Saudi Arabia Spends US$2.3 Bln to Acquire 39 Russian Pantsir-S1M Air Defense Systems in Secret Deal
The acquisition was revealed by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), citing internal reports from Ruselectronics, a subsidiary of Russian defense giant ROSTEC.
(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) – Saudi Arabia has reportedly acquired 39 Russian-made Pantsir-S1M air defense systems in a “quiet” deal worth an estimated $2.3 billion (RM10.1 billion).
The acquisition was revealed by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), citing internal reports from Ruselectronics, a subsidiary of Russian defense giant ROSTEC.
Under the agreement, Saudi Arabia is said to have committed to paying $2.3 billion to Russian arms exporter ROSOBORONEXPORT for the delivery of the 39 air defense systems.
The contract also includes 10 mobile command posts, hundreds of missiles, transport vehicles, and communication systems for the Pantsir-S1M units.
Documents revealed that the procurement contract was signed in April 2021, with the first payment made in August of the same year.
Deliveries reportedly began in 2023, one year after the Russia-Ukraine conflict erupted.
According to OCCRP, Saudi Arabia also granted Russia access to its Patriot air defense systems supplied by the United States.
Russia allegedly requested and was permitted to inspect the Patriot sites in Saudi Arabia, although OCCRP investigators could not confirm whether these visits took place.
Beyond the acquisition, Moscow and Riyadh have reportedly cooperated on establishing facilities for maintaining the Pantsir-S1M systems, training centers, and an assembly plant for the air defense system in Saudi Arabia.
In February last year, Saudi Arabia became the third Gulf nation, after Oman and the United Arab Emirates, to procure the Pantsir-S1M.
According to Italian defense media outlet RID, Saudi Arabia’s decision to purchase the Russian short-range air defense systems underscores the continued appeal of Russian weaponry, despite the sanctions imposed on Moscow by the United States and its allies over the Ukraine conflict.
The specific type and variant of the Pantsir-S1M purchased, however, were not disclosed.
This acquisition also highlights Saudi Arabia’s proactive efforts to diversify its defense systems and reduce reliance on a single supplier, such as the United States.
Over the years, Riyadh has expanded its procurement to include weaponry from non-U.S. sources, including China.
The Pantsir-S1M system has been upgraded with new software and a 360-degree view capability, enabling it to detect and neutralize a range of threats, including missiles, aircraft, helicopters, and small drones like those employed by Ukrainian forces.
Known as the SA-22 Greyhound by NATO, the system is equipped with radar and electro-optical sensors, allowing it to detect, track, and engage targets up to 36 km away and at altitudes of 15 km.
It can simultaneously track up to 20 targets, including aircraft and missiles, and engage six at once. Each Pantsir vehicle carries 12 missiles and a cannon capable of hitting targets up to 4 km away. — DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA
