Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri and the Qatari Ministry of Defence have agreed to jointly study and evaluate new technologies that could lead to the acquisition of new vessels.

The topics they will examine include naval base design, ship fleet management, digital radar, and cyber security, Fincantieri said on 24 January.

The two parties formalised their arrangement by signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in Doha.

Fincantieri said the MOU builds on its existing relationship with the Middle Eastern country.

Under a nearly EUR4 billion (USD4.4 billion) contract signed in June 2016, the company's Italian shipyards are building seven surface vessels for the Qatar Emiri Naval Forces.

Source: Janes