The first Typhoon aircraft was delivered to the Qatar Armed Forces at a roll-out ceremony today hosted by BAE Systems in Warton.
The event was held at BAE Systems’ facility in Warton, United Kingdom, under the patronage of Dr. Khalid bin Mohammad Al Attiyah, Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Affairs, and in the presence of Commander Qatar Emiri Air Force (QEAF), Major General Jassim Mohammed Ahmed Al Mannai.
The first Typhoon has been delivered on schedule and will ferry from the UK to Qatar later this month. Typhoon will provide critical support for the FIFA World Cup which will be held in the State from the 20th of November.
Ben Wallace, Secretary of State for Defence, said:
“Today’s Typhoon delivery is another exciting milestone for our joint UK-Qatar collaboration, which will see the sharing of training and expertise between our respective air forces and will ensure both our nations stay at the forefront of defence capability. This joint project underlines how much Britain values its Middle East partnerships.”
Commenting on behalf of BAE Systems, Tony Gilchrist, Director of Business Development, said:
“Today marks the latest significant milestone in our partnership with the Qatar Armed Forces and demonstrates our commitment and support as they prepare to host the FIFA World Cup. We are working in partnership with the Qatar Emiri Air Force to ensure we transfer the skills and knowledge required to support, maintain and upgrade both their Typhoon and Hawk aircraft.”
BAE said in a news release:
“The event marks a major milestone in the programme following a contract for the acquisition of many Typhoons and Hawk advanced jet trainer aircraft and a six-year availability support service signed between the Government of Qatar and BAE Systems in December 2017.”
In addition, a Memorandum of Understanding between the Governments of Qatar and the UK was signed for the provision of support, including the stand up of joint UK-Qatar Typhoon and Hawk squadrons providing RAF pilot and technician training.
I hope we fitted remote kill switches.
Exactly.
What build standard are the Qatar Typhoons? Have we sold all our best toys for a bit of extra cash?
That information is not easy to find – purely a guess but think they will be the equivalent of the RAF’s FGR4 standard.
AESA radar for one.
Qatar Typhoons do not have AESA radar fitted and are not to FGR4 standard. They are a hybrid.
The Typhoons for Qatar,like the ones built for Kuwait have the ECRS MK0 Radar (Captor-E) which is AESA,and are the first New Production examples to be equipped with it.
Apologies Paul, you are right. I stand corrected.
Germany has sent probably its largest furthest ever aircraft deployment to join the Australian Pitch Black 2022 air exercise, the Typhoons have just arrived in India en-route. Germany has sent four A400M’s, six Typhoons and three A330MRTT. Britain has sent a Voyager KC-2.
I believe it might be the first time ever Eurofighters have visited Australia, I know they have been as far as Singapore.
Participant list:
https://aviationphotodigest.com/back-to-black-exercise-pitch-black-2022-participant-details-released/
Well they may as well use them occasionally
What’s a Voyager KC-2? I’ve heard of Voyager and A300MRTT but not KC-2. Is it also to the same aircraft?
Wiki says the RAF operate two types – the KC-MK2 ( 2 Underwing Refuelling Pods ) and the KC-MK3 ( the same plus 1 Fuselage Refuelling Unit ),both being the RAF Designation of the A330 MRTT.
https://www.raf.mod.uk/aircraft/voyager/
Here’s a bit more on the German deployment to Australia for Pitch Black 2022:
https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2022/08/15/german-air-force-takes-flight-for-first-indo-pacific-deployment/
It’s interesting no PIRATE on the German Typhoon shown (this could be a stock photo). I have seen some German Typhoons with it but most seem to show without it. Do the Germans use it much?
By all accounts the Typhoon PIRATE is as good as it gets so can’t understand why they wouldn’t use it – money? Surely not having it would put the Luftwaffe pilots at a serious disadvantage come a shooting match for real?
I know it was one of those buy options that some European countries cut back on for cost reasons. The UK decided to put it on all their planes. I think the Italians did not and the Germans did some of their planes. It is all a cost thing. The kit by all accounts is very good and can detect the heating of a plane’s skin not just engine heat. In these days of stealth planes and passive detection this type of system is very valuable.
Great stuff from the Germans. That’s a good group of aircraft to send half way round the world. I hope they have a great time
But of an update.
The German aircraft have arrived in Singapore