--- title: "Saudi Arabia Expands Missile Factory, Study Says" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/conflict/saudi-arabia-expands-missile-factory-study-says" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/saudi-arabia-expands-missile-factory-study-says" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/conflict/saudi-arabia-expands-missile-factory-study-says.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/saudi-arabia-expands-missile-factory-study-says" category: "Conflict & Security" area: "Middle East" published: "2026-10-23T13:45:49.610Z" source_reported: "2026-10-23T12:16:44.000Z" updated: "2026-10-23T13:45:49.610Z" trust_score: 60 critic_score: 70 hype_score: 45 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-10-24T11:14:38.394Z" --- # Saudi Arabia Expands Missile Factory, Study Says *Satellite images suggest a new facility could enable production of larger, more powerful solid-fuel ballistic missiles.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 60 of 100, higher is better. Central claim attributed to named researchers; satellite imagery cited; multiple independent experts consulted. - Craft 70 of 100, higher is better. Explains why the expansion matters for regional security and US policy; quotes affected parties and experts. - Hype 45 of 100, lower is better. Headline uses 'study says' and article details the analysis, avoiding excessive sensationalism. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Saudi Arabia appears to be expanding its ballistic missile factory at the al-Duwadimi complex, according to an analysis of satellite images. - The expansion includes new buildings that researchers suggest could be used for casting solid-fuel missile motors and storing components. - The development could lead to the production of larger, more powerful missiles, potentially increasing regional tensions and complicating US-Saudi nuclear discussions. - Satellite images of the complex were taken between April 2025 and September 2026 by Planet Labs. Saudi Arabia is reportedly expanding its ballistic missile production capabilities at the al-Duwadimi complex, located west of Riyadh. Analysis of commercial satellite imagery from April 2025 to September 2026 suggests the construction of new facilities, including a building at least twice the size of existing ones, which researchers believe could be for casting solid-fuel missile motors. A second new building may be intended for storing fuel ingredients or missile components. Researchers Sam Lair and Michael Duitsman of the Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI) assessed the satellite images. They suggest the expansion indicates Saudi Arabia's intent to produce larger solid-fuel missiles, which could offer greater range or payload capacity. Such developments carry implications for regional security, potentially fueling a missile race and influencing opposition in the US Congress to a proposed US-Saudi civilian nuclear agreement. ## Coverage Analysis The right-rated outlet CNBC-TV18 reported on the expansion of Saudi Arabia's ballistic missile factory. The report stated that satellite company Planet Labs provided images of the al-Duwadimi complex between April 2025 and September 2026. It detailed the analysis by researchers Sam Lair and Michael Duitsman of the Foreign Policy Research Institute, who assessed that the expansion includes a new, larger building for casting pits and a second building for storing fuel ingredients or missile components. The report noted that more capable missiles could deter attacks by Iran and increase Saudi self-reliance, but also risk fueling a regional missile race and deepening opposition to a US-Saudi civilian nuclear agreement. ## What the coverage left out None of the right-rated reports below mention the cost estimate for the missile factory expansion. The full report from CNBC-TV18 does not include any figures related to the financial investment in the facility's development. ## Who covered it Shares of the 16 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 6% (1) - Centre: 38% (6) - Right: 56% (9) 15 of 31 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-10-24T11:14:38.394Z. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 96 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-10-24T13:45:13.978Z. **Provisional coverage gap:** left. