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Raytheon has confirmed a US$2.2 billion agreement with the State of Qatar as part of two direct commercial sales for an additional integrated air and missile defence capability.
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The contracts, worth approximately US$2.2 billion, include the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System, final certification of the AMRAAM-Extended Range missile, and an unspecified quantity of additional Patriot fire units. These awards are part of a larger agreement being pursued by the Qataris with the US government. The combined value is expected to total up to US$3 billion.
Ralph Acaba, president of Raytheon integrated defense systems, welcomed the announcement, saying, "Raytheon's integrated air and missile defence capabilities provide a combat-proven, layered approach that protects citizens, militaries and infrastructure from a broad spectrum of threats."
Qatar is the first country to procure AMRAAM-ER, the surface-to-air extended-range variant of the combat-proven AMRAAM air-to-air-missile. Qatar also becomes the 11th country to procure the Raytheon/Kongsberg National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System (NASAMS), a medium-range air-defence solution manufactured by Raytheon and Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace. NASAMS uses the Raytheon Sentinel radar, and fires multiple interceptors, including AMRAAM-ER.
Australia has recently committed to acquiring the NASAMS system, a short to medium range air defence system owned by nine countries and has been integrated into the US National Capital Region’s air defence system since 2005.
In addition to the US, Norway, Finland, Spain, the Netherlands, Oman, Lithuania, Indonesia, Qatar and one undisclosed country have chosen to depend on NASAMS for homeland defence and the defence of critical assets.
The NASAMS acquisition as part of the $1.5 billion LAND 19 aims to deliver transformational change to the Army’s existing force protection capability, including a progression from man-portable GBAD capability to a fully networked and distributed system, these advancements allow the Army to counter complex air threats beyond visual range and significantly increases protection coverage for Australian soldiers.
Raytheon Company, with 2018 sales of US$27 billion and 67,000 employees, is a technology and innovation leader specialising in defence, civil government and cyber security solutions.
With a history of innovation spanning 97 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration, C5I products and services, sensing, effects and mission support for customers in more than 80 countries. Raytheon is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts.
Stephen Kuper
Steve has an extensive career across government, defence industry and advocacy, having previously worked for cabinet ministers at both Federal and State levels.
