At a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony, the following were announced:

1. A MoU between the Qatar Emiri Air Force and US company Lockheed Martin for a QAR 50 million, 3-year C-130 maintenance contract
2. A QAR 2.6 billion MoU between the Qatar Emiri Naval Forces and European company MBDA for a coastal battery system
3. A QAR 240 million MoU between the Qatar Emiri Naval Forces and MBDA for new Exocet MM40 B3 missiles
4. A QAR 95 million MoU between the Qatar Emiri Naval Forces and German company MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH for maintenance and overhaul of the MTU propulsion system
5. A MoU between the Qatar Emiri Naval Forces and Qatari company Nakilat for the training of navy officers
6. A Euro 32.5 million MoU between Al Zaeem M.B.A.A. Air Academy and French company DCI for fighter and helicopter pilot training
7. A QAR 365 million MoU between the Qatar Emiri Air Force and German company Reiner Stemme Utility Air-Systems GmbH for the production of drones
8. A MoU between the Qatar Armed Forces and the Polish company WKK for the purchase of 51% of the company’s shares, who specialise in the manufacture of composite materials and fuselage production
9. A QAR 60 million MoU between the Qatar Armed Forces and French company Thales for Searchmaster radar
10. A MoU between the Qatar Armed Forces and the Chinese National Precision Machinery Import and Export Corporation (CASIC) for the provision of support in the fields of production and military cooperation between the drone project committee and CASIC

In the afternoon, The Middle East Naval Commanders Conference (MENC), part of DIMDEX 2016, successfully concluded yesterday under the auspices of Chief of General Staff of the Qatar Armed Forces, H.E. Major General (Pilot) Ghanem Bin Shaheen Al-Ghanem.

Held under the theme: “The Maritime Domain – The Centre of Gravity for the Regional Security Complex of the Arabian Gulf”, MENC welcomed senior naval commanders and academics to Doha to discuss the most relevant issues currently facing maritime security in the region.

The authoritative military and academic speakers hailing from Canada, France, India, Italy, Pakistan, Qatar, Turkey and USA examined a diverse range of topics relating to the maritime security complex for the Arabian Gulf states, expanding beyond a narrow viewpoint of military security to include energy security, environmental security and freedom of navigation around maritime choking points.

MENC is a key component of DIMDEX 2016’s three-day programme and as with the exhibition, official VIP delegations and warship visits, MENC is both hosted and organised by the Qatar Armed Forces for the first time this year.

Brig. Dr. (Eng) Thani A. Al-Kuwari, Chairman of DIMDEX said:

“The fifth edition of the MENC conference provides a high profile industry forum for GCC and international naval commanders to share their insights on the strategic challenges facing the security of regional waters. With a high calibre of speakers and topical agenda, MENC acts as Qatar’s prestigious platform for thought leadership in international maritime defence policy and practice.”

In his opening remarks at MENC, Chief of the Qatar Emiri Naval Forces, Staff Major General (Sea) Mohammed Bin Nasser Al-Mohannadi said:

“The security and economies of all states along the coast of the Arabian Gulf rely on the protection of our territorial waters and the ability to defend these waters from evolving threats is fundamental. Regional and international coordination and cooperation is required to guarantee the energy security, environmental security and freedom of navigation of our waters from both the conventional and unconventional challenges we face in this geo-strategic region.”

Today is the last day DIMDEX 2016, with warships and the exhibition still open to visitors.