Saudi Arabia expands ballistic missile facility

Saudi Arabia is expanding a military facility to produce more powerful, longer-range solid-fuel ballistic missiles, according to satellite imagery analysed by two researchers at the US-based Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI).

Images of the Al-Dawadimi complex, about 200 kilometres west of Riyadh, show a new missile-fuel casting building at least twice the size of an existing structure. The expansion began in April 2025 and could be completed by the end of 2026.

FPRI researchers Sam Lair and Michael Duitsman said the facility may be linked to Chinese-designed missiles, including the longer-range DF-21. However, the intended missile types have not been confirmed.