Qatari Rafales

RafalesQatari Rafales or many years, Qatar operated what (GCC) states that began to adopt a was once one of the smallest air arms more robust foreign policy and a Fin the Middle East, with a frontline more international outlook. This strength of just nine Mirage 2000-5EDA air was one result of an economic defence fighters and three two-seat Mirage boom, and in part reflected 2000-5DDA operational trainers. the mood of greater national These were augmented by six Alpha self confidence that followed the Jets used for close air support. The so-called ‘Arab Awakening’. NATO-led current expansion will see these 18 ageing More prosaically, military expansion coalition aircraft giving way to 96 top-of-the-line, and modernisation was a pragmatic operations in a state-of-the-art multi-role fighters – 36 Boeing response to the US Obama more direct and F-15QA Advanced Eagles, at least 24 ‘Tranche administration’s ‘pivot’ to the Pacific. meaningful way. 4’ Eurofighter Typhoons and 36 F3-R standard This had led to a US expectation that its This ambition was Dassault Rafales. Gulf allies would shoulder a greater share of facilitated (if not That will provide a tremendous boost in their own defence. actively encouraged) capability on an individual aircraft level, and In Qatar, there was an aspiration for a larger, by France, with which also represents a more than five-fold increase more impressive air force – and for one that Qatar had a particularly close connection. in frontline strength. had real expeditionary capabilities. The France's former President Nicolas Sarkozy Of the three new fighter types, the Rafale acquisition of new transport aircraft (Boeing and the Emir of Qatar enjoyed a particularly is now in frontline service, flying operational C-17A Globemaster IIIs and Lockheed Martin effective working relationship. When Sarkozy missions with the Al Adyiyat squadron. The C-130Js) helped to provide global reach. first took office in 2002, the Emir was the first unit has settled into its brand new base at Qatar used them to support its participation Arab leader invited to France, and the two Dukhan, which is formally named Tamim Air in UNIFIL (UN Interim Force in Lebanon) worked together to mediate talks between the Base, after the ruler of Qatar, HRH Sheikh operations, and in delivering humanitarian Sudanese government and Darfur rebels, as Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. assistance to Haiti and Chile. One of Qatar’s well as helping to broker a ceasefire in Gaza first pair of C-17As was even delivered in a in 2008. During his presidency, Sarkozy made The ‘Arab Awakening' quasi-civil ‘Qatar Airways’ colour scheme four visits to Qatar, more than he made to any So, what lies behind this, probably the single in order to raise public awareness of the other Arab state. most dramatic increase in the size of a Emirate’s international operations. peacetime air force? But while being able to deliver high profile Intervention over Libya The roots of the expansion programme go humanitarian assistance raised Qatar’s profile, As Libya descended into a chaotic civil war, back more than ten years, when Qatar was it was not really enough for Qatar, which the Emir of Qatar and the French president one of a number of Gulf Cooperation Council wanted to be able to participate in US or were united in the view that the deteriorating 86 // June 2021 #399 www.Key.Aero The Qatar Emiri Air Force is currently undergoing what is probably the most dramatic expansion programme that many of us have ever seen. This programme will result in an almost unbelievable increase in aircraft numbers, as well as a quantum leap in capability. Jon Lake tells the story so far OVER RafalesQATAR Qatar’s Rafale procurement is just one part of an air force expansion that will see fi ghter numbers increase by more than fi ve times Dassault Aviation/A Pecchi www.Key.Aero #399 June 2021 // 87 Qatari Rafales The initial Rafale in full Qatari markings was the fi rst single seater, EQ01, which made its maiden fl ight on March 27, 2017 Dassault Aviation/M Alleaume situation could lead to a humanitarian disaster and both felt that only outside intervention Senior QEAF offi cers could barely contain their could stop the bloodshed. excitement and joy at the prospect of receiving the new Rafale, which marked a signifi cant step They both realised that the active military up from the Mirage 2000 Dassault Aviation/ participation of an Arab partner would V Almansa dramatically bolster the perceived legitimacy of any outside intervention. Accordingly, Qatar became a key member of the coalition that participated in the NATO-led Operation Unified Protector, deploying special forces troops on the ground and making a small but high-profile contribution to the air campaign, helping to enforce the NATO-led no-fly zone over Libya. The no-fly zone was imposed to support the enforcement of United Nations (UN) Security