Saudi Deputy Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman visited on Monday the southern border of the Kingdom, where he met the Saudi armed forces personnel and conveyed them greetings from the leadership. During the tour, the deputy minister highlighted the combat capabilities of the Saudi forces and lauded the professionalism and courage of the soldiers. He was briefed about the important tasks performed by different units deployed along the southern border to defend their homeland. On the other hand, the Prince lauded the royal decree ordering the payout of a month’s salary bonus to the soldiers serving on frontlines at the Kingdom’s southern border. The reward comes in recognition of the sacrifices presented by military personnel for the homeland. “The constant attention and support from the government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and his deputy to the sons of the loyal homeland of the military stationed in the kingdoms stalls is not surprising,” the Prince said. Last Sunday, Prince Khalid thanked King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for assigning him the task of deputy defense minister. He told the ministry officials that the crown prince had assigned him several projects to develop and further strengthen the Defense Ministry in line with the Kingdom’s ambitious Vision 2030 plan. Saudi Arabia is also seeking to localize 50 percent of total government military spending in the Kingdom by 2030. In 2017, it announced the launch of the state-owned military industrial company Saudi Arabia Military Industries (SAMI). Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia expects SAMI to contribute almost $240 million to the national gross domestic product by 2020, and to create 5,000 new jobs. SAMI is set to become one of the top manufacturers globally, combining the latest technologies and best expertise to produce military equipment according to international standards and aid the development of the Saudi army.