South Korea’s Defense Ministry announced Tuesday that Saudi Arabia had agreed to buy a $3.2 billion surface-to-air missile defense system, but China said at a defense show in Riyadh that its weapons had attracted “great interest” from Saudi Arabia. ” he yelled. weekend.
Saudi Arabia is also making advances in indigenous military systems, which could decisively end Saudi Arabia’s dependence on the United States for defense products.
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Saudi Arabia’s purchase of arms from the United States was politically problematic for two main reasons. criticism Saudi Arabia’s intervention in Yemen’s civil war has left many civilians dead and injured, and the damage is increasing. division It took place between Riyadh and Washington after the election of President Joe Biden. human rights activists, pressured The US has called for a halt to arms sales to protest Saudi Arabia’s human rights record and its actions in the war in Yemen.
Saudi Arabia The remaining As of the end of 2023, it is the largest customer of U.S. military hardware, with purchases reaching $84.3 billion. Saudi Arabia has the world’s largest defense budget, second only to the United States, China, Russia and India.
The trend away from complete dependence on the US for weapons began with Saudi Vision 2030, a roadmap for a post-oil economy. devised Almost a decade ago, by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), who is now the country’s de facto chief executive officer.
T– South Korean Defense Minister Lee Jong-seop (right) and Saudi Arabian Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman Al Saud attend a welcoming honor guard ceremony at the Ministry of Defense in Seoul, South Korea on March 7, 2023. Attendance. (Sung Kyung Seok/Pool photo via AP)
The plan called for producing about half of Saudi Arabia’s weapons locally by 2030, among other initiatives. The General Directorate of Military Industry (GAMI) said on Tuesday: Appointment The drone factory in Riyadh is under the control of a Saudi company called INTRA Defense Technologies.
GAMI described the factory, which is expected to produce up to 120 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) a year, as a “significant achievement” that will significantly strengthen both Saudi drone capabilities and high-tech export markets.
On Tuesday, the Saudi Ministry of Defense reportedly They agreed to purchase South Korea’s Cheonggung M-SAM II surface-to-air missile, which can intercept both other missiles and aircraft.The transaction is hit with a hammer outside The defense ministers of both countries made the remarks during talks in Riyadh over the weekend.
The Cheongung (“Iron Hawk”) was made by the South Korean company LIG Nex1. Competent Intercept enemy missiles at relatively low altitudes. It is equipped with a sophisticated radar system that can guide the missile toward its target, but the missile can also navigate on its own if an enemy jams communication with the launcher.
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (left) is welcomed by South Korean Prime Minister Han Deok-soo (right) during an official ceremony in Seoul, South Korea on November 16, 2022. (Royal Court of Saudi Arabia/Handout)/Anadolu Agency, Getty Images)
Jeonggun is “One hit kills” interceptorThat is, it was designed not to detonate near the enemy in the air, but to directly hit and intercept enemy weapons. The system was developed after South Korea began to worry that its older surface-to-air missiles could not keep up with North Korea’s latest ballistic missile designs.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE), a Gulf oil country like Saudi Arabia, purchased The $3.5 billion sale was promoted by then South Korean President Moon Jae-in during a visit to the Emirates.
China’s state-owned Global Times report It said China’s display at the 2024 World Defense Show in Riyadh over the weekend had “generated great interest” from Saudi Arabian and other shoppers.of Global Times He boasted that China’s exhibition is the second largest after Saudi Arabia.
Chinese weapons companies are producing aircraft such as the FC-31 stealth fighter, JH-7 fighter-bomber, Y-20 strategic transport, Y-9 tactical transport, AG600 amphibious aircraft, Wingron series, CH series, FH series, etc. Unmanned aerial vehicles, ships, tanks, armored vehicles, howitzers, multiple rocket systems, radars, and, according to media reports, air defense artillery and missiles.
Visitors attending the World Defense Show 2024 in northern Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh on February 4, 2024. (Fayez Nureldine/AFP via Getty Images)
of Global Times Chinese state media outlets such as , advised Saudi Arabia that Chinese companies would be “good partners” in the “challenging task” of achieving 50% localization of military procurement by 2030. China’s “complete industrial chain” would ostensibly greatly help Saudi Arabia develop its own defense infrastructure. Chinese companies will be happy to ship parts overseas so the Saudis can assemble their own weapons and vehicles.
“China’s defense products are not only affordable, but also have advanced technology and are of the highest quality.” Global Times It was advertised. “They also provide full after-sales service and there are no undue political ties.”
This last comment is clearly a jab at the US and a restatement of China’s sales pitch to developing countries, saying that China has no interest in human rights or democracy and therefore does not do what Western countries do. The idea was not to make moral judgments. After years of hearing activists argue that arms supplies should be cut off to punish Iran-backed war with Yemen’s Houthi rebels, Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern powers have backed that argument. There is good reason to believe that it will be accepted.
