March 28, 2014

Qatar buys helicopters, missiles in $23-billion deals

Gulf Arab and Middle Eastern countries are looking to acquire new high-tech military equipment to protect themselves from neighbouring Iran and internal threats after the Arab Spring uprising.

Qatar plans to buy 24 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters
Photo: Wikipedia

Three Boeing 737 Airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) - Below is one from Turkish air force
Photo: Wikipedia
Qatar also plans to buy 22 NH90 military helicopters - Below is one from German Luftwaffe.
Photo: Wikipedia
Qatar announced contracts worth about $23-billion (U.S.) on Thursday to buy attack helicopters, guided missiles, tankers and other weapons from Boeing Co., Airbus SAS and other arms makers as the Gulf state accelerates its military build-up.Qatar, and other Gulf Arab and Middle Eastern countries are looking to acquire new high-tech military equipment to protect themselves from neighbouring Iran and internal threats after the Arab Spring uprising.

Boeing confirmed that the announcement included a contract to buy 24 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters and three Boeing 737 Airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft.The deal for the helicopters was valued at 8.9 billion riyals, said the spokeswoman for the conference.

Qatar also committed to buy a Patriot missile defence system built by Raytheon equipped with PAC-3 missiles made by Lockheed; advanced daytime, high-definition sensors and radars for Apache helicopters; and Javelin missiles built by a Lockheed-Raytheon joint venture, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Raytheon had told analysts in January that it expected to finalize an order with Qatar in the first half of 2014 for more than $2-billion in Patriot missile defence system equipment.The Pentagon approved the sale to Qatar of $9.9-billion worth of Patriot fire units, radars, and various Raytheon and Lockheed missiles in November 2012.

France’s Defense Ministry also said Qatar had agreed to buy 22 NH90 military helicopters from a unit of European aerospace group Airbus worth €2-billion ($2.76-billion) and two Airbus-made refuelling tankers.

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