Raytheon Missile Systems has received a $242 million contract to deliver the Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) Block 2 system for the Qatari Emiri Navy.
The contract, announced by the US defense department May 10, was awarded to the company by the US Naval Sea Systems Command and includes foreign military sales to the governments of Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey.
The contract is potentially worth $529.7 million, should all options be exercised, and is expected to be completed by 2023.
The Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) is already in use by the navies of Turkey and Egypt but this will be the first time the Qatari Navy is acquiring the system.
Back in April 2016, the government of Qatar requested to buy 252 RIM-116C Rolling Airframe Tactical Missiles, and two RIM 116C-2 Rolling Airframe Telemetry Missiles from the US State Department. Also included in the request were support equipment, personnel training, technical and logistics support services, live fire test event support, and other related integration elements.
While it was not specified, the systems are widely expected to be installed on new Qatari Navy vessels which are starting construction this year. Qatar is acquiring a total of seven surface vessels which will be built by Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri following the signing of a letter of agreement in June 2016. Fincantieri will build four corvettes of over 100 meters in length, one amphibious vessel (LPD – Landing Platform Dock), and two patrol vessels (OPV – Offshore Patrol Vessel) under the contract.