Boeing to produce 24 Apache helicopters for Qatar

DOHA, Qatar, June 8 (UPI) -- Qatar will receive 24 AH-64E Apache helicopters, one Longbow crew trainer, ground equipment and Thales radios as part of a $667 million U.S. Army contract awarded to Boeing.

Work for the undefinitized fixed-price-incentive foreign military sales contract will be performed in Arizona, with an expected completion date of May 2020. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, is the contracting activity.

The U.S. agreed in 2014 to an $11 billion arms sale to Qatar that includes Apaches, Patriot and Javelin air-defense systems, and other arms.

The two countries signed a 10-year defense cooperation agreement in late 2013. Washington regards the improvement of its Gulf allies' air defenses a priority.

Qatar was instrumental in getting the Taliban to release Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl in 2014 after he was held for five years by the group, in exchange for Taliban leaders who were being held by the United States at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.