The Qatar Emiri Air Force has significantly modernised its combat aircraft fleet over the past decade, with the French-built Rafale playing a central role in expanding its multirole airpower capability. The QEAF currently operates 36 Rafale aircraft, ordered in two tranches as part of a long-term force modernisation programme.
The first batch of 24 aircraft was ordered in May 2015, when Doha signed a €6.3 billion contract with Dassault Aviation. Qatar exercised an option for an additional 12 Rafales in December 2017, bringing its total firm order to 36 aircraft. Deliveries to the QEAF commenced in February 2019, with the Rafale following the Mirage F1, Alpha Jet and Mirage 2000 into service with the Qatari Air Force.
The Rafale acquisition packages included comprehensive support elements, encompassing weapons, logistics support, and pilot and technician training conducted in close cooperation with the French Air Force. Qatar also retains options for up to 36 additional Rafales, providing flexibility for future force expansion.
QEAF Rafales operate in a dual-role capacity, combining air superiority and precision strike missions. The aircraft is capable of long-range air-to-air engagements, close air support, deep-strike operations using cruise missiles, and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions when equipped with appropriate pods and sensors. The multirole flexibility aligns with Qatar’s broader airpower strategy of maintaining a balanced, agile and interoperable force capable of addressing a wide spectrum of security challenges. Within the QEAF, the Rafale fleet is complemented by 24 Eurofighter Typhoons and 36 Boeing F-15QA fighters, underscoring Doha’s investment in a layered and highly capable air combat force.
At the programme level, Dassault Aviation delivered the 300th Rafale in October 2025, marking a major milestone for the fighter. The Rafale entered operational service with the French Navy in 2004 and the French Air Force in 2006, with export deliveries beginning in 2015. As of 31 December 2025, the Rafale order backlog stood at 220 aircraft (175 export and 45 for France). The F4 standard, scheduled for delivery from 2027, introduces enhanced networked combat capabilities, while the F5 standard, launched in 2024, is focused on collaborative combat and next-generation weapon systems, including manned-unmanned teaming concepts.
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