Saudi Arabia wants to purchase a wide range of Russian-made military equipment and weapons TASS 12904172

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Defense & Security News - Saudi Arabia
 
Saudi Arabia wants to purchase a wide range of Russian-made military equipment and weapons.
Saudi Arabia wants to buy the cutting-edge Russian armament, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Lieutenant General Alexander Fomin has said during his meeting with Saudi General Staff Deputy Chief Fayad Hamid al-Ruwaili at the 6th Moscow Conference on International Security.
     
Saudi Arabia wants to buy the cutting-edge Russian armament, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Lieutenant General Alexander Fomin has said during his meeting with Saudi General Staff Deputy Chief Fayad Hamid al-Ruwaili at the 6th Moscow Conference on International Security.
Saudi Arabian forces, with nine other Gulf Arab allies, continue military operation in Yemen against Shiite Houthi rebels.
     
On April 26-27, the VI Moscow Conference on International Security is being held, under the auspices of Russia’s Defense Ministry. The conference focuses on international terrorism and other acute security issues pertinent to the global and regional agenda. The conference brought together defense ministers, as well as representatives of international and non-governmental organizations and military experts.

Fomin noted that Russia and Saudi Arabia have seen "a surge in their military cooperation" over the past two to three years.

"Russia and Saudi Arabia have been working very hard together in the past two years and a half. We have received your list of the latest weapons systems you would like to acquire," the deputy defense minister said.
According to him, the Russian Defense Ministry favors a steadily pursuit of the whole of bilateral military and military-technical cooperation.

"We expect a continued open and trust-based dialog about the whole range of matters of interest," the Russian deputy defense minister concluded.

In 2009, media are reporting that a $2 billion contract between Saudi Arabia and Russia should have been signed, but the contract was never finalized. The deal would reportedly involve Russia selling the Saudis up to 150 Mi-171 transport and Mi-35 attack helicopters, over 150 T-90S tanks, some 250 BMP-3 (infantry combat) armored vehicles and air defense systems including the S-400.

But Saudi Arabia would have a difficult time integrating Russian hardware into its defense architecture. Saudi Arabia may have the best military hardware money can buy, but it has problems with basic military proficiencies, such as maintenance and logistical support.

In 2016, Saudi Arabia was on the fourth position of biggest buyer of military equipment with military spending of $25.8 billion. Currently, Saudi Arabia armed forces are involved in the conflict in Yemen to fight Islamic terrorist groups.
     
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