Qatar’s Emiri Naval Force signs $1 billion deal for Italian missiles
Fresh off a deal to buy seven navy vessels from an Italian firm, Qatar has contracted the Italian branch of an international defense company to outfit those ships with missiles.
In a statement this week, MBDA Italy announced it has signed a contract worth more than $1.1 billion with Qatar’s Emiri Naval Force.
As part of the deal, it will outfit vessels with Exocet MM40 Block 3 anti-ship missiles, as well as Aster 30 Block 1 and VL MICA air defense missiles.
MBDA said the contract was finalized after an agreement was signed by Italy and Qatar’s defense ministries in Rome two weeks ago.
The missiles will be fitted onto ships that Qatar agreed to buy late last month from Fincantieri.
