United States
Australia
United Kingdom
Europe
New Zealand
Canada
The U.S. State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to Qatar of Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) munitions and support, an emergency move valued at an estimated $992.4 million that waives the standard congressional review period.
Qatar has requested 10,000 APKWS-II all-up rounds. The package also includes LAU-131 A/A launchers; Mk-152 high-explosive warheads; MK66 rocket motors; proximity fuzes; WTU-1/B practice warheads; inert MK66 rocket motors; publications and technical documentation; transportation; and U.S. government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support.
Invoking Section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act, the Secretary of State determined that an emergency exists requiring the immediate sale in the national security interests of the United States, thereby bypassing the usual congressional review. The department said the transfer will enhance the security of a key regional partner and will not alter the basic military balance in the Middle East.
The principal contractor is BAE Systems in Nashua, New Hampshire. The U.S. government is not currently aware of any offset agreement tied to the sale; any such arrangement would be negotiated between Qatar and the contractor. Implementation is not expected to require additional U.S. government or contractor personnel in Qatar.
APKWS is a laser-guidance kit that converts 70mm Hydra rockets into precision munitions, offering a lower-cost, lower-collateral-damage option for fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft. The State Department said the sale would bolster Qatar’s ability to address current and future threats, strengthen homeland defense, and deter regional adversaries, adding that Doha should have no difficulty integrating the weapons into its forces.
Qatar, a designated major non-NATO ally of the United States and host to the Al Udeid Air Base, is a long-standing security partner. If the sale proceeds, final quantities, pricing, and delivery timelines would be determined during contract negotiations.
