MBDA Italia has signed a contract worth more than €1bn to supply the Qatar Emiri Naval Forces (QENF) with missiles for their new naval vessels recently procured from Fincantieri.

The Fincantieri contract, worth around $4bn, covers the supply of seven surface vessels — four corvettes, one Landing Platform Dock amphibious vessel and two Offshore Patrol Vessels, as well as support services in Qatar for 15 years after the delivery of the vessels.

MBDA will supply the QENF with Exocet MM40 Block 3 anti-ship missiles as well as Aster 30 Block 1 and VL MICA air defence missiles.

The contract signature on 29th June follows the Letter of Award which was signed in Rome on 16th June within the framework of a Government to Government agreement signed between the Ministry of Defence of Italy and that of Qatar.

MBDA is owned jointly by Airbus Group (37.5%), BAE Systems (37.5%), and Leonardo-Finmeccanica (25%).