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - low: 1 - mixed: 5 - high: 5 - unknown: 15 - veryHigh: 5 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [[your]NEWS](https://yournews.com/2026/10/24/7237401/american-ally-turns-to-chinese-ballistic-missiles-to-challenge-iran) — American Ally Turns To Chinese Ballistic Missiles To Challenge Iran And Houthis - [GEOPOLITIKI](https://geopolitiki.com/military/saudi-arabia-expands-ballistic-missile-plant-al-duwadimi-fpri-study-chinese-technology) — Saudi Arabia expands its ballistic-missile plant at al-Duwadimi; study sees larger missiles with Chinese technology - [CNN Greece](https://cnn.gr/kosmos/story/558521/i-saoudiki-aravia-epekteinei-ergostasio-vallistikon-pyraylon-ti-deixnoun-doryforikes-eikones) — Saudi Arabia Expands Ballistic Missile Factory – What Satellite Images Show - [banker.bg](https://banker.bg/2026/10/24/razshiryavaneto-na-sauditskiya-raketen-zavod) — Saudi Missile Factory Expansion Could Produce More Powerful Missiles, Study Says - [yalibnan.com](https://yalibnan.com/2026/10/24/saudi-missile-plant-expansion-may-produce-more-powerful-missiles-and-alter-balance-of-power) — Saudi missile plant expansion may produce more powerful missiles and alter balance of power – Ya Libnan - [Republika Online](https://news.republika.co.id/berita/tne0dk451/arab-saudi-diamdiam-perluas-pabrik-rudal-balistik-teknologi-china-jadi-sorotan) — Saudi Arabia Secretly Expands Ballistic Missile Factory, Focusing on Chinese Technology - [جنوبية](https://janoubia.com/2026/10/23/%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b3%d8%b9%d9%88%d8%af%d9%8a%d8%a9-%d8%aa%d9%88%d8%b3%d9%91%d8%b9-%d9%85%d9%86%d8%b4%d8%a3%d8%aa%d9%87%d8%a7-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b5%d8%a7%d8%b1%d9%88%d8%ae%d9%8a%d8%a9-%d9%87%d9%84-%d9%8a) — Saudi Arabia Is Expanding Its Missile facility... Is the Balance of Deterrence Changing with Iran? - [The Daily Caller](https://dailycaller.com/2026/10/23/saudi-arabia-chinese-ballistic-missiles) — American Ally Turns To Chinese Ballistic Missiles To Challenge Iran And Houthis - [thedailybs.com](https://thedailybs.com/2026/10/23/american-ally-turns-to-chinese-ballistic-missiles-to-challenge-iran-and-houthis) — American ally turns to Chinese ballistic missiles to challenge Iran and Houthis - The Daily Bo Snerdley - [Business AM](https://businessam.be/uitbreiding-saudische-raketfabriek-kan-productie-krachtigere-raketten-mogelijk-maken-volgens-studie) — Expansion of Saudi Missile Factory Could Enable Production of More Powerful Missiles, According to Study - [Jerusalem Post](https://jpost.com/defense-and-tech/article-912662) — Saudi missile plant expansion may produce more powerful missiles, study says - [Modern Diplomacy](https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2026/10/23/saudi-arabia-expands-missile-plant-raising-prospect-of-more-powerful-weapons-study-finds) — Saudi Arabia Expands Missile Plant, Raising Prospect of More Powerful Weapons, Study Finds - [Defense News](https://defensenews.com/global/mideast-africa/2026/10/23/saudi-missile-plant-expansion-may-produce-more-powerful-missiles-study-says) — Saudi missile plant expansion may produce more powerful missiles, study says - [snn.ir](https://snn.ir/fa/news/1475803/%D8%B9%D8%B1%D8%A8%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%86-%DA%A9%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%AE%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%87-%D9%85%D9%88%D8%B4%DA%A9-%D9%87%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D8%AA%DB%8C%DA%A9-%D8%AE%D9%88%D8%AF-%D8%B1%D8%A7-%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%B3%D8%B9%D9%87-%D9%85%DB%8C-%D8%AF%D9%87%D8%AF) — Saudi Arabia Expands Its Ballistic Missile Factory - [Naftemporiki](https://naftemporiki.gr/kosmos/2179171/reuters-i-saoydiki-aravia-epekteinei-to-ergostasio-sto-al-ntoyoyantimi-me-stocho-tin-paragogi-ischyroteron-vallistikon-pyraylon) — Reuters: Saudi Arabia Expands Al-Duwadimi Factory to Produce More Powerful Ballistic Missiles - [연합뉴스-Yonhap News Agency](https://yna.co.kr/view/AKR20261023182900009) — Saudi Arabia Expands Missile Production Facilities… Possibility of Chinese Technology - [The Sunday Guardian Live](https://sundayguardianlive.com/world/us-israel-iran-war-latest-live-news-saudi-arabia-expands-ballistic-missile-facility-to-build-longer-range-weapons-satellite-images-reveal-raising-iran-threat-concerns-us-nuclear-deal-opposition-310760) — US-Israel-Iran War Latest Live News: Saudi Arabia Expands Ballistic Missile Facility to Build Longer-Range