Saudi arms deal with Russia unveiled, raises Western concerns
In 2023, under a contract signed two years prior, Russian Pantsir-S1 air defence systems were secretly delivered to Saudi Arabia. Analysts are considering whether the revelation of this information will impact the relationship between the Saudi Arabian authorities and the West, particularly the United States.
According to the Ukrainian portal Militarnyj, citing a report published by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), the contract was signed on 8 April 2021.
Saudi Arabia secretly ordered Russian anti-aircraft systems
Disclosed documents indicate that the contract is valued at approximately 2.2 billion euros (1.85 billion pounds). Under its terms, the Russians agreed to deliver 39 combat vehicles Pantsir-S1 (in the export variant Pantsir-S1M) to Saudi Arabia, as well as 10 mobile command posts and an unspecified number of anti-aircraft missiles.
The deadline for completion is set for 2026, but in 2023, a year after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, part of the ordered equipment was delivered to Saudi Arabia.
Analysts note that Saudi Arabia has not sanctioned Russian arms companies, but by cooperating with them, risks having U.S. sanctions imposed on its own entities. Similarly, Turkey faced difficulties, being excluded from the F-35 fighter jet purchase programme because it uses the Russian S-400 air defence system.
The relations between the Saudi Arabian authorities and the West are complex, but analysts emphasise that the country is a user of, among others, American Patriot anti-aircraft systems. In 2024, trade policies regarding Saudi Arabia were eased not only by the United States but also by Germany, which agreed to sell Eurofighter Typhoon jets.
The modern Russian anti-aircraft system
The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Defence did not respond to media requests for comment regarding contracts with Russia, for whom the Pantsir-S1 remains one of the most valued anti-aircraft systems.
It utilises 57E6 or 57E6-E missiles with a range of approximately 19 kilometres, as well as 2A38M automatic cannons with a calibre of 30 mm capable of hitting smaller targets at a distance of about 4 kilometres. The Pantsir-S1M variant primarily employs enhanced radars and systems for countering interference.