MBDA to supply missiles to Qatar
MBDA Italia has received a contract worth around $1.12 billion to supply the Qatar Emiri Naval Forces (QENF) with missiles for their new Fincantieri naval vessels, it announced on 29 June.
The contract will see MBDA deliver Aster 30 Block 1 and VL Mica air defence missiles as well as Exocet MM40 Block 3 anti-ship missiles. The contract falls under the framework agreement signed between Italy and Qatar.
Antonio Perfetti, managing director, MBDA Italia, said: ‘This contract represents a further confirmation of the significant role that MBDA plays in the missile sector, not only in Europe, but also worldwide. It is proof of MBDA’s capability, thanks to its very comprehensive portfolio of world class solutions, of being able to address the most stringent and diverse of customer missile systems requirements. The contract consolidates MBDA’s highly valued partnership with Qatar and is further proof also of the value of the solutions offered by the company to meet its customers’ requirements.’
The Aster 30 Block 1 is a surface-to-air short to long range missile designed to combat high-speed threats such as combat aircraft, cruise missiles, tactical ballistic missiles and unmanned combat air vehicles. The VL Mica is a short-range, fire-and-forget missile that can be fitted with a heat-seeking homing head or an active radar.
The Exocet MM40 Block 3 anti-ship missile is a ship-borne missile with a mission planning software module that automatically calculates engagement plans to support firing decisions.
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