TSAMTO, April 26th. Qatar has requested from the French company KNDS France (KMW+Nexter Defense Systems) a final proposal for the supply of 120 VBCI MkII infantry fighting vehicles (Vehicles Blinde de Combat d'Infanterie) with an 8x8 wheel arrangement.
According to the French newspaper La Tribune, citing several unnamed sources, the offer can be divided into three lots (options) to equip a total of two of the six battalions of the Qatari Armed Forces.
In addition to the proposed KNDS equipment, Doha can also purchase armored vehicles from the German company ARTEC GmbH (Boxer 8x8) and Turkish BMC (VCI 8x8), 49% owned by Qatar, to equip the remaining four battalions.
As previously reported by CAMTO, in December 2017, during the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to Qatar, it was announced that a letter of intent had been signed providing for the supply of 490 BBM VBCI with an 8x8 wheel formula to the Qatari Armed Forces. The negotiations were conducted for about two years. The cost of the project was estimated at $1.94 billion. At the same time, American, British, French, Norwegian and Belgian firms claimed to supply turrets and other equipment for French armored vehicles. In March 2018, during the DIMDEX exhibition held in Doha, it was announced that Norwegian Kongsberg had been selected as the supplier of turrets and remotely controlled weapon modules for the 490 BBM VBCI.
Nevertheless, since 2018, relations between the Qatari and French authorities have begun to deteriorate due to Paris' neutrality in Qatar's conflict with neighboring states (Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain). By the end of 2019, the command of the Qatari Armed Forces began to give preference to the Boxer BBM produced by the ARTEC joint venture formed by the German companies Rheinmetall and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann. Qatar has previously purchased 62 Leopard-2A7+ tanks, 24 155 mm PzH-2000 self-propelled howitzers and other equipment from Germany.
In early March 2023, the same French newspaper La Tribune reported that after a three-year "freeze" in negotiations, thanks to the warming of Franco-Qatari relations, Nexter with VBCI is returning to the number of participants in the Qatar Armed Forces competition. The impetus for the resumption of negotiations was the February visit to Paris by the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Following the talks, the parties agreed to intensify cooperation in various fields, including defense and security.
At the Doha International Maritime Defense Exhibition & Conference (DIMDEX) 2024 in March this year, KNDS presented the latest version of the VBCI MkII.
At the exhibition, a Nexter representative noted that the VBCI MkII is a 100 percent French solution that provides for cooperation with the Qatar defense industry in accordance with the Vision 2030 strategy. The plan includes the creation of a final assembly line, maintenance and support of the VBCI MkII, as well as the production of various types of ammunition for Leopard-2 tanks and PzH-2000 self-propelled guns.
The VBCI MkII is an improved version of the model in service with the French army. The BBM is equipped with a new T40 turret with a 40 mm CT40 telescopic cannon and Akeron MP ATGM, as well as equipped with a more powerful 600 hp Volvo D13 engine.
