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22 D EF EN S EH ER E D I M D E X 2 0 2 4 E D I T I O N

Qatar

Overview
Qatar is attempting to transform its military capabili-
ties and regional defense standing based on significant
equipment acquisitions, including platforms with pow-
er-projection capability. The size and capability of the
country’s air force and navy is increasing, reflecting the
pace of spending and major construction of military infra-
structure. The scale of the expansion has raised questions
about the country’s ability to develop and sustain the
necessary personnel, infrastructure and maintenance ca-
pacity, especially given the small indigenous population.
Qatar maintains close ties to Türkiye, which has a small
military presence in the country. Tensions with some of
Qatar’s neighbours that culminated in the 2017 Gulf Crisis
have subsided significantly. Qatari modernization efforts
include buying four new corvettes and the purchase, for
the air force, of Boeing F 15QA and Eurofighter Typhoon
multirole fighters. Qatar’s limited indigenous defense
industrial capability includes small calibre munitions pro-
duction capacity and ship repair. The country is trying to
upgrade its defense industrial capacity through its Bar-
zan Holdings investment vehicle.
Defense Trade
As Qatar continues to manage an ambitious military modernization program, the Qatar Armed Forces rely on foreign
military sales (FMS) and direct commercial sales (DCS). Doha purchased its main military equipments from the U.S. Its
major purchases from the U.S. since 2014 include Apache helicopters, Javelin missiles, Early Warning Radar, PAC 3 Patriot
systems, and F-15-QA fighter aircraft. In late 2021, Qatar received its first set of F-15-QA planes from Boeing. The Qatari
military is also sponsoring an initiative to create a vast network of military training facilities and programs focused on
supporting its recent defense acquisitions.

Another player in the defense sector in Qatar is Barzan Holdings, launched in March 2018 and wholly owned by the Qatari
Ministry of Defense. Barzan Holdings acts as the procurement arm for Qatar’s Ministry of Defense on strategic projects,
and has offices and investments outside of Qatar. Qatar and the U.S. has strong military-strategic partnership. Both
have signed a Defense Cooperation Agreement in 1992, which was renewed in 2013 for an additional ten years. Qatar
hosts Al Udeid Air Base, the largest U.S. airbase in the world outside the continental United States, serves as a forward
headquarters for U.S. Central Command and Air Force Central Command. In 2022, Qatar was designated as a Major
Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) by the U.S. While MNNA status provides military and economic privileges. Nonetheless, U.S.
companies stand to benefit from the MNNA because it could increase defense cooperation between the two nations.