Qatar orders FS-LIDS air defense systems

Qatar will acquire American FS-LIDS systems to protect against aerial vehicles.

The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced this.

Ten new ground-based systems will be designed primarily to combat unmanned aerial vehicles.

FS-LIDS (Fixed Site-Low, Slow, Small Unmanned Aircraft System Integrated Defeat System) is produced by Raytheon Corporation in cooperation with Northrop Grumman.

The total cost of the expected supply will be $1 billion, which would include training, related equipment, and technical support.

The FS-LIDS systems will include:

• 200 Coyote Block 2 interceptors and their launchers;
• Counter Unmanned Electronic Warfare System (CUAEWS);
• multifunctional radars;
• Forward Area Air Defense Command and Control (FAAD C2);
• EO/IR cameras, and other equipment.

FS-LIDS systems will be designed in a stationary container version.

Qatar became the first reported foreign customer of the FS-LIDS system, which has been in service in the United States since 2018 under the Howler C-UAS designation.

The FS-LIDS system is a combination of the KuMRFS multifunctional radar with the electronic optical station used to detect small UAVs.

The system also includes the Coyote Block 2 multi-shot interceptors launcher.

Raytheon’s Coyote Block 2 are essentially small low-speed subsonic anti-aircraft missiles equipped with a solid fuel launch booster and a miniature short-range turbojet engine.

Previously, in 2018, Qatar showed its interest in the Norwegian-American NASAMS anti-aircraft missile systems.