"Following the fire started in the KACST Construction Bay, and the repairs made to it, we have decided to move forward with the project openly.
Thanks to former Lead Engineer Fahad Hazazi the world knows what we were really intending to put into space. What we were working on was a kinetic bombardment weapon, not a surveillance satellite.
We still intend to build and launch this weapon. As you know, ISIS is a growing threat in the region and in the world, willing to use children as disposable bomb carriers. We must stop at nothing in order do defeat them and stop the suffering for those stuck in ISIS held areas.
We intended to build this weapon in secret to be used as a last resort against ISIS. The intended use has not changed.
We intend to launch the satellite in mid 2018."
[M] some additional info on it
Based on what I'm finding it would take about $300m USD to build a satellite and an additional $100m to have it launched. The materials for the weapon would cost an additional $10m. So the full cost would be about $410m.
The weapon will be loaded with ten 0.3 meter by 6.1 meter tungsten rods.
There's no way to reload the weapon.
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[–] E-werd ago
[M] It's a "cool" idea, but it's anything but practical. Whatever all that oil money can get you, I guess. Go for it, it's just a weird thing to me. I would be very surprised for the US to be OK with this.
[–] WarNeverChanges [S] ago
[M] The US is involved with the project.
[–] E-werd ago
[M] I saw that, and I'm no less perplexed.
[–] Robot1501 ago
The United States Air Force, with its decades of satellite building, would like to partner up with Saudi Arabia in this venture.
[–] WarNeverChanges [S] ago
Saudi Arabia graciously accepts the United States' offer of assistance in this venture. Truly, ISIS has much to fear in the near future.
[–] Robot1501 ago
We thank Saudi Arabia for allowing the US Air Force onto the program. However, a weapon with this much power must have safeguards. We must cooperate on a deployment system so that they aren't used excessively or unnecessarily.
[–] [deleted] ago
[–] WarNeverChanges [S] 0 points 2 points 2 points (+2|-0) ago
Saudi Arabia contends that the Outer Space Treaty only bans nuclear, biological and chemical weapons from use in space. As this weapon uses rods of metal it is not banned. (first section, final paragraph).
Should NATO wish to oversee the construction of the Saudi Arabian kinetic bombardment satellite, they are free to do so.
If any other nations or organizations has any questions or concerns, please bring them up. We hope to be transparent as possible about the construction and deployment of this weapon.
[–] DaedalusDan 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
The People's Republic of China agrees with Hungary's concerns, and we would be willing to offer further aid to Saudi Arabia in combating the savages that they face.