UNIPATH STAFF
The fighter squadron’s roar broke the silence over the North Sea, leaving vapor trails that drifted away on a pleasant breeze of early summer. Qatari pilots sat behind the controls of Eurofighter Typhoons, advanced fighter jets that Doha is purchasing for $6.3 billion.
In preparation for delivery of the 24 fighters in 2022, British Royal Air Force (RAF) pilots from an air base in Coningsby, England, taught their Qatari counterparts how to fly the jet. The Eurofighter Typhoon is a twin-engine, multirole fighter manufactured by a consortium of Airbus, BAE Systems and Leonardo.
The flags of Qatar and England were raised at Coningsby, marking the formation of Joint No.12 Squadron, which incorporates Qatari air and ground crews into the RAF for training purposes.
“The raising of the flags of the State of Qatar and the United Kingdom side by side in commemoration of the first joint flight represents conformity of visions and strategies for building a stable and prosperous future for both nations and the world,” said Dr. Khalid bin Mohammad Al Attiyah, Qatar’s minister of state for defense affairs.
U.K. Defense Secretary Ben Wallace agreed that the joint squadron was a testament to the country’s enduring friendship with Qatar. It’s the only country with which the U.K. has a joint squadron.
“Together we are protecting populations and securing our mutual interests across the Middle East,” Wallace said.
Qatar’s purchase of the Typhoons includes nine Hawk jet training aircraft and other support tailored to the needs of Qatar.
The Qatari Air Force was established in 1974, equipping itself initially with Hawker Hunter aircraft from the U.K. The Air Force has grown to 1,500 personnel and includes more than 20 French Mirage fighter jets. It’s commanded by Qatari Maj. Gen. Salem Hamad Aqil al-Nabit Al-Marri.
Sources: Al Jazeera, Al Khaleej Online, U.K. Royal Air Force