DOHA: Qatar yesterday signed 10 memoranda of understanding (MoU) worth QR3.5bn with international companies for arming and developing Qatari Armed Forces. The MoUs were signed on the sidelines of the second day of Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition & Conference (Dimdex 2016).

Yesterday’s biggest deal was to buy ‘coastal batteries’ defence system between Qatar Emri Naval Forces and European MBDA company with value of QR2.64bn. Another MoU for a project to manufacture and produce ‘Q01 - 100’ aircrafts was also signed between the steering committee of drone project and German company Reiner Stemme Utility Air-Systems GmbH with value of QR365.4m.

An agreement was signed with Polish WKK for manufacturing and producing parts of drones for reconnaissance and surveillance center of the Qatar Armed Forces (QAF) as QAF bought 51 percent of WKK company which specialises in the manufacture of composite materials and fuselage production. Under the agreement WKK will provide support in the field of aircraft manufacturing and technology transfer to Qatar.

Among the memos signed was one for the purchase of ‘Exocet’ missile range between Qatar Emiri Naval Forces and the European MBDA company amounting to QR240m. A QR60.896m MoU for a project to buy ‘Searchmaster’ radar between the steering committee of drone project and French Thales company was also signed. A QR95m agreement for the ‘Umrah’ project was signed between the Qatari Emiri Naval Forces and German company MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH for maintenance and overhaul of the MTU propulsion system. Another MoU for contracts to provide training for the pilots of helicopters and fighter jets was signed between Qatari Emiri Air Force and ‘DCI’ company with value of €32m. A memorandum of understanding for 3-year C-130 maintenance contract was signed between Qatari Emiri Air Force and the American Lockheed Martin company amounting to QR50m.

An agreement was signed to provide support in the field of manufacturing and military cooperation between the steering committee of drone project and Chinese National Precision Machinery Import and Export Corporation (CASIC). Another MoU with the same Chinese company was signed to provide the support in the field of manufacturing and military cooperation and technology transfer to Qatar. The Middle East Naval Commanders Conference (MENC) part of Dimdex 2016 concluded yesterday under the auspices of Chief of General Staff of the Qatar Armed Forces H E Major General (Pilot) Ghanem Bin Shaheen Al Ghanem.

In his opening remarks at MENC Chief of the Qatar Emiri Naval Forces Staff Major General (Sea) Mohammed Bin Nasser Al-Mohannadi said “The security and economies of all states along the coast of the Arabian Gulf rely on the protection of our territorial waters and the ability to defend these waters from evolving threats is fundamental. Regional and international coordination and cooperation is required to guarantee the energy security environmental security and freedom of navigation of our waters from both the conventional and unconventional challenges we face in this geo-strategic region”.

Held under the theme: “The Maritime Domain – The Centre of Gravity for the Regional Security Complex of the Arabian Gulf” MENC welcomed senior naval commanders and academics to Doha to discuss the most relevant issues currently facing maritime security in the region.

“The fifth edition of the MENC conference provides a high profile industry forum for GCC and international naval commanders to share their insights on the strategic challenges facing the security of regional waters. With a high calibre of speakers and topical agenda MENC acts as Qatar’s prestigious platform for thought leadership in international maritime defence policy and practice” said Brig Dr (Eng) Thani A Al Kuwari Chairman of Dimdex.

The authoritative military and academic speakers hailing from Canada France India Italy Pakistan Qatar Turkey and the US examined a diverse range of topics relating to the maritime security complex for the Arabian Gulf states expanding beyond a narrow viewpoint of military security to include energy security environmental security and freedom of navigation around maritime choking points. Today is the last day Dimdex 2016 with warships and the exhibition open to visitors.The Peninsula