22 October 2024 – Italian defence giant Fincantieri Group signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) this week with Barzan Holdings of Qatar to focus on the joint development of the Omega360 radar program.
Barzan Holdings, a company wholly owned by the Qatari Ministry of Defense and responsible for furthering the military capabilities of the state’s Armed Forces, have partnered with Fincantieri to develop an innovative short-range surveillance system. The fully digital architecture of the system makes it capable of covering all 360 degrees simultaneously and with high accuracy and is planned to form the central sensor of Qatar’s national anti-drone system.
The company claims that Omega360 is particularly effective against micro and nano drones, with the inclusion of high Doppler spectrum resolution and implementation of artificial intelligence algorithms, enabling the classification and detection of drone swarms by radiofrequency and at long distances – without any limitations that may be found with standard optical systems.
This agreement furthers marks the collaboration between Qatar and Fincantieri – with the company already advancing naval units to the Qatar Armed Forces in recent years. The recent MoU also emphasises the need for local production of 40 Omega360 units and the establishment of a Centre of Excellence in Qatar for assembly and maintenance of these systems.
In a press release, Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO and General Manager of Fincantieri, highlighted the importance of the MoU in enhancing the Qatari State’s ability to counter the drone threat:
“The agreement with Barzan Holdings represents a strategic step toward the future of defense and security, combining innovation with local production capabilities. With Omega360, we are pioneering the introduction of cutting-edge technologies into a highly complex market.”
The company projects that the first operational systems are expected to be delivered by the end of 2026.
Post Image Credit: Arabian Gulf Business Insight
