Article Posted on : - Sep 05, 2016

Marte coastal defence system. An MBDA photo

DOHA (BNS): European missile maker MBDA has been awarded a contract by Qatar to supply a coastal defence system for the Qatari Emiri Naval Forces (QENF).

The contract, signed on September 1, entails the delivery of two different missile systems – the Marte ER (the Extended Range version of the Marte missile) and Exocet MM40 Block 3 missile.

This "innovative" coastal defence system will be able to work in autonomous mode with its own radar, or alternatively by data-linking to a higher level within a wider coastal surveillance network, MBDA said without disclosing the contract amount.

The supply of these coastal missile systems will allow the QENF to prevent hostile ships from reaching and threatening their territorial waters, the missile maker said.