Utah company contracts with Qatar to provide air security for World Cup venues
When the FIFA World Cup soccer tournament rolls out in Qatar late this year, a Utah firm will be front and center in the effort to keep the venues safe. Pleasant Grove-based Fortem Technologies Inc. has signed an agreement with the Qatari Ministry of Interior and Safety and Security Operations Committee (SSOC) to provide counter-drone protection for the sites of the games played in Qatar Nov. 21 through Dec. 18.
Working with its distribution partner Smart Communication Systems, Fortem will also provide counter-drone systems to other events and venues throughout the region during the World Cup, in addition to the soccer games.
The World Cup is the world’s most widely viewed sporting event. The 2022 event in Qatar is expected to be watched by 5 billion people around the world, FIFA President Gianni Infantino said recently.
“Fortem provides world-class technology and services,” said Engineer Captain Rashid Fahad Alali, security systems officer in the Ministry of the Interior of Qatar and the anti-drone program leader in the SSOC. “We are pleased to partner with Fortem Technologies as an anchor vendor to enhance our security around (Qatar capital) Doha.”
The Fortem SkyDome system is an end-to-end, counter-drone solution that detects, defeats and protects against rogue drones. The SkyDome system classifies threats and mitigates them autonomously with its interceptor drone, DroneHunter. At the heart of the Fortem SkyDome System is TrueView radar, a compact, AI-enabled, networkable radar designed to perform in urban environments and public places.
“The government of Qatar understands the importance of providing comprehensive security from the ground to the air for the FIFA World Cup matches and beyond,” said Timothy Bean, CEO of Fortem Technologies. “We are thrilled to be able to partner with Smart Communication Systems to provide the best counter-drone security to ensure the safety of players, sports fans and everyone involved in putting together one of the most viewed global events in decades.”
“After much consideration of companies around the globe, Fortem’s offerings outshined all competition,” said Walid Chahine, managing partner of Smart Communication, the company that will deploy the Fortem system in Qatar. “The world is at a point where enhanced security is becoming the norm, and we’re determined to stay ahead of the curve.”