AH-64ES Sold to Qatar

摘要

Qatar will procure 24 Boeing AH-64E Apache attack helicopters and associated Lockheed Martin Hellfire antitank guided missiles for $3 billion as part of an $11 billion arms deal with the United States. US Secretary of Defense 'Chuck' Hagel hosted Qatar's Minister of State for Defence Affairs, His Excellency Hamad bin Ali al-Attiyah, at the Pentagon on July 14 to sign letters of offer and acceptance for the helicopters, as well as Patriot and Javelin missile systems. Details of the potential Foreign Military Sale (FMS) for the Apaches were passed from the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency to Congress on July 10, 2012 (see Apaches for Qatar, September 2012, p40) and an indication that negotiations were nearing conclusion was given on March 27 at the Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference (see Major Arms Package for Qatar, May, p25). According to the FMS, all of the helicopters will be equipped with the AN/ASQ-170 Arrowhead Modernized Target Acquisition and Designation Sight and AN/AAR-11 Modernized Pilot Night Vision Sensors, but only enough AN/APG-78 Fire Control Radars are included to equip half the fleet. In addition to the helicopters, a substantial package of munitions is included in the deal, including 576 Hellfire Ⅱ air-to-surface missiles, 295 FIM-92H Stinger Reprogrammable Micro Processor Block 1 air-to-air missiles and 4,092 Hydra 2.75in rockets. A comprehensive self-defence suite will be installed on the Apaches.