Qatar Emiri Air Force

History

In March 1967, in response to the British announcement that it would withdraw its armed forces from the Persian Gulf, Qatar set up armed forces, creating the Qatar Public Security Forces Air Wing, equipped with two Westland Whirlwind helicopters. In 1971, it acquired a combat capability when it purchased three ex-RAF Hawker Hunter jet fighters, which remained in use until 1981. It was renamed the Qatar Emiri Air Force in 1974.

The air force began a major expansion in 1979, when it ordered six Alpha Jet trainer/light attack aircraft. This was followed by orders for 14 Mirage F1 supersonic jet fighters in 1980, which were delivered between 1980 and 1984. Twelve Gazelle helicopters, armed with HOT anti-tank missiles were received from 1983. Also in 1983, the air force took over the Qatar Police Air Wing.

In 1991, the Qatari Air Force took part in the Gulf War on the side of the allies.

In 2005, the Air Force participated in Exercise Eagle Resolve, along with Qatari medical services and emergency medical teams to build interoperability with their US counterparts. The US 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit took part in this exercise to validate the nation's crisis management plan prior to hosting the 2006 Asian Games.

Other acquisitions have been for an order of 59 AW139 helicopters. The helicopters are used for utility tasks, troop transport, search and rescue, border patrol, special forces operations, and law enforcement. Three additional aircraft were ordered in March 2011 for Medevac services.

By 2010, the Qatar Emiri Air Force's personnel strength was at 2,100 and its equipment included the Mirage 2000-3EDA, the SA 342L Gazelle, and the C-17A Globemaster III. Aircraft either flew out of al-Udeid field or Doha International Airport and received training from British instructors. In January 2011, the Air Force evaluated the Eurofighter Typhoon, the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, the McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle and the Dassault Rafale to replace its current fighter inventory of Dassault Mirage 2000-5s. In May 2015, the QAF awarded the contract for 24 Dassault Rafale fighters worth €6.3 billion ($7 billion).

In July 2012, the Qatar Air Force ordered a complete pilot training system from Pilatus centering upon the PC-21. The package included ground-based training devices, logistical support and maintenance in addition to 24 PC-21 aircraft.

In June 2015, the QAF ordered four additional C-17s, to supplement the existing four delivered in 2009 and 2012.

In September 2016, the sale of up to 72 F-15QAs to Qatar was submitted to the US Congress for approval. The deal (for 36 planes plus an option for 36 more), valued at US$21.1 billion, was signed in November 2016.

In September 2017, the QAF ordered 24 Typhoon fighter jets from the UK. In December 2017, the QAF ordered 12 additional Rafale fighter jets from France, with an option for 36 more.

In August 2018, Qatar announced the construction of a new air base to be named after Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. In addition to the new air base, Al Udeid Air Base and Doha International Air Base are to be expanded in order to accommodate aircraft on order.

Recent research, the latest of which was published in November 2024, uncovers corruption and bribery related to Qatar’s growing influence over the past decade. The country’s choice of military aircraft also raises suspicion: it includes three different types of planes from three different countries, each requiring distinct maintenance and repair contracts—an unusually complex arrangement for such a small nation. Several companies engaged in business partnerships with Qatar have been ordered to pay penalties in connection with bribery charges.

On 10 October 2025 Secretary of Defense Pete Hesgeth announced that a formal letter of acceptance had been signed with Qatar to establish an Qatar Air Force facility at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho. It shall host a contingent of F-15s.

Airbases

• Al Udeid Air Base
  • Flying Wing 5 'Ababil'
    • 51st Squadron – 12 × McDonnell Douglas F-15QA Strike Eagle
    • 52nd Squadron – 12 × McDonnell Douglas F-15QA Strike Eagle
    • 53rd Squadron – 12 × McDonnell Douglas F-15QA Strike Eagle
  • Flying Wing 8
    • 10th Transport Squadron – 8 × Boeing C-17 Globemaster III
  • Flying Wing 10
    • 12th Transport Squadron – 4 × C-130/J-30 Super Hercules
  • Flying Wing 3
    • 20th Squadron – 13 × Agusta Westland AW139
    • 21st Squadron – 13 × Agusta Westland AW139
    • 22nd Squadron – 13 × Agusta Westland AW139
• Al Zaeem Mohamed Bin Abdullah Al Attiyah Air College (at Al Udeid Airbase)
  • ?? Squadron – 8 × MFI-395 Super Mushshak
  • 31st Squadron – 24 × Pilatus PC-21[[File:Dassault Mirage 2000-5 participating in Odyssey Dawn (cropped).jpg|thumb|A Mirage 2000-5 of the QEAF during the 2011 Libya intervention.]]
  • ?? Squadron – 6 × M-346 Master
• Doha International Air Base (at Doha International Airport)
  • Flying Wing 1
    • 7th Squadron – 12 x Eurofighter Typhoon
    • 12th Squadron - 12 × Eurofighter Typhoon
    • 11th Squadron - Hawk Mk.167
  • Flying Wing 2
    • 6th Squadron – 14 × SA342 Gazelle (to be replaced with 16 x H125)
    • 8th Squadron – NFH90
    • 9th Squadron – NH90
  • Flying Wing 4
    • 41st Squadron – 12 × Boeing AH-64E Apache
    • 42nd Squadron - 12 x Boeing AH-64E Apache
• Dukhan / Tamim Airbase
  • Flying Wing 6 'Al Adiyat'
    • 1st Fighter Squadron – 11 × Dassault Rafale
    • 61st Fighter Squadron – 10 × Dassault Rafale
    • 62nd Fighter Squadron – 10 × Dassault Rafale
• RAF Leeming
  • 11 Squadron – 9 × Hawk Mk.167

Equipment

Current aircraft inventory

Reserve fleet

Air surveillance

• GM200 MM/A radars and GM400α radars ordered in January 2026.

Retired equipment

Aircraft

Previous notable aircraft operated consisted of the Mirage 2000, Westland Commando, Hawker Hunter, Dassault Mirage F1, Piper PA-34 Seneca, Boeing 707, Boeing 727, Westland Whirlwind, Britten-Norman Islander, and the Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma helicopter.

Ranks

;Officers

;Enlisted and NCOs

Bribe allegations

During 2024 it was reported that the RTX Corporation, the U.S. defense contractor formerly known as Raytheon, has agreed to pay a criminal fine of around $252 million, as part of a settlement with the U.S. government over charges that it paid bribes to secure defense contracts with Qatar. The report states this is an agreement, that resolves charges under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and related statutes, comes as part of broader fraud and bribery claims tied to its overseas dealings.

References

References

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