Russia sells Pantsir-S1 air systems to Saudi Arabia in the midst of sanctions

According to information gleaned from Italian media outlet RID, Russia has successfully completed the sale and delivery of its Pantsir-S1 short-range air systems to Saudi Arabia. This development emerges amidst The World Defense Show 2024 taking place in Riyadh, providing an intriguing backdrop given the global economic sanctions currently in place against Russia due to the ongoing Ukrainian conflict.

With this transaction, Saudi Arabia becomes the third customer from the Persian Gulf to acquire this system, following the UAE and Oman, bulgarianmilitary.com website reports. The same sources have revealed issues regarding payment due to the exclusion of Russian banks from the international SWIFT system. This situation arose as a result of Western sanctions in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. However, the exact number of systems purchased and their specific configurations remain undisclosed.

The system in question, Pantsir-S1, is a battle-tested, reliable choice. Recent improvements and modifications, particularly in its software components, have made it significantly effective in Ukraine for mitigating threats from missiles and rockets, according to RID’s report.

Close ties with Russia

Saudi Arabia’s stance on the conflict between Russia and Ukraine is complex and multifaceted, influenced by a variety of geopolitical, economic, and strategic factors. The primary driver of this complexity is the country’s longstanding relationship with Russia, characterized by mutual respect and cooperation across various domains, particularly within the energy sector.

As two of the world’s largest oil producers, Saudi Arabia and Russia possess pivotal roles in maintaining stability within the global oil markets. These two nations frequently coordinate through the OPEC+ alliance to regulate their oil production policies effectively, ensuring the stabilization of oil prices. Consequently, adopting a rigid stance against Russia could potentially compromise this vital economic partnership.

Another factor contributing to this stance is Saudi Arabia’s geopolitical considerations. The Kingdom has been striving to diversify its international relations, seeking to decrease its dependence on the United States. This strategy has led to the strengthening of ties with Russia, among other countries. Therefore, standing with the US against Russia in the Ukraine conflict could be detrimental to this strategic objective.

Furthermore, a cornerstone of Saudi Arabia’s foreign policy has always been non-interventionism. The country prefers to maintain neutrality in international conflicts unless its own national security is directly threatened. This policy is deeply rooted in the principles of respect for state sovereignty and noninterference in other countries’ internal affairs.

Lastly, it’s essential to highlight that Saudi Arabia’s stance on the Ukraine conflict is not indicative of any overarching issues within its relationship with the US. Despite its position on this particular matter, the Kingdom maintains strong ties with the US in various sectors, especially defense and security. However, on this isolated issue, its interests and strategic considerations align more closely with a neutral or non-confrontational stance.

About Pantsir-S1

The Pantsir-S1, also known as the SA-22 Greyhound by NATO, is a short to medium-range surface-to-air missile and anti-aircraft artillery weapon system produced in Russia.

This system is designed to protect key military and industrial facilities and to augment the defense capabilities of long-range air defense systems by eliminating precision-guided munitions.

The technical specifications of the Pantsir-S1 render it an imposing weapon system. It’s equipped with radar and an electro-optical system that can detect, track, and engage targets at ranges of up to 36 kilometers and altitudes as high as 15 kilometers. The system can track up to 20 targets simultaneously and engage three of them with its missiles. Additionally, the Pantsir-S1 boasts a high level of mobility, capable of reaching speeds of up to 100 kilometers per hour on roads.

How it works?

The operational range of the Pantsir-S1 is quite extensive. Its 12 surface-to-air guided missiles have a destruction range of up to 20 kilometers for aerodynamic targets and up to 15 kilometers for ballistic targets. The system’s two dual 30mm automatic guns are effective up to 4 kilometers in range and up to 3 kilometers in altitude.

The armament of the Pantsir-S1 consists of 12 57E6 surface-to-air guided missiles and two 2A38M 30mm automatic guns. The missiles are radio-command guided and are equipped with a high-explosive fragmentation warhead, along with contact and proximity fuses. The automatic guns are capable of firing up to 2,500 rounds per minute, providing a dense barrage against incoming targets.

The Pantsir-S1 operates by using its radar to detect and track incoming targets. Once a target is detected, the system’s fire control system calculates the optimal firing solution. The target’s data is then sent to the missile just before launch. After launch, the missile is guided to the target by the system’s radio command guidance. The missile’s warhead is then detonated either by contact with the target or by its proximity fuse.