Is Saudi Arabia expanding its ballistic missile programme?

Detailed summary

Is Saudi Arabia expanding its ballistic missile programme? Submitted by Paul Iddon on Wed, 11/11/2026 - 16:01 The apparent expansion of a Saudi missile facility near Riyadh has…

Saudi Arabia is believed to be expanding its Chinese-designed ballistic missile arsenal as it faces an unprecedented barrage of missile and drone attacks from Yemen's Houthi forces.

Satellite imagery analysed by American researchers suggests the kingdom is expanding its ballistic missile plant at al-Duwadimi in Riyadh Province to build larger solid-fuel missiles capable of carrying heavier payloads across greater distances.

Fighting between the kingdom and the Iran-aligned Yemeni group has intensified since July, shattering a UN-brokered truce that had largely held since 2022.

The Houthis have stepped up missile and drone attacks on Saudi cities, airports and energy infrastructure, retaliating for what they call a Saudi "blockade" of ports and airports in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.

Analysts have told Middle East Eye that the renewed confrontation with the Houthis has given the kingdom's arsenal added significance.

Riyadh is reported to have begun building ballistic missiles domestically with Chinese assistance in 2021, but its relationship with Beijing over the weapons dates back several decades.

In the 1980s, shortly after establishing the Royal Saudi Strategic Missile Force (RSSMF), Riyadh turned to Beijing for its first ballistic missiles.

Beijing supplied conventional DF-3 intermediate-range ballistic missiles with an impressive range of over 2,000 miles but incredibly low accuracy.

Saudi Arabia reportedly acquired more accurate DF-21 medium-range ballistic missiles with conventional payloads in 2007.

Opening of the article, excerpted from Middle East Eye. To read the rest, open the article on the publisher's site.