Qatar has signed a multi-billion-dollar deal to buy 24 Typhoon fighters from Britain, its second major defence agreement in a week. The $8-billion deal was signed yesterday in Doha by Qatar's Defence Minister Khalid bin Mohammed al-Attiyah and his visiting British counterpart, Gavin Williamson. Williamson said it was the biggest order for Typhoons in a decade, and it follows a billion-dollar deal signed by Qatar on December 7 to buy 12 French Dassault Aviation warplanes. <br/><br/>The British minister said these formidable jets will boost the Qatari military's mission to tackle the challenges they both share in West Asia, supporting stability in the region and delivering security at home. A memorandum of understanding was signed by the two countries for this Typhoon contract in September. Yesterday's deal comes at a politically sensitive time for both countries.