Saudi Arabia spends $83 billion on defence. Why are missiles and drones still getting through?

Saudi Arabia is one of the largest spenders on military matters in the world, relying on highly advanced weaponry from America and Europe for the defence of its cities, oil facilities, and military establishments. However, several attacks using missiles and drones conducted by Houthi rebels from Yemen revealed the complexity of the problem of protecting the country from its determined enemy. The recent attack on the airports of Riyadh and Abha has brought this point into question.

As reported by CNN in October, the Houthis have shown their capability to target vital facilities despite other attacks being intercepted by the Saudi troops. This is in addition to the disruption caused at the airports as well as fears regarding the safety of vital facilities.

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As much as $83 billion was allocated for defence by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 2025, based on information provided by CNN and the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Some of the defence systems in use include Patriot and Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) systems, as well as other sophisticated warplanes.

The challenge is not simply the quality of those weapons. Saudi Arabia must protect an enormous area, with threats approaching from several directions and a growing number of potential targets.

The recent attacks illustrate why military spending alone cannot guarantee that every incoming missile or drone will be stopped.

Why Saudi Arabia's advanced air defences face a difficult test

Saudi Arabia's security problem extends well beyond its capital. Airports, oil refineries, pipelines, military bases and other essential facilities are spread across a vast territory. Each requires protection against weapons that can approach at different altitudes, speeds and directions.

There are dangers posed to the state from Yemen on the southern side of the state, dangers posed to the state by Iran through the Gulf on the eastern side and dangers posed to the state by Iran-backed militias from Iraq on the northern side of the state.

According to CNN, there have been missile strikes through the use of ballistic missiles and cruise missiles, and even drone strikes, posing challenges to the ability of the state to detect and counter any such threats.

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There are various kinds of missiles which pose various challenges. Ballistic missiles are very fast, while cruise missiles are capable of travelling low and slow. Drones can be used in combination with missile strikes.

Interceptor technology is limited, although quite sophisticated. The defending force must be able to identify the weapon, track its path and intercept it before it hits its target. With multiple weapons coming at you, it gets all the more difficult.

Saudi Arabia has managed to intercept many weapons; however, the recent attacks on the airport reveal that mere interception counts do not tell the whole story.

How the Houthis have developed their missile and drone capabilities

For many years, the Houthis have been building their capabilities to become able to threaten distant targets, which lie outside the territory they control in Yemen. These include ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones with range-flying capabilities.

UN experts have confirmed that missile parts and other military equipment that originate from Iran are provided to the Houthis despite the arms embargo imposed on them by the international community. Some similarities exist between the arms used by the Houthis and Iranian-made missiles.

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CNN's reporting has highlighted the group's use of combined attacks to put pressure on air defences. A barrage involving drones and different types of missiles can complicate the task of identifying, tracking and intercepting each incoming weapon.

The Houthis have also drawn lessons from years of fighting Saudi Arabia and other opponents.

In fact, their tactic will not require them to equip themselves on par with the country’s military arsenal on a one-to-one basis. Rather, they can employ cheaper drones and missiles against vital infrastructure facilities, causing transport disruption and forcing Saudi Arabia to invest in its defence.

These actions will have implications that go beyond military bases. The destruction of any airport may cause disruption and affect people’s morale, while strikes against oil infrastructure will impact energy operations and market psychology.

In fact, the connection between Iran and the Houthis makes the conflict even more complex. At the same time, Houthis have their own political aspirations, connected with Yemen’s prolonged civil war and conflict with Saudi Arabia, and not everything can be explained just by following Tehran’s orders.

Saudi Arabia faces a choice between escalation and diplomacy

These attacks will put Riyadh in a tight corner. Although it may show Saudi Arabia’s seriousness toward attacks on its territory, it might result in more attacks on Saudi airports, oil facilities, and other vital centres of the country.

Saudi Arabia has been making efforts to ease regional tension for quite some time now and gain investments from around the world. The economic blueprint of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman depends in part on Saudi Arabia being seen as a haven for tourism, the tech industry, etc.

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Repeated security incidents threaten that ambition. The danger is not confined to the oil industry: airports, data centres, desalination plants and transport networks are all important to the country's economic development.

CNN's October coverage has described the growing pressure on Saudi Arabia as the conflict with the Houthis intensifies. The kingdom must weigh the benefits of military action against the risk of a wider confrontation and the possibility that further strikes could follow.

Riyadh is also seeking greater international support. Regional partners may provide defensive assistance, while Saudi Arabia could pursue additional weapons and interceptors from Western suppliers.

But replenishing stocks is not straightforward. The United States has also faced pressure on its own munitions inventories following recent military operations, according to reporting cited in the supplied CNN article.

A ground offensive against the Houthis would present further difficulties. The group is entrenched in Yemen, has extensive combat experience and operates in challenging mountainous terrain.

Experience has proven that mere air power will not be enough to eliminate it as an influence on the battlefield.

This means that diplomacy is still an available method for achieving peace, even if it turns out to be a tough process. In order to find an agreement, it will be necessary to take into account the claims of the Houthis, the security needs of Saudi Arabia, and the overall situation in Yemen.

The huge budget of Saudi Arabia, which equals $83 billion, has ensured its access to highly advanced weaponry, yet no matter how complex an air-defence system is, it cannot provide full protection of such a large area. Right now, what is needed is to improve the process of detecting missiles and to deploy defences properly.