San Francisco, Calif., 20 Rajab 1439 H., 5 April 2018, SPA -- His Royal Highness Prince Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince, Vice President of the Council of Ministers and Minister of Defense, was today briefed on the advanced technologies in the aviation and air defense sectors as well as missiles technologies and satellite communications of Lockheed Martin company. This came during a visit to Lockheed Martin company‘s headquarters in the Silicon Valley in the U.S. city of San Francisco where he was received by the conglomerate‘s President and Chief Executive Officer Ms. Marillyn Hewson, and Lockheed Martin‘s top executives. His Royal Highness was briefed on the high-tech air defense THAAD system, the technologies‘ purchase and localization of which are currently being negotiated by the Kingdom. The presentation included the company‘s plans to establish a research and development center in the Kingdom in cooperation with King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) and Arabsat. The command, control and communications systems, the technologies of which will be transferred and totally localized in the Kingdom, were also displayed. HRH the Crown Prince also saw firsthand the powerful and innovative satellites being built for KACST and Arabsat, the first of its kind and most precise and efficient, which will enhance the Kingdom’s space technologies. He also met the young Saudi engineers who have worked side-by-side with Lockheed Martin engineers to transfer and localize satellite building and manufacturing technology, conduct functional and environmental test skills as well as the efforts being exerted to build Saudi Arabia’s future space industry, increase the economic opportunities and create jobs throughout the Kingdom. The Saudi first communications satellite will provide high and advanced capabilities for the wide zone (Ka-Band), an achievement that will secure for the military, security and civil sectors a space network including visual communications, internet, telephone and secure communications, to cover the Middle East, Africa and Europe. The satellites are slated for delivery by the end of this year. --More 23:59 LOCAL TIME 20:59 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w661137