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The government of Qatar will acquire eight MQ-9B Reaper remotely piloted aircraft, guidance kits and munitions under a US$1.96 billion US foreign military sale.
The potential sale, approved by the US State Department and notified to US Congress on 26 March, includes the eight aircraft, 200 KMU-572 joint direct attack munition tail kits, 300 500-pound general purpose bombs, 100 MXU-650 air foil groups for Paveway II GBU-12, global positioning systems, 110 AGM-114R2 Hellfire II missiles and eight M36E9 Hellfire Captive Air Training Missiles.
It also includes friend or foe identification systems, Honeywell TPE331 turboprop engines, Link-16 KOR-24A small tactical terminals, communications equipment, M299 Longbow Hellfire launchers, loading equipment, logistics and technical support.
“This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by helping to improve the security of a friendly country that continues to be an important force for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East,” said a US Defense Security Cooperation Agency statement published on 26 March.
“The proposed sale will improve Qatar’s capability to meet current and future threats by providing timely intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, target acquisition, counter-land, and counter-surface sea capabilities for its security and defence. This capability is a deterrent to regional threats and will primarily be used to strengthen its homeland defence. Qatar will have no difficulty absorbing these articles and services into its armed forces.
“The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region. Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of any additional US government or contractor representatives to Qatar. There will be no adverse impact on US defence readiness as a result of this proposed sale.”
The principal contractors will be General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Lockheed Martin, RTX Corporation, L3Harris and Boeing Corporation.
