Turkish defense companies clinch key deals in Qatar

DOHA

Turkey’s leading defense firms have announced significant agreements with Qatari officials on the sidelines of a sector exhibition in Doha, pledging to deliver key products, including drones and armored vehicles.

Turkish unmanned aircraft producer Baykar Makina signed an agreement on March 14 to export six armed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) to Qatar’s armed forces.

Under the agreement, six Bayraktar TB2 armed UAV Platforms, three ground control station systems and equipment, and a UAV training simulator will be delivered within a year, as reported by Anadolu Agency.

Baykar will also set up a UAV operation center and network-based data tracing and archiving software for Qatar’s Armed Forces.

The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the Doha International Maritime Defense Exhibition and Conference (DIMDEX 2018), which lasts through March 14.

One of Turkey’s leading automotive companies will deliver a total of 85 armored vehicles to Qatar, the company’s chair said on March 13.

Speaking to state-run Anadolu Agency, BMC head Ethem Sancak said the company will produce 50 BMC Kirpi [Hedgehog] Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles and 35 BMC Amazon 4x4 multi-purpose armored vehicles for Qatar, without giving any further details about the timeframe.

Sancak said the production will come into existence within the scope of an export deal on March 13 signed by BMC and Barzan Holding on the sidelines of the Doha International Maritime Defense Exhibition and Conference (DIMDEX 2018) in the Qatari capital Doha.

“Exports is important for Turkey. Previously we sold our vehicles to the Turkmenistan and Tunisian armies,” he added.

Turkey’s Anadolu Shipyard on March 13 said it signed an agreement to build two training warships for Qatar’s navy.

The planned ships will have the capacity to train 72 naval cadets, the shipyard’s chairman, Sualp Ürkmez, told state-run Anadolu Agency.

At the exhibition, Qatari officials also signed separate deals with Turkey’s Ares and Yonca-Onuk shipyards for another 17 military vessels.

More than 30 Turkish companies are taking part in this year’s DIMDEX exhibition.