LM Report 2000

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SAUDI ARABIA

Saudi Arabia has not acceded to the Mine Ban Treaty. Landmine Monitor does not know of any public statements by the government regarding its position on the treaty or the ban. Saudi Arabia voted for the pro-ban UNGA resolutions in 1996 and 1997, but was absent during the votes in 1998 and 1999. Saudi Arabia is not a party to the CCW nor is it a member of the Conference on Disarmament.

Saudi Arabia is not known to have ever produced or exported AP mines, but has imported them from the U.S. and perhaps other nations.^[1] In 1995 it was reported that the UK sold to Saudi Arabia an unspecified number of JP-233 air-delivered airfield attack weapons that contain HB-876 area denial antipersonnel mines.^[2] However, it appears that after considerable pressure in the UK, at least some of these weapons have been exchanged for other bombs.^[3]

The size and composition of Saudi Arabia’s current AP mine stockpile is unknown. It is not known if Saudi forces have ever employed antipersonnel mines. The Saudi armed forces have mine clearance vehicles for use in wartime countermine operations, including the Aardvark Joint Services Flail Unit and Pearson Pathfinder marker system, both supplied by UK companies.^[4]

Though little is known, the United States maintains a stockpile of 2,255 CBU-89 Gator air-delivered mine dispensing bombs that contain a total of 49,610 antipersonnel mines in Saudi Arabia.^[5] The U.S. used 1,314 Gator units, containing a total of 27,445 AP mines, during the 1990-1991 conflict in the Kuwaiti theater of operations.^[6]

Saudi Arabia is not believed to be mine-affected, though there may be areas with UXO contamination. Several UK companies have conducted UXO clearance operations at unspecified locations in the country. These companies include BACTEC International Limited and Royal Ordnance Explosive Ordnance Disposal.^[7]

Saudi Arabia has contributed $50,000 to the UN Voluntary Fund for Assistance in Mine Clearance.

[1] For more details, see Landmine Monitor Report 1999, p. 907.
[2] Peter Beaumont, “Major Accused of Deception on Mine Sales,” The Observer, 9 July 1995.
[3] The UK provided $24-27 million to destroy these weapons and replace them with 100 Paveway 3 bombs. Hansard, 15 March 1999, Col. 506. Jane’s Air Launched Weapons, Issue 33, August 1999.
[4] Jane’s Mines and Mine Clearance, on-line update, 18 November 1999.
[5] Landmine Monitor Report 1999, p. 333.
[6] Anthony Cordesman and Abraham Wagner, The Lessons of Modern War, Volume IV: The Gulf War, p. 477 citing data extracted from Thomas Keaney and Eliot Cohen, Gulf War Air Power Survey: Summary Report, p. 103. According to this source, the Air Force used 1,105 CBU-89 Gators, the Navy used 148 CBU-78 Gators and the Marine Corps used 61 CBU-78 Gators. CBU-89 contain 22 AP mines and CBU-78 contain 15 AP mines.
[7] Jane’s Mines and Mine Clearance, on-line update, 18 November 1999.