Military Industries Corporation (MIC or SAMIC; ) is a state-owned enterprise in Saudi Arabia founded in 1953. MIC became a subsidiary of Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) in 2017 following the latter's founding.[5] Based in Riyadh, the MIC manufactures armaments and develops Saudi Arabia's military arsenal through technology transfer and research and development.[1]
History
The notion of delegating the assembly, maintenance and advancement of Saudi military capabilities to a sovereign entity was first introduced by King Abdulaziz Al Saud in 1949. A royal decree was issued, stipulating the establishment of a weapons and artillery plant on September 8, 1950. Contract agreements were concluded with two corporations for the supply of the necessary equipment and apparatus to be installed at the premises of the new factory.
This step was taken with a number of objectives in mind, chief among them was achieving self-sufficiency for the Saudi army. It sought to assert the sovereignty of the kingdom's armed forces and other military sectors in regard of weaponry and ammunition supplies, and aimed to further the training and employment of Saudi nationals.