Strana 9
Two Qatar Emiri Air Force Boeing F-15QA Ababil fighters
fly in formation with a U.S. Air Force KC-46A Pegasus
during Exercise Eagle Resolve 25 over Qatar on Jan.
21, 2025. The exercise highlighted allied interoperability
and the U.S. commitment to regional deterrence and
collective defense with Gulf Cooperation Council
partners. Photo: Staff Sgt. Gerald Willis, U.S. Air Force
facilities, military installations and vital sea
lanes. Offshore infrastructure is particularly
important for Qatar as one of the world’s
leading exporters of natural gas. The service
also supports both the army and navy in their
operations.
A closer look at the inventory immediately
reveals a combination of European and
American military technology. The backbone
of the fighter fleet consists of the F-15, Rafale
and Typhoon multirole combat aircraft.
Current combat aircraft strength approaches
106 machines, while another 60 aircraft remain
on order or in production.
The Dassault Rafale represents one of the
service’s most important combat assets and is
regarded as a highly capable weapons system.
The air force currently operates 36 aircraft,
with an additional 36 scheduled for future
delivery.
A similar situation applies to the Boeing
F-15QA Ababil, designed for both air superiority
missions and strikes against ground or
maritime targets. The service currently fields
46 aircraft distributed among three combat
squadrons, while another 24 remain on order.
Incidentally, F-15s were reportedly responsible
for the interception of the two Iranian bombers
mentioned earlier. The third major combat type
is the Eurofighter Typhoon, with two squadrons
operating a total of 24 aircraft.
Qatar’s rotary-wing combat component is
centered on the McDonnell Douglas AH-64E
Apache, of which 24 are in service. Support
helicopters include the Italian AgustaWestland
AW109 (two aircraft) and AW139 (39 aircraft),
employed in a wide range of roles. The fleet
also includes 27 NH90 helicopters in both land
and naval variants, as well as the Airbus H125
light utility helicopter.
Transport duties are carried out by four
Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules and eight
Boeing C-17 Globemaster III aircraft. A single
Swiss-built Pilatus PC-24 business jet also
serves in the transport role.
QATAR EMIRI AIR FORCE
A Qatar Emiri Air Force Dassault Mirage 2000-5 departs Souda Bay, Greece, during Operation Odyssey Dawn
in March 2011. The multinational operation, led by U.S. Africa Command, enforced United Nations Security
Council Resolution 1973 over Libya. Photo: Paul Farley, U.S. Navy
A Qatar Emiri Air Force Boeing AH-64E Apache Guardian attack helicopter. Qatar requested the purchase
of 24 AH-64Es in July 2012, with approval granted in March 2014. Deliveries of the fleet began in 2019.
Photo: Colin Cooke
A Qatar Emiri Air Force Boeing C-17A Globemaster III seen at Bangkok Don Mueang International Airport,
Thailand, in November 2013. Photo: Alec Wilson
INFO Eduard
9
June 2026