The State Department has approved the possible sale of almost $2 billion worth of UAVs and ammunition to Qatar.

The US State Department has approved a possible deal to sell drones and related systems and ammunition to Qatar for a total of $1.96 billion. The corresponding statement was published on the website of the Agency for Security Cooperation of the US Department of Defense on March 26.

"The proposed sale will enhance Qatar's ability to counter current and future threats by providing timely intelligence, surveillance, target detection, counteraction to ground and anti-maritime forces for its security and defense. This capability is a deterrent to regional threats and will primarily be used to strengthen its internal defenses," the statement said.

The statement said the delivery of eight MQ-9B unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), as well as 110 AGM-114R2 Hellfire II missiles, 200 KMU-572 tail-mounted direct attack ammunition kits, and 300 500-pound BLU-111 general purpose bombs. In addition, the deal includes guidance systems, engines, guidance heads, training missiles, containers for transportation, equipment for their maintenance and reprogramming, spare parts, and software.

The document emphasizes that the proposed sale will be consistent with U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives, as they will help improve the security of a friendly country that is an important force for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East. The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not change the basic military balance in the region, the agency said.

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On March 25, the Pentagon announced that the United States had signed an additional contract with General Dynamics Electric Boat for the supply of materials for Virginia Block VI class nuclear submarines worth $1 billion. The work is scheduled to be completed by September 2035.