U.S. sign etter of acceptance to deliver Patriot air defense systems and Javelin missiles to Qatar

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Defence & Security News - Qatar
 
 
Thursday, July 17, 2014 11:58 AM
 
U.S. sign a letter of acceptance to deliver Patriot air defense systems and Javelin missiles to Qatar.
Qatar plans to buy U.S. Patriot missile batteries and Apache attack helicopters in an arms deal worth about $11 billion, senior Pentagon officials said Monday. Monday, July 14, 2014, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel today hosted Qatar's Minister of State for Defense Affairs Hamad bin Ali al-Attiyah at the Pentagon to sign letters of offer and acceptance for Apache helicopters and Patriot and Javelin defense systems valued at $11 billion.
     
Qatar plans to buy U.S. Patriot missile batteries and Apache attack helicopters in an arms deal worth about $11 billion, senior Pentagon officials said Monday. Monday, July 14, 2014, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel today hosted Qatar's Minister of State for Defense Affairs Hamad bin Ali al-Attiyah at the Pentagon to sign letters of offer and acceptance for Apache helicopters and Patriot and Javelin defense systems valued at $11 billion.
U.S. Service members receive a briefing on the capabilities of the Patriot Advanced Capability (PAC) 3 missile launcher during a weapons system of the week tour at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia Jan. 28, 2010.
     
The sale would provide Qatar with roughly ten radars and 34 launchers for Patriot systems designed to knock out incoming missiles, as well as 24 Apache helicopters and Javelin anti-tank missiles.

Qatar was investing in missile defense systems to counter the threat across the Gulf from Iran, which has built up its missile arsenal, officials said.

Qatar’s minister of state for defense, Major General Hamad bin Ali al-Attiyah, committed to the sale in a signing ceremony Monday in Washington after talks with his American counterpart, Chuck Hagel, officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told AFP.

The weapons deal was the biggest for the United States in 2014 and came as Qatar weighs proposals in a fighter jet competition, with US aerospace firm Boeing vying against British and French defense companies.

Patriot is a long-range, all-altitude, all-weather air defence system designed and manufactured by the U.S. Company Raytheon and Lockheed Martin.The Patriot is able to counter tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and advanced aircraft.

The latest Patriot advanced capability (PAC-3) missile has increased effectiveness against tactical ballistic and cruise missiles, through the use of advanced hit-to-kill technology. The increased range MSE (Missile Segment Enhancemen) gives the missile a more powerful rocket motor for added thrust and larger fins for increased manoeuvrability against faster and more sophisticated ballistic and cruise missiles.