Qatar to Buy Russian Kalashnikov Rifles, Anti-tank Missile Systems

Qatar has signed contracts with Russia to purchase Kalashnikov rifles, other small small arms and the Kornet anti-tank guided missile systems.

"An agreement on military-technical cooperation was signed in October 2017. Following this, sontracts have been signed for the supply of small arms such as Kalashnikov assault rifles, grenade launchers and machine guns, as well as the Kornet anti-tank missile systems," TASS reported Russian Ambassador to Qatar Nurmakhmad Kholov.

Defense attaches’ of either country could be set up in Moscow and Doha by the end of this year, Kholov further told TASS.

An agreement on opening the the two countries defense attaches’ offices had been reached in October 2017 when Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu visited Doha. "That will take some time. However, I recently said that Qatar had completed all domestic procedures and asks us to do everything as soon as possible," the ambassador told TASS.

Russia is reported to be in negotiations with Qatar to buy the S-400 air defence system which can protect the Qatari airspace from incoming aircraft and missiles. This move has angered Saudi Arabia which has imposed a land, sea and air blockade against Qatar along with the UAE and Egypt.