,600 kg) and a volume of about 1,337 cubic feet, it supports heavy-duty logistics essential for high-tempo military operations. The unit can be mounted on flatbed or lowboy trailers, enabling rapid redeployment of THAAD batteries across diverse operational theaters. This transport system ensures secure loading and unloading of interceptor rounds, maintaining the agility and continuous readiness of THAAD launchers during critical missions. As such, the MRP-T plays a pivotal role in enabling swift threat response and sustained field operations.

AIC Steel’s participation signifies more than a manufacturing milestone. It reflects the growing technical sophistication of Saudi industry. Empowered by Lockheed Martin’s strategic technology transfer, this partnership serves as a template for future localization initiatives across the defense and aerospace sectors. As reported in Defense Arabia’s 2024 feature during the World Defense Show, the MRP-T project was presented as a showcase of Saudi Arabia’s potential to lead in advanced military manufacturing. The global visibility of the project has already begun to attract attention from international defense observers and potential partners.

The successful production of the THAAD MRP-T within Saudi borders is not just a technical feat. It is a strategic signal. As the Kingdom progresses toward its Vision 2030 defense localization targets, the MRP-T sets a precedent for how public-private collaboration, international technology partnerships, and a clear national vision can converge to transform a nation’s defense industrial base. Army Recognition will continue to monitor developments on this front and provide exclusive updates on similar milestones reshaping the defense landscape in the Middle East and beyond.