The U.S. described Qatar as a country “that has been, and continues to be, an important force for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East.”
The United States Department of State announced two possible military sales to Qatar on Friday totalling approximately $5 billion, amid ongoing regional tensions stemming from the U.S.-Israel war on Iran.
One of the potential sales covers an Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) at an estimated cost of $992.4m. The other covers PATRIOT Air and Missile Defence replenishment services and related equipment at an estimated cost of $4.01bn.
BAE Systems will be the principal contractor for the possible APKWS deal, whereas the principal contractors for the PATRIOT sale will be Lockheed Martin and RTX Corporation.
The Department said that Qatar had requested to buy 10,000 APKWS, 200 PATRIOT Advanced Capability-2 (PAC-2) Guidance Enhanced Missile-Tactical, and 300 PATRIOT Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) Missile Segment Enhancement.
“The Secretary of State has determined and provided detailed justification that an emergency exists that requires the immediate sale to Qatar of the above defence articles and defence services in the national security interests of the United States,” the Department said in both statements regarding the sales.
The statement noted that the proposed sale will contribute to Washington’s “foreign policy and national security” by improving a strategic regional partner’s security.
It described Qatar as a country “that has been, and continues to be, an important force for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East”.
“The proposed sale will improve Qatar’s capability to meet current and future threats, strengthen its homeland defence, and serve as a deterrent to regional threats. Qatar will have no difficulty absorbing these articles and services into its armed forces,” it added.
The Department added that “Qatar will use the PATRIOT missile system to replenish its missile defence capability, defend its territorial integrity and deter threats for regional stability”.
The statement emphasised that the proposed sale will “not alter the basic military balance in the region” and will not require the assignment of additional U.S. Government or contractor representatives to Qatar.
The sales are part of a broader package of arms approvals to Middle East allies on Friday totalling over $8.6 billion, which also included sales to Israel, Kuwait, and the UAE.
The U.S.-Israel war on Iran has significantly affected the region’s security and stability since it broke out on 28 February. Iran attacked Qatar along with other regional countries since the beginning of the war, claiming to target U.S. interests while the attacks included vital facilities, including energy sites.
The attacks on Qatar have stopped since the beginning of the two-week pause brokered by Pakistan on 8 April, later extended until further notice by U.S. President Donald Trump on 21 April.
Qatar hosts the Al-Udeid Air Base, the largest U.S. air base in the region, and holds Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status, a designation granting Washington’s foreign partners benefits in areas concerning defence trade and security cooperation.
Qatar also ranks as the fourth-largest arms recipient globally and the second-largest among Arab countries, with the U.S. standing as its main supplier, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute’s (SIPRI) latest figures.
The Gulf state accounts for 7.4 percent of the total U.S. arms exports and its overall imports grew by 106 percent between 2016-2020 and 2021-2025, according to SIPRI.
The imports between 2021 and 2025 included 100 combat aircraft, with 48 coming from the U.S., 33 from the United Kingdom, 13 from France and six from Italy.
