ABSTRACT
Saudi Arabia's defense expenditures have had to respond to a massive regional arms buildup, and to rapidly expanding threats on all its borders. Unlike most states receiving US foreign military sales, Saudi Arabia has paid for virtually all of its purchases from the US It has never received MAP merger funds, and has not received any Military Assistance Program funds since 1976. Saudi Arabia is also taking several steps which should ease both its defense expenditure and foreign manpower problems. Saudi Arabia already assembles some of its small arms, including the Heckler and Koch G3 machine gun. It is expanding its industries to produce newer types of small arms, military spares, and electronic components, and has developed plans to produce naval equipment, and assemble light armor. The Saudi Navy also has limited capability to absorb its modern equipment, and must depend heavily on air support.
