LONDON - The Qatari Navy is to equip its Vita-class patrol boats with MBDA's latest version of the Exocet MM40 surface-to-surface missile. No value has been given for the deal.
The four 56-meter patrol vessels, built by the British in the 1990s, already carry an earlier version of the weapon. The new missiles, updated to the new Block 3 standard, will add to a weapons suite that already includes 76mm gun, Mistral surface-to-air missiles and the rapid-fire 30mm Goalkeeper close in weapon system.
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The Block 3 weapon has already been ordered by the French Navy and Qatar's regional neighbors Oman, the United Arab Emirates and others.
France is upgrading existing Block 2 weapons to the Block 3 standard rather than purchasing new missiles. The Navy carried out its first operational firing of the upgraded weapon from a Horizon-class frigate last month.
The latest version of the weapon features a substantial increase in range; a navigation package that allows it to be used for blue-water, littoral and coastal land attack missions; and other upgrades.
In a statement, the commander of Qatar's naval forces, Staff Brigadier (SEA) Mohammed Bin Nasser Al Mohannadi, said the project was in line with plans to update the nation's maritime forces.
"It's an integrated project which includes training officers and other navy personnel to deal with modernized missile systems, the development of missile launched systems and updating with the latest technology in the field," he said.
From: DN
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