US officials said the equipment will help Qatar address regional security threats and strengthen its territorial integrity.
US Approves Sale of Modern Drones, Weapons Worth $2bn to Qatar. The United States has approved the sale of nearly $2 billion worth of advanced military equipment to Qatar.
The deal, officially valued at $1.96 billion, includes advanced drones, bombs and advanced defense systems to enhance Qatar’s military capabilities, according to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA).
The deal includes the sale of eight MQ-9B drones, 500-pound precision-guided bombs, radar systems, satellite communications systems, and advanced targeting equipment.
To ensure optimal use of the military hardware, the deal also includes training and technical assistance for Qatari personnel.
The DSCA, which oversees US military equipment sales to foreign countries, highlighted that the sale is aimed at enhancing Qatar’s surveillance and defense capabilities.
US officials said the equipment will help Qatar address regional security threats and strengthen its territorial integrity.
He also stressed that the military sale would not upset the balance of power in the region. He assured neighboring countries that the transaction was consistent with maintaining regional stability.
According to the U.S. State Department, the United States and Qatar have the following defense cooperation agreements: the 2012 General Security of Military Information Agreement, the 2013 Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement, the 2013 Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement for Geospatial Intelligence, the 2014 Defense Cooperation Agreement, the 2014 Defense Cooperation and Reciprocity Agreement, and the 2020 Maritime Implementation Agreement.
Two major U.S. defense companies, General Atomics and Lockheed Martin, will lead the development and delivery of the equipment.
