Barzan Holdings, Qatar’s defence company, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Harmattan AI to explore advanced autonomous very short-range air defence (VSHORAD) capabilities in Qatar and global markets.
The agreement, announced on November 3, provides for demonstrations of Harmattan AI’s autonomous defence technologies, including its GOBI TEMPEST system and mission orchestration system. The partnership is intended to assess how these capabilities could support the protection of strategic sites and critical infrastructure against evolving threats, particularly the growing use of unmanned aerial systems.
GOBI TEMPEST is an autonomous system designed to counter Group 2 and Group 3 aerial threats. These categories cover classes of unmanned aircraft that can present operational challenges because of their size, range, endurance and flight characteristics. The system forms part of Harmattan AI’s portfolio of autonomous very short-range air defence solutions.
The agreement comes amid growing international attention to counter-unmanned aircraft systems (C-UAS), as drones become more accessible and are increasingly used in a range of security and military settings. Their relatively low cost, flexibility and ability to operate in groups have prompted defence organisations to examine layered approaches that can detect, track and respond to aerial threats.
For countries seeking to protect airports, energy facilities, military installations and other strategic assets, the challenge includes responding to multiple targets while limiting risks to people and surrounding infrastructure. Autonomous systems are being developed to support faster assessment and coordinated responses, although their effectiveness depends on reliable detection, command arrangements, human oversight and integration with existing defence networks.
Harmattan AI said the partnership builds on its work in autonomous VSHORAD systems, including kinetic and explosive capabilities. The company said its technologies had recently been demonstrated in a series of successful engagements with several NATO and allied forces.
Mouad M’Ghari, Chief Executive Officer and co-Founder of Harmattan AI, said the changing threat environment required advanced autonomous technologies that only a limited number of companies could deliver.
“When facing a swarm of hostile drones, only a solution made of attritable, industrially scalable, autonomous systems can ensure the security of a strategic site,” M’Ghari said. “Harmattan AI is proud to enter this partnership for advancing our autonomous VSHORAD systems in Qatar.”
Eng. Mohammed bin Bader Al Sadah, Group Chief Executive Officer of Barzan Holdings, said the company’s priority was to safeguard Qatar’s sovereignty and critical infrastructure while keeping pace with changes in the threat environment.
“The significance of advanced counter-unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS) has never been clearer,” Al Sadah said. “We are pleased to partner with Harmattan AI, combining their proven autonomous expertise with our strategic national mandate. Together, we are committed to exploring resilient, next-generation defence solutions that enhance operational readiness and contribute to long-term regional stability.”
For Qatar, the proposed demonstrations could provide an opportunity to examine how autonomous systems might complement existing air defence arrangements. Counter-drone operations can involve several stages, including identifying an object, determining whether it poses a threat, tracking its movement and selecting an appropriate response. Coordination between sensors, command systems and response capabilities is central to that process.
A wholly owned company of Qatar’s Ministry of Defence, Barzan Holdings is a leading defence and security company that aims to strengthen Qatar’s sovereignty and strategic position by investing in the long-term development of its human capital and Armed Forces capabilities.
Harmattan AI builds defense systems that fuse AI, sensing, and mission intelligence into a unified operational capability. Engineered to interpret and act on data at the edge in real-time, the company’s systems operate without dependency on centralized infrastructure while ensuring human decision authority. Developed alongside frontline operators, they deliver autonomous execution at the speed modern operations demand.
