Arms trade

Exported Russian arms more and more successful in local conflicts

The interest in Russian air defense weapons has increased of late. It is mostly due to the Syrian campaign of the Russian armed forces. Several countries are acquiring upgraded S-300. They are Egypt, Iran, Venezuela and others. There are also buyers of the latest S-400 - China, India, and Turkey. Short and medium-range air defense is also popular, including Pantsir-S1 missile gun.

Syria is armed with export options of S-300 and Pantsir-S1. They were engaged against a missile strike by the United States, the UK and France in April 2018. They are regularly engaged to repel Israeli air raids. Israel has reported the destruction of one Pantsir. Experts concluded the weapon was not in a combat state and could not repel the attack.

Pantsir was engaged not only in Syria. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is one of the main operators. At least 15 Pantsirs were engaged in the military campaign of the Arab coalition in Yemen. The first photos of a Pantsir in Yemen appeared in August 2015. Since then they have been reliably defending UAE troops from the air. Saudi forces in Yemen are regularly attacked by missiles and drones of Yemeni rebels and sustain losses. The Saudi air defense is armed with US Patriots which could not reliably defend the Saudi troops in Yemen, as well as residential settlements and infrastructure in the kingdom.