Council Resolution 1973. This authorised the use of all necessary measures to protect civilians in Libya under threat of attack by Gaddafi regime forces. Qatar was the first Arab state to join the allied coalition, dispatching six of its Mirage involved in the Libya campaign “to save began preparing for what would be an 2000s (and two C-17s) to the air base at the world”, while 2nd Lt Naveed Ashraf, a unprecedented expansion. Souda Bay on the Greek island of Crete. Pakistani technical adviser for the QEAF, The QEAF ordered a complete pilot training From there they flew alongside Mirage 2000s said: “This is not about Muslims possibly system from Pilatus in July 2012. This was from the French Air Force (now known as killing other Muslims. No religion tolerates this based around 24 PC-21 turboprop basic the French Air and Space Force), mounting brutality... Nobody has the right to do what training aircraft, but the package also combined combat air patrols from March 25, he is doing.” included ground-based training devices, 2011. The French aircraft were drawn from logistical support and maintenance. Fighter Squadron 1/2 ‘Cigognes’, normally Qatar’s expansion Since then, the air force has set about based at Dijon, and the Qatari and French Even before the Libyan intervention, in training new pilots in earnest, sending some air forces worked closely throughout the January 2011, the QEAF had already started abroad to increase numbers trained. campaign, usually flying mixed pairs with to assess potential replacements for its In order to avoid ignoring any talented one Qatari and one French aircraft. In effect, Mirage 2000-5s. future pilots, the air force has also welcomed the Qataris formed a key element within the Qatar evaluated the Lockheed Martin F-35 its first batch of female pilot candidates. French Opération Harmattan. Lightning II and the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super The size of the training effort is apparent Close co-operation between the Qatar Hornet, as well as the three aircraft types from the statistics released when the latest Emiri Air Force (QEAF) and the French Air it went on to purchase – the Eurofighter group of trainees graduated from the Al Force went back years, but had intensified Typhoon, the Boeing F-15E Strike Eagle and Zaeem Mohammed Bin Abdullah Al Attiya Air during the months leading up to the Libyan the Dassault Rafale. Academy. The graduates included 32 fighter intervention. In November and December In fact, the deployment to Crete actually pilots, 36 helicopter pilots, three weapons 2010, French Mirage 2000s participated led to a delay to Qatar’s planned Eurofighter systems officers, ten air traffic controllers and in a combined exercise with their Qatari evaluation, as most of the pilots scheduled four GCI (ground-controlled counterparts, and from January 2011, two for the evaluation suddenly found themselves interception) controllers. French pilots were assigned to the Qatari going to war! Mirage 2000 and Alpha Jet squadrons. While the Libya crisis delayed the Eurofighter Opting for Rafale One Qatari colonel told French TV after a evaluation, it almost certainly added impetus Acquisition of the Rafale began even before mission: “This is a good first experience to to the Rafale procurement. the Libyan operation and, in June 2014, come here, so far from our home base. For Pushing hard for a sale was then-President Dassault claimed that it was close to us, it’s not a matter of Libya or Gaddafi, this Sarkozy, who had previously set up a Rafale signing a contract with Qatar for is to enforce the UN no-fly zone. I’m not going sales ‘war room’ in the Elysée’s presidential 72 Rafales, though in the end to go into the political side of it.” office after Morocco (a former French no order was announced until A young Qatari pilot was more openly protectorate) chose the F-16 over the Rafale. April 30, 2015. idealistic, telling journalists his country was Before placing any orders, the QEAF When it did come, the Qatari Rafale order 88 // June 2021 #399 www.Key.Aero was for 24 aircraft, not 72, indicating that the for training opportunities and co-operation fighter order would be divided three ways, with three of the world’s leading air arms as some more specialised media outlets had instead of just one, and exposing Qatari long predicted. officers to three different doctrines and This always seemed incomprehensible to a wider variety of tactics and CONOPs to many Western analysts and observers, (concepts of operations). who have become used to their own local Qatar finally signed a €6.3 billion air forces striving to reduce the number of (US$6.92bn) memorandum of understanding different aircraft types in service in a ruthless for 24 Rafales (18 single-seat Rafale EQ drive to minimise support costs and increase fighters and six two-seat Rafale DQ trainers) efficiency.

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