Qatar signs deals for armed drones, armored vehicles and ships from Turkey

Qatar has signed deals with Turkish companies for the sale of armed unmanned aerial vehicles, armored land vehicles and naval vessels at the Doha International Maritime Defense Exhibition and Conference.

Armed drones

Baykar Makina on Wednesday signed an agreement with Qatar for six Bayraktar TB2 armed UAV platforms, three ground control station systems and equipment, and a simulator, all to be delivered within a year, Anadolu Agency reported.

The sale is the first export contract for the TB2.

Baykar will also set up a UAV operation center and supply other digital services and training to Qatar’s Armed Forces.

The Medium Altitude and Long Endurance (MALE) class Bayraktar TB2 has wing span of 12m and a maximum takeoff weight of 650kg. In an August 2014 test flight, a Bayraktar TB2 flew for more than 24 hours.

TB2s can carry two small missiles. In December 2015, the drone successfully test-fired the Roketsan UMTAS long range air-to-surface anti-tank missile.

MORE SDF claims it shot down a Turkish Bayraktar drone that crashed in Efrin

Land vehicles

On Tuesday, Ethem Sancak, the head of the BMC vehicle manufacturing company told Anadolu Agency that the company will produce 85 armored vehicles of two types for Qatar. BMC is to deliver 50 BMC Kirpi Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles and 35 BMC Amazon 4×4 multi-purpose armored vehicles.

No timeframe was given for delivery.

Naval vessels

Also on Tuesday, Anadolu Shipyard chairman Sualp Urkmez told Anadolu Agency that it has signed a deal to build two training warships for Qatar’s navy.

The ships will have the capacity to train 72 naval cadets, and will feature classrooms, training areas, weapons and sensors and will be delivered within 36 months.

Turkey’s Piri Reis University, a maritime school, also signed an agreement to establish a naval academy for Qatar, Anadolu reported on Wednesday.

Turkey’s Ares and Yonca-Onuk shipyards signed deals for another 17 naval vessels, which will be outfitted with Aselsan-made weapon systems.