Saudi Arabia Orders 39 Russian Pantsir S1 Air Defense Systems Worth $2.2B: Reports

Saudi Arabia has reportedly finalized a $2.2 billion deal with Russia’s Rosoboronexport to acquire 39 Pantsir-S1 air defense systems, along with ten mobile battery command posts and anti-aircraft missiles.

Deliveries began in 2023 following reports of the Pantsir system’s effectiveness in Ukraine, where it has been used to counter drones and short- to medium-range missiles.

The contract, signed on April 8, 2021, spans five years. According to leaked documents from the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), Saudi Arabia made an initial payment of €326 million in August 2021. The systems, mounted on KAMAZ-53958 (8×8) armored chassis, are supplied with 57E6M missiles featuring enhanced speed and kinetic warheads. Optional integration of smaller 19Ya6 missiles increases ammunition capacity, offering improved defense against drone swarms.

Russia has also proposed additional agreements to Saudi Arabia, including constructing service facilities, establishing a training center in Jeddah, and possibly localizing production of Pantsir systems and ammunition within Saudi Arabia. While the status of these agreements remains uncertain, they suggest a potential expansion of defense ties.

The acquisition reflects regional concerns about existing air defense systems, with reports indicating limitations in the U.S.-made Patriot PAC-3 system’s ability to counter low-altitude drones and tactical cruise missiles. In comparison, the Pantsir-S1M, equipped with advanced radar for tracking small, low-altitude targets, is considered a more capable alternative.

Saudi Arabia’s purchase aligns with a regional trend of modernizing air defense systems to address emerging threats. Other nations, including India, are also exploring the Pantsir platform, with plans to develop a variant to replace older systems like Tunguska and Shilka. 

Some reports suggest Saudi Arabia opted for the Pantsir due to the perceived inefficiency of the Patriot PAC-3MSE system in intercepting low-altitude UAVs and cruise missiles in Ukraine. The Patriot’s AN/MPQ-65A radar reportedly struggles to track targets with a radar cross-section of 0.05 square meters below 30 meters and lacks low-altitude tracking towers.

There is fragmentary information about Saudi Arabia potentially partnering with the Tula Design Bureau for localized production of the Pantsir-S1M, though no final decision has been announced. 

Key features attracting Middle Eastern customers include the 19Ya6 missiles, which quadruple ammunition capacity for countering large-scale UAV attacks, and the 57E6M missiles, which feature improved solid-propellant motors and kinetic warheads capable of engaging targets moving at speeds up to 2,000 m/s. Additionally, the system’s 1RS3 phased-array radar can detect targets with a radar cross-section of 0.07 square meters at distances of up to 25 kilometers.