The RAF has completed its deployment to Qatar where it successfully kept football fans safe at the World Cup and helped stand up a Qatari Typhoon squadron.
160 personnel and eight Typhoon aircraft from 12 Squadron - the joint UK-Qatar Typhoon squadron at RAF Coningsby - deployed to Qatar in September last year.
The conclusion of Project Thariyat brings to a close this phase of the Joint Squadron. 12 Squadron has provided the necessary training and advice to see the first Qatari Typhoon Wing flying operational missions within weeks of receiving its first aircraft. This is testament to the close teamwork that lies at the core of delivering air power between partners.
Wing Commander Wright
Officer Commanding 12 Squadron
During the deployment, the RAF helped stand up Qatar’s first Typhoon squadron at Dukhan Air Base in Qatar, with both air forces drawing upon operational knowledge gained working together at RAF Coningsby. By supporting the Qatar Emiri Air Force in building its own Typhoon capability, the RAF boosts Qatar's ability to tackle our shared security challenges, which helps protect the security of UK nationals at home and abroad.
During the 2022 FIFA World Cup, 12 Squadron took part in the Qatar Emiri Air Force's air security operations to ensure a safe and successful event for football fans from the UK and across the world.
We are coming to the end of an important chapter of joint cooperation between the Qatar Emiri Air Force and the Royal Air Force, in which a lot has been accomplished in various aspects, especially operational cooperation, which allowed the joint squadron to participate in securing the airspace during the remarkably successful World Cup period.
Colonel Faisal Al-Ghanim
Officer Commanding Qatar Emiri Air Force Typhoon Wing
12 Squadron’s deployment to Qatar builds upon the strong bilateral defence relationship between Qatar and the UK, exemplified by the fact that 12 Squadron is the RAF’s first joint squadron with another nation since the World War Two.
The Qatar Emiri Air Force's new Typhoon Wing is home to the 24 Typhoon aircraft Qatar has purchased, which are assembled by BAE Systems in the UK. Alongside the associated RAF training package, this purchase supports jobs in the UK, particularly in the north of England.
The six-month deployment was named 'Project THARIYAT,' with the latter being Arabic for Typhoon.
