Saudi looking to boost air defence with Russian made missile system

Saudi Arabia is interested in buying Russian S-400 air defence systems, the Russian government controlled news agency Sputnik revealed today.

Speaking about the Saudi interest in Russian air defence system, Russian Ambassador to Saudi Oleg Ozerov told Sputnik: “This has been stated by Saudi Arabian representatives themselves when they visited multiple exhibitions, presentations and shows where Russia showcased these systems, such as the exhibition in Abu Dhabi [the International Defence Exhibition and Conference (IDEX)] and events organised in Russia, so there is nothing new here, there is interest.”

Military and technical cooperation between the two countries may well increase in due time, he added.

Saudi Arabia first indicated an interest in Russian S-400 Triumf systems at the Dubai Airshow 2015, according to the head of Russia’s Rostec corporation, Sergei Chemezov. Talks regarding the supply of the systems to Riyadh are ongoing.

The S-400 Triumf is a mobile surface-to-air missile system which integrates multifunctional radar, autonomous detection and targeting systems, anti-aircraft missile systems, launchers and a command and control centre. It is capable of firing three types of missiles that can hit aerial targets at short-to-extremely long ranges.