Saudi Arabia appears to be expanding a ballistic-missile factory, with new buildings that researchers say could support longer-range or heavier-payload weapons

Saudi Arabia appears to be enlarging its ballistic-missile factory at the al-Duwadimi complex, where new buildings could support production of larger solid-fuel missiles, Reuters reported, citing researchers who analyzed commercial satellite images.

Images taken between April 2025 and September 2026 show a new building at the complex, about 200 kilometers (125 miles) west of Riyadh. It is at least twice the size of the existing facility and is likely used to cast missile motors, the researchers said. A second new building may be used to store fuel ingredients or finished components.

Sam Lair and Michael Duitsman of the Foreign Policy Research Institute said the expansion would allow the kingdom to produce missiles with longer ranges or heavier payloads. They said the facility could begin production as early as the end of 2026.