Qatar Air Force

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Qatar Emiri Air Force
Founded 1974-present
Country Qatar
Garrison/HQ Doha International Airport
Engagements 2011 Libyan civil war
Commanders
Current
commander
Brigadier General Mubarak Mohammed Al Kumait Al Khayarin
Insignia
Roundel 75px
Air Force Ensign 200px
Aircraft flown
Attack Aérospatiale Gazelle
Interceptor Dassault Mirage 2000
Patrol Eurocopter SA342
Reconnaissance Westland Sea King Commando Mk 2
Trainer Dornier Alpha Jet Piper Cherokee Piper PA-34 Seneca
Transport C-17 Globemaster III AgustaWestland AW139 Boeing 707 Boeing 727 Dassault Falcon 900 Sikorsky S-92

The Qatar Emiri Air Force (QEAF) is the aerial branch of the Qatar Armed Forces. It was formed in 1974, three years after achieving independence from Great Britain in 1971.

Initially equipped with ex-RAF Hawker Hunters, the air force soon began expansion with six Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jets in 1979. Fourteen F1 Mirages were delivered between 1980-84. After the Gulf War, Qatar's air force infrastructure was upgraded by France for $200 million, leading to the order of nine single Mirage 2000-5DEA multi-role combat aircraft and three two seat Mirage 2000-5DDA combat trainers in August 1994. Deliveries started in December 1997, and involved the buy back of the remaining 11 Mirage F1s by France that were later sold on to Spain. [1] The current commander of the Qatar Emiri Air Force is Brigadier General Mubarak Mohammed Al Kumait Al Khayarin.

Units

  • No. 1 Fighter Wing
  • 9 single-seat Mirage 2000-5EDA
  • 3 2000-5DDA trainers
  • No. 2 Rotary Wing

As of January 1993, all the air force's aircraft were based at Doha International Airport.[2]

Air Force equipment

Qatari Mirage F1
Qatari Dassault Mirage 2000 fighter jet flying over Libya during Military intervention

These aircraft numbers are sourced from Scramble.nl, an organisation of Dutch aviation enthusiasts.[3]

Aircraft Origin Type Versions In service Notes
Aérospatiale Gazelle  France Utility/attack helicopter SA 342G (12)/L (2) 14 Operated by 6th Close Support Squadron
AgustaWestland AW139  Italy Tactical transport/medivac 5 21 in total on order
Airbus 340  France VIP transport 2
Airbus 320
 France
VIP transport

1
Airbus 310
 France
VIP transport

1

Airbus 300
 France
VIP transport

1

Boeing 747SP
 United States
Transport

2

Hawker 800XP
 United Kingdom
VIP transport
1

Boeing C-17 Globemaster III  United States Strategic air transport C-17A 2

Operated by Qatar Amiri Flight

Boeing 707  United States VIP transport 2
Boeing 727  United States VIP transport 1
Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet  France Advanced trainer/light attack Alpha Jet E 6 Operated by the 6th Close Support Squadron
Dassault Falcon 900  France VIP transport 2
Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma
 France
Helicopter

12 (6 SA-330J+6 SA-332F Super-Puma\SA-532 Cougar)

Westland Lynx HC-28
 United Kingdom
Helicopter

3 (status unknown)

Dassault Mirage 2000  France Multirole fighter Mirage 2000-5 12 Operated by the 7th Air Superiority Squadron
Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules  United States Tactical air transport C-130J-30 4 Four, delivered Sep-Oct 2011
Piper Cherokee  United States Training and Liaison PA-28 Archer 10
Piper PA-34 Seneca  United States Training and Liaison PA-34 Seneca 4
Pilatus PC-21   Switzerland Primary trainer 24 on order[4]
Sikorsky S-92  United States VIP transport 2
Westland Commando  United Kingdom Transport/utility and maritime patrol helicopter Commando 2A, 2C and 3 variants 12-13 Commando 2A/2C are operated by 9th Multirole Squadron

Commando 3 are operated by 8th Anti Surface Vessel Squadron

Historical Aircraft

Missiles

Other equipment:-

  • MMR-3D Radar & TPS-77 USA Made
  • TTL BTT-3 Banashee target drone  United Kingdom

Future aircraft

  • In July 2008, Qatar’s Emiri Air Force signed a EUR 260 million (currently about $400 million) contract with AgustaWestland for 18 AW139 medium twin helicopters (formerly the AB139, until the Bell partnership dissolved in 2005).[5] The helicopters will be used for utility tasks, troop transport, search and rescue, border patrol, special forces operations, law enforcement and homeland security. Three additional aircraft were ordered in March 2011 for Medivac services.[6]
  • As of January 2011, the Air Force is evaluating the Eurofighter Typhoon, the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, the Boeing F-15E and the Dassault Rafale to replace its current fighter inventory of Dassault Mirage 2000-5s. The total order could be up to 72 aircraft with a procurement decision to be made by the end of 2013.[7]

References

it:Qatar Emiri Air Force