Joint RAF & Qatar Emiri Air Force Hawk training squadron

The next step to establishing a joint Qatari-United Kingdom Hawk training squadron was taken when UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace and Qatari Defence Secretary Dr. Khalid bin Mohamed Al Attiyah jointly announced on 1 April 2021 that this squadron will stand up at RAF Leeming in September 2021.

The squadron will be equipped with the nine Hawk Mk167 training aircraft currently on order by Qatar.

In addition, the two countries also agreed to expand their cooperation by regular deployments of RAF Voyager tanker aircraft to Qatar. The Voyagers will provide air-to-air refuelling training opportunities to the Qatar Emiri Air Force (QEAF), with the first deployment expected to commence in July 2021.

In December 2017, the Government of Qatar committed to a GBP6 billion package for the purchase of 24 Typhoons, support and training package and a clear intention to proceed with the purchase of Hawk aircraft. Early 2019 it the order for nine Hawk training aircraft was confirmed. Both types of aircraft are being assembled in the UK, supporting thousands of jobs at locations including BAE Systems’ sites in Warton and Samlesbury, Lancashire. This will secure work on the assembly line until the middle of the decade.

Photo: RAF