DOHA
\nThe US government has announced the approval of a $1 billion sale of counter-drone systems and other military equipment to Qatar.
\n\u201cThe proposed sale will improve Qatar\u2019s capability to meet current and future threats by providing electronic and kinetic defeat capabilities against Unmanned Aircraft Systems,\u201d the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said in a statement on late Tuesday.
\nQatar has requested to buy ten small unmanned aircraft systems, including a fleet of 200 Coyote Block 2 interceptors.
\nOther Coyote launchers and counter unmanned warfare systems, as well as specialised cameras were also included in the list, the statement said.
\nDSCA said Congress has been notified of the possible sale.
\nThe announcement on the sale of the systems comes after repeated drone attacks claimed by Iran-backed Houthi rebels elsewhere in the Gulf region, and as Russian drone strikes against Ukrainian cities further highlight the threat posed by unmanned aircraft.
\nQatar enjoys friendly relations with Iran, and shares joint gas explorations with its Gulf neighbour, but it also hosts US military forces and bases.
\n\u201cThe proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region,\u201d the statement said.
\nThe rollout of the system and training of the personnel will take at least five years, with US contractors assigned to train personnel Doha.
\nThe State Department approved the possible sale, and the DSCA on Tuesday provided the required notification to Congress, which still needs to sign off on the transaction.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
DOHA The US government has announced the approval of a $1 billion sale of counter-drone systems and other military equipment to Qatar. \u201cThe proposed sale will improve Qatar\u2019s capability to meet current and future threats by providing electronic and kinetic defeat capabilities against Unmanned Aircraft Systems,\u201d the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":298546,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-298524","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n