Satellite Imagery Raises Suspicion Of Saudi Arabias Ability To Produce Missiles

(The Washington Post) Paul Sonne January 23 2019 2:48 PM Satellite images suggest that Saudi Arabia has constructed its first known ballistic missile factory according to weapons experts and image analysts a development that raises questions about the kingdoms increasing military and nuclear ambitions under its 33-year-old crown prince. If operational the suspected factory near the missile base in al-Watah southwest of Riyadh would allow Saudi Arabia to manufacture its own ballistic missiles fueling fears of an arms race against its regional rival Iran. Saudi Arabia does not possess nuclear weapons so any missiles produced at the apparent factory are likely to be conventionally armed. But a missile-making facility would be a critical component of any eventual Saudi nuclear weapons program hypothetically giving the kingdom capability to produce the preferred delivery systems for nuclear warheads. The possibility that Saudi Arabia is going to build longer-range missiles and seek nuclear weapons - we imagine that they cant. But we are maybe underestimating their desire and their capabilities said Jeffrey Lewis a nuclear weapons expert at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey California who discovered the factory with his team when analyzing satellite images from the region.