Weapons, Satellite Images Reveal, Raising Iran Threat Concerns & US Nuclear Deal Opposition - [1prime.ru](https://1prime.ru/20261023/rakety-874565338.html) — Saudi Arabia Has Established the Production of Heavier Ballistic Missiles - [CNBC-TV18](https://cnbctv18.com/world/saudi-missile-plant-expansion-may-produce-more-powerful-missiles-study-says-20018215.htm) — Saudi missile plant expansion may produce more powerful missiles, study says - [Rzeczpospolita](https://radar.rp.pl/przemysl-obronny/art45386051-reuters-arabia-saudyjska-chce-miec-bron-do-bezpiecznych-atakow-na-iran) — Reuters: Saudi Arabia Wants Weapons for 'Safe' Attacks on Iran - [India Today](https://indiatoday.in/world/story/saudi-arabia-ballistic-missile-factory-expansion-longer-range-solid-fuel-weapons-3023557-2026-10-23) — Saudi expanding missile factory to build long-range, more powerful missiles: Report - [Klix](https://klix.ba/vijesti/svijet/saudijska-arabija-siri-fabriku-balistickih-raketa-mogla-bi-praviti-vece-projektile-na-cvrsto-gorivo/261023158) — Saudi Arabia Expands Ballistic Missile Factory: Could Make Larger Solid-Fuel Missiles - [Reuters](https://reuters.com/world/middle-east/saudi-missile-plant-expansion-may-produce-more-powerful-missiles-study-says-2026-10-23) — EXCLUSIVE: Saudi missile plant expansion may produce more powerful missiles, study says - [sofokleousin.gr](https://sofokleousin.gr/epikairotita/diethni/saoudiki-aravia-epekteinei-tis-ypodomes-paragogis-isxyron-vallist) — Saudi Arabia: Expands Production Infrastructure for Powerful Ballistic Missiles - [Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/middle-east/saudi-arabia-eyes-bigger-missiles-as-houthi-threat-meets-iran-nuclear-fears/articleshow/135143640.cms) — Saudi Arabia eyes bigger missiles as Houthi threat meets Iran nuclear fears - [Devdiscourse](https://devdiscourse.com/article/international/3996967-exclusive-saudi-missile-plant-expansion-may-produce-more-powerful-missiles-study-says) — EXCLUSIVE-Saudi missile plant expansion may produce more powerful missiles, study says - [IBTimes](https://ibtimes.com/saudi-arabias-clashes-houthis-keep-escalating-riyadh-now-reportedly-beefing-its-missile-3808918) — Saudi Arabia's Clashes With The Houthis Keep Escalating. Riyadh is now Reportedly Beefing Up Its Missile Capabilities. - [Capital.gr](https://capital.gr/diethni/4025307/i-saoudiki-arabia-epekteinei-tis-egkatastaseis-paragogis-ballistikon-puraulon-stoxos-i-kataskeui-isxuroteron-oplon) — Saudi Arabia Expands Ballistic Missile Production Facilities – Aiming to Build More Powerful Weapons - [The Straits Times](https://straitstimes.com/asia/saudi-missile-plant-expansion-may-produce-more-powerful-missiles-study-says) — Saudi missile plant expansion may produce more powerful missiles, study says - [WTVB](https://wtvbam.com/2026/10/23/exclusive-saudi-missile-plant-expansion-may-produce-more-powerful-missiles-study-says) — Exclusive-Saudi missile plant expansion may produce more powerful missiles, study says - [Al-Monitor](https://al-monitor.com/originals/2026/10/exclusive-saudi-missile-plant-expansion-may-produce-more-powerful-missiles-study) — Exclusive-Saudi missile plant expansion may produce more powerful missiles, study says ## Questions **What is Saudi Arabia expanding at its missile factory?** Saudi Arabia appears to be expanding its ballistic missile factory at the al-Duwadimi complex. Analysis of satellite imagery suggests the construction of new facilities, including a larger building possibly for casting solid-fuel missile motors and another for storing components. **What are the potential implications of this expansion?** The expansion could lead to Saudi Arabia producing larger, more powerful solid-fuel missiles. This may increase regional tensions by fueling a missile race and could also deepen opposition in the US Congress to a proposed US-Saudi civilian nuclear agreement. **Who provided the satellite images and who analyzed them?** Commercial satellite images of the al-Duwadimi complex were provided by the satellite company Planet Labs. Researchers Sam Lair and Michael Duitsman of the Foreign Policy Research Institute analyzed these images. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/conflict/saudi-arabia-expands-missile-factory-study-says. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Saudi Arabia Expands Missile Factory, Study Says", https://mediabias.news/conflict/saudi-arabia-expands-missile-factory-study-says