Senior officers from the Qatari Emiri Naval Forces toured the world’s largest missile-making facility in Tucson, Arizona, US to learn more about Raytheon’s Rolling Airframe Missile’s (RAM) capabilities and to see its manufacturing in person. 
Raytheon is a major exhibitor within the US pavilion at the Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference (Dimdex) 2016, which concludes today.
The Emiri Naval Forces delegation members were Colonel Mohamed Bu-Hazzaa, Brigadier General Abdulla al-Mazroey, Colonel Jassim Hussain, Lt Colonel Jaralla al-Nabit, Lt Colonel Salem Almarri and Colonel Moh’d al-Dosari (Qatar Navy).
They interacted with Raytheon RAM Programme director Alan Davis and his colleagues C Jeff Meyer, Jerry Carter and Mark Lindorff. 
The recent visit also included a trip to the US Navy’s RAM programme office in Crystal City, Virginia, where the visitors received in-depth briefings on the missile’s classified capabilities.
RAM is a supersonic, lightweight, quick-reaction, fire-and-forget weapon designed to destroy anti-ship missiles. Its autonomous dual-mode passive radio frequency and infrared guidance design allow it to simultaneously defend against anti-ship missiles, helicopters, aircraft and surface craft.
RAM is co-operatively developed in partnership between the US and Germany and deployed on more than 165 ships in eight countries.
Earlier this year, the US Navy awarded Raytheon a $143mn contract for RAM Block 2 guided missiles, the latest version of the interceptor. 
RAM Block 2 has a larger, more powerful rocket motor and advanced control section, making it two and a half times more manoeuvrable with one and a half times the effective intercept range.


Turkish military facility ‘to be ready in two years’


AFP/Doha


A Turkish military base being built in Qatar will be ready within two years, Ankara’s defence minister said yesterday. 
It will be the first Turkish military facility in the region, Ismet Yilmaz told journalists on the sidelines of the three-day Dimdex defence and security fair in Qatar. 
“It (the base) will be completed within two years,” said Yilmaz, adding the deal had been approved by the Turkish parliament. 
The deal is part of a defence agreement concluded by Qatar and Turkey in late 2014. 
“We want to achieve co-operation in the field of (military) training and exercises, and contribute to stability in the region,” said Yilmaz. 
The defence minister said the deal was reciprocal and said there were Qatari military personnel and aircraft currently stationed in Turkey.