U.S. to deliver Raytheon NASAMS air defense systems to Qatar.

The U.S. State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Qatar of defense articles and services in support of a Direct Commercial Sale of the National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System (NASAMS) for an estimated cost of $215 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale.

NASAMS air defense missile system mounted on Humvee at DIMDEX defense exhibition in Qatar (Picture source: Army Recognition)

The Government of Qatar has requested to buy defense articles and services from the U.S. Government in support of a Direct Commercial Sale of the National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System (NASAMS). The items Qatar requests include the following: 40 AIM 120C-7 AMRAAM missiles, 1 spare AIM 120C-7 AMRAAM guidance section, 1 spare AIM-120C-7 control section, 8 AMRAAM Captive Air Training Missile (CATM-120C), missile containers, classified software for the AN/MPQ-64F1 Sentinel Radar, spare and repair parts, cryptographic and communication security devices, precision navigation equipment, other software, site surveys, weapons system equipment and computer software support, publications and technical documentation, common munitions and test equipment, repair and return services and equipment, personnel training and training equipment, integration support and test equipment, and U.S. Government and contractor, engineering, technical and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistical and program support. The estimated cost is $215 million.

The surface-launched Raytheon AIM-120 AMRAAM (SL-AMRAAM) air defence system uses the AMRAAM fire-and-forget missile, a surveillance radar, a fire distribution centre and AMRAAM launchers. The six-missile launcher turret, originally land based, is mounted on a Humvee. Raytheon is leading the team developing SL-AMRAAM. The Boeing Company is developing the SL-AMRAAM integrated fire control station at its Huntsville, Alabama, facility. The team also includes Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace of Norway.