Zelenskyy offers Saudi Arabia's MBS help countering Iranian drones

"Ukrainians have been fighting against shahed drones for years now, and everyone recognises that no other country in the world has this kind of experience. We are ready to help. Ukraine's domestic arms industry was forced to innovate during Russia's four-year war, focusing on building low-cost drones to counter Russian attacks with imported Iranian Shahed-136s and homemade copies known as the Geran."

"Countries have been burning through stocks of expensive Patriot missiles to shoot down the significantly cheaper Shaheds. An Iranian-designed Shahed drone costs roughly $30,000, while a single PAC-3 interceptor missile for the US-made Patriot air defence system costs millions. Kyiv has developed low-cost interceptor drones priced at roughly $1,000 to $2,000, moving the systems from prototype to mass production within months."

"In offering help, Zelenskyy is hoping to increase Ukraine's leverage with allies and obtain the expensive defence systems. Earlier this week, Zelenskyy said Ukraine would help the US by providing specialists to counter the drones. He also said he had spoken with the leaders of Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates."

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy is leveraging Ukraine's extensive experience fighting Iranian Shahed drones to offer assistance to the US and Gulf nations under attack. During Russia's four-year war, Ukraine developed low-cost interceptor drones priced at $1,000-$2,000, compared to million-dollar Patriot PAC-3 missiles used against $30,000 Shahed drones. Ukraine rapidly scaled these systems from prototype to mass production. Zelenskyy has contacted leaders of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, and the UAE, offering specialists and expertise. This strategy aims to increase Ukraine's diplomatic leverage with allies while securing expensive defense systems for its ongoing conflict.

Read at www.aljazeera.com