Qatar to raise billions for European Typhoon jets purchase
Qatar to raise billions for European Typhoon jets purchase
The island-nation agreed to purchase 24 Typhoon combat jets from British defence group BAE systems in December.
2 min read
British defence secretary and his Qatari counterpart signing the Typhoon purchase agreement [Getty]
Qatar is raising a multi-billion dollar loan to purchase European Typhoon combat jets, according to a Reuters report.
The purchase, which tops $4 billion, will be backed by export credit agencies.
Qatar agreed to purchase 24 Typhoon combat jets from British defence group BAE systems in December last year for a total cost of $6.62 billion.
The purchase, which tops $4 billion, will be backed by export credit agencies.
Qatar agreed to purchase 24 Typhoon combat jets from British defence group BAE systems in December last year for a total cost of $6.62 billion.
"The new Typhoons will advance Qatar's strategic efforts towards stability. The method and mechanism of payment has not been decided yet," a Qatari official said.
But the contract is subject to "financing conditions and receipt by the company of first payment, which are expected to be fulfilled no later than mid-2018".
The warplane is a joint project of BAE, France's Airbus and Italy's Leonardo.
In March, Saudi Arabia and BAE agreed to finalise talks on the purchase of 48 Typhoon aircraft, double Qatar's purchase.
Earlier this month, Qatar's emir met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow about buying the S-400 air defence system, but no agreement was reached.
The warplane is a joint project of BAE, France's Airbus and Italy's Leonardo.
In March, Saudi Arabia and BAE agreed to finalise talks on the purchase of 48 Typhoon aircraft, double Qatar's purchase.
Earlier this month, Qatar's emir met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow about buying the S-400 air defence system, but no agreement was reached.
News that Qatar might purchase the S-400 missile system that would pose a threat to NATO aircraft alarmed its neighbour Saudi Arabia, which, along with Bahrain, the UAE and Egypt, launched a land, air and naval blockade on the gas-rich island-nation.
The quartet of Arab countries accuse Qatar of supporting terrorism and developing close ties with regional rival Iran, a charge Doha strongly denies.
Agencies contributed to this report.
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The quartet of Arab countries accuse Qatar of supporting terrorism and developing close ties with regional rival Iran, a charge Doha strongly denies.
Agencies contributed to this report.
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