Strengthening Ties: The UK and Qatar Forge a New Era in Defence Collaboration

The recent agreement enhances the established partnership initiated in October 2020. This arrangement will designate RAF Leeming in North Yorkshire as the primary British base for the new UK-Qatar joint Hawk training squadron, leveraging Qatar’s newly acquired fleet of nine Hawk T2 variant aircraft.

The choice to station the new squadron at RAF Leeming signifies a long-term commitment to this strategic location, which serves as a vital Main Operating Base for the RAF.

This updated defence agreement provides essential training opportunities for both nations, as the RAF Voyager will periodically deploy to Qatar to conduct air-to-air refuelling training for the Qatari Emiri Air Force’s (QEAF) fleet of fast jet aircraft.

The RAF Voyager fleet already supports defence activities globally, and the Qatar AAR service over the next two years will form a part of this. Planning for these deployments will align with the UK’s operational and training requirements, enhancing the RAF’s interoperability with international forces and equipment.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace emphasized:

Amidst new and emerging threats, it is crucial for us to collaborate with our global allies in addressing shared security challenges, and our enduring relationship with Qatar exemplifies this ethos.

By collaborating, we continue to exchange skills and expertise while fostering global security and promoting prosperity at home.

I am pleased that RAF Leeming has been selected as the location for the historic second UK-Qatari joint squadron, which reflects the esteemed global reputation of RAF flying training.

His Excellency Dr. Khalid bin Mohamed Al Attiyah, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Affairs in Qatar, remarked:

This significant step in our expanding military partnership between the QEAF and RAF positions the joint Hawk training squadron as a crucial element in enhancing interoperability and coordination between our air forces, facilitating closer cooperation and alignment in future military and peacekeeping initiatives.

The establishment of a second UK-Qatar joint squadron, first announced last year, will yield additional flying hours for RAF pilots and encourage long-term international investment in new infrastructure and training facilities at RAF Leeming. This will encompass a Hawk training simulator and the renovation of existing facilities.

Our partnership with Qatar is exemplified by the ongoing successes of 12 Squadron – the first joint squadron in the RAF since the Second World War and the Battle of Britain.

Collectively, the strengthened defence partnership will enhance Qatar’s capacity to address our shared security concerns in the Middle East, contributing to regional stability and safeguarding the prosperity and security of the UK.

• The Government of Qatar has pledged a £6 billion package which includes 24 Typhoons, nine Hawk T2 Mk167 jet trainers, along with a specialized support and training package.
• Hawk and Typhoon aircraft ordered by the Government of Qatar are being assembled in the UK, supporting thousands of jobs at sites including BAE Systems’ facilities in Warton and Samlesbury, Lancashire. This initiative will ensure work on the assembly line continues until the middle of the decade.