Saudi Arabia 'to buy' Ukrainian anti-drone tech as Iran attacks continue

Saudi Arabia will purchase Ukrainian weapons systems capable of shooting down Iranian drones, as the kingdom tries to ward off daily air attacks from Tehran, according to Ukrainian media.

Iranian drone attacks have left Gulf states appealing for help from Ukraine, which has developed advanced counter-drone capabilities during the four-year war with Russia.

Ukraine says that as many as 11 countries have asked for assistance in dealing with Iran's Shahed UAVs, which have targeted infrastructure across the region in response to the US and Israel's huge bombing campaign.

The Kyiv Independent reported on Tuesday that a local arms company has signed an agreement to buy Ukrainian interceptor missiles, which have been used to down Russian copies of Shahed drones in Ukraine.

One Ukrainian defence source told the newspaper that a separate "huge deal" could be agreed this week.

The New Arab has approached the Saudi embassy for more information on this alleged deal.

Reuters reported last week that Qatar and the US are in talks to purchase Ukrainian military technology, while Kyiv has dispatched drone experts to the Gulf to help them defend against Iranian attacks.

The Gulf's expensive US-made air defences have parried most of Iran's missile attacks but have struggled to cope with swarms of Shahed drones.

Interceptor drones, which cost only a few thousand dollars to produce, are one of the most efficient ways to defend against cheap unmanned aircraft.

"Ukraine has the greatest experience in the world in countering attack drones," Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an address this week.

"Without our experience, it will be very difficult for the Gulf region, the entire Middle East, and partners in Europe and America to build strong protection".

Ukraine's military chief said earlier this month that the country's interceptor drones had downed more than 1,500 UAVs in February alone.

Faced with surging demand in the Middle East, Ukrainian arms companies are now increasing production with an eye to exporting the technology.