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Riyadh has shown interest in acquiring Russian S-400 air defense systems.

 

Riyadh has shown interest in acquiring Russian S-400 air defense systems.

 

RIYADH/DUBAI (Sputnik) — Saudi Arabia is interested in buying Russian S-400 air defense systems, Russian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia 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 Defense Exhibition and Conference, IDEX] and events organized in Russia, so there is nothing new here, there is an interest," Ozerov said.

Military and technical cooperation between the two countries may well increase in due time, he added, noting that the given contacts on the matter are not usually publicized. 

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. The sides have held talks on supplying the systems to Riyadh.

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