Russia is close to signing new contracts with Saudi Arabia on the export of helicopters and air defense missiles systems in addition to recent arms deals with Riyadh, state-run arms exporter Rosoboronexport said on Monday.
“Rosoboronexport has already signed a number of big contracts [with Saudi Arabia], and they are being implemented,” deputy head of Rosoboronexport Alexander Mikheyev said at the Dubai-2011 airshow. He did not specify the ongoing agreements with Saudi Arabia.
“We have also done intensive work on new contracts, including on helicopters and air defense systems. Russia is ready to continue these negotiations as soon as the Saudi Defense Ministry makes a decision,” Mikheyev said.
Russia has been negotiating a $6 bln-arms deal with Saudi Arabia since 2007.
The “arms package” reportedly includes T-90S main battle tanks, BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicles, Mi-35 (Hind) attack helicopters, and Mi-17 (Hip) multirole helicopters, as well as Pansir-S1 air defense systems.
Several media sources have also mentioned that Russia could sell advanced S-300 or even S-400 air defense missile systems to Saudi Arabia.
Potential arms sales to Saudi Arabia would be a major breakthrough for Russia, as the Saudi arms market has been dominated by the United States and Britain since the Soviet era.
