Vergennes
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According to several sources, Qatar could finalize at the end of the year a contract for the supply of 490 VBCI armored vehicles manufactured by Nexter. A potential contract that was estimated by the Elysee for 1.5 billion euros. It is today the objective posted by Doha, which would like to announce this contract on the day of the national day of Qatar, on December 18th.
Initially, it was planned to implement a contract in June but this goal was too ambitious. On the other hand, negotiations have accelerated in recent weeks between Qatar and Nexter. Finally, the threat of Rheinmetall, which had worried at the end of spring, seems today dismissed, according to several sources.
Qatar had signed in December 2017, in addition to lifting the option to purchase 12 additional Rafale and a contract for the operation and maintenance of the Doha metro, a letter of intent for the purchase of 490 VBCI in the part of the Al Rayyan program during a visit by Emmanuel Macron to Doha. This would be the first export contract for the VBCI.
What took a lot of time - almost all of 2018 - is the customer's choice of several key VBCI equipment, which will be armed with MBDA's medium-range missile (MMP). Two negotiations have crystallized a fierce struggle between manufacturers: the turret and communications systems. Doha finally decided at the end of 2018. It is finally the Norwegian Kongsberg who will supply the turret at the expense of Nexter while the Thales / Kongsberg consortium will equip the VBCIs with means of communication. Finally, the radar will be that of Thales.
This industrial scheme has been validated by Barzan Holdings, a company owned by the Qatari Ministry of Defense. Barzan and Nexter had created a joint venture, which will serve as the industrial base for the delivery and maintenance of VBCIs.
https://www.latribune.fr/entreprise...r-contrat-a-l-export-pour-le-vbci-828158.html
