Yesterday the signing of the memorandum of understanding in the presence of Defense Minister Roberta Pinotti
"The greatest achievement ever achieved by the Italian navy in terms of international cooperation"
The negotiations had been underway for at least two years and today Qatar has signed a historic contract involving the main Italian companies in the defense sector. In the presence of defense minister Roberta Pinotti and his Qatari counterpart Khalid bin Mohammed Al Attiyah, a memorandum of understanding was signed for naval cooperation between the two countries and a maxi-contract with Fincantieri worth 3,8 billion euros. The company has announced that the order concerns seven surface ships of which 4 corvettes of over 100 meters, an amphibious LPD (Landing Platform Dock) and 2 patrol vessels OPV (Offshore Patrol Vessel). All Minerva II class units will be built in Italy at Riva Trigoso and Muggiano starting from the 2018 ensuring 8 years of work and new hires.
Other personalities participated in the event in the frame of the officers' circle of the Italian Armed Forces, among them the commander of the emirate naval forces general Mohammed Nasser Al Mohannadi, Antonio Perfetti managing director of Mbda and Giuseppe Bono of Fincantieri.
Qatar Emiri Navy is therefore one step away from the realization of a deal that also involves Leonardo-Finmeccanica, which will take care of the sensors and the combat system via MBDA Italia (Matra BAE Dynamics Alenia), supplier of the missile and electronic part, for what concerns the EW systems.
The agreement was defined by Pinotti "The greatest achievement ever achieved by the Italian navy in terms of international cooperation". The pact involves many local companies and considering that most of the boats supplied to the Qatari Navy, Al-Bahriyya al-Qatariyya, are of English and French production, for our country the agreement reached is a victory for the sector. Italy would have ousted France with an agreement that had been working for some time, hampered by the relaunch of Paris in Doha of three Fremm frigates in the Extended Range version, larger and more expensive than the Italian corvettes. To resolve the dispute the tensions between France and Qatar on the Libyan front would have influenced, given the support given by Paris to the internationally recognized government of Tobruk of General Khalifa Haftar, enemy of the Islamist militias supported by Qatar and Turkey.
In any case there is another success after the order in Kuwait for the 28 fighter Eurofighter Typhoon, the most advanced new generation multirole defense aircraft on the market today, for a value that fluctuates between 7 and 8 billion, with a share Italian for the prime contractor, Leonardo-Finmeccanica, equal to approximately 50% of the total value of the contract.
Yesterday's signature will have positive repercussions not only in economic terms - the Doha government's interest in Italy where it holds investments of over 150 billion is well known - but as emphasized in the conference “It is a commitment not only corporate but governmental, which provides for the joint training of personnel. We have common security challenges, "explained Pinotti. His analogous qatariota expressed great enthusiasm and gratitude towards the companies that participated in the announcement, highlighting the importance of the moment for the marinas of both nations "This is a further step that we have recorded in the collaboration between our countries", stressed Al Attiyah.
But how important is politics? According to Pinotti, the international trust relationships were decisive in signing the order. "It was not the result of chance. The government agreement allows us to guarantee the transparency of operations, a sort of preventive 185 law, "the minister said.
Bono di Fincantieri has confirmed the satisfaction for the finish line - which would now confirm the rumor of a few days ago on the leap of 2,4% of the corporate stock - reached in his opinion "With the competition of an Italian system finally live up to the ambitions of the great national companies and thanks to the fundamental role played in this operation by our Government and our Navy ". For Leonardo-Finmeccanica there was Lorenzo Mariani, head of the naval sector, who hopes to relaunch the company thanks to this new contract "We hope that the order will act as an echo towards other users who already know the company", declared on the sidelines of the conference.
(photo: SMD)
