A joint Royal Air Force (RAF) and Qatar Emiri Air Force (QEAF) Hawk training squadron will be established at RAF Leeming in Yorkshire as per a recent agreement inked between the two nations in April.
RAF Leeming will base the second UK-Qatari joint squadron and as per the agreement, the RAF will also conduct regular RAF Voyager deployments to Qatar to provide air-to-air refuelling (AAR) opportunities for the QEAF.
The agreement to establish a second joint training builds on the success of 12 Sqn, the joint RAF-QEAF Typhoon squadron at RAF Coningsby,
His Excellency Dr Khalid bin Mohamed Al Attiyah, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Affairs in Qatar said, “An important step in the ever growing military partnership that joins QEAF and RAF. The joint Hawk training squadron is an integral component in increasing interoperability and coordination between both airforces, leading to closer cooperation and alignment in future military and peacekeeping efforts.”
“In the face of new and emerging threats, it is vital we collaborate with our international allies to tackle our shared security challenges and our long-standing relationship with Qatar exemplifies this. By working together we continue to share skills and expertise whilst promoting global security and driving prosperity at home,” said UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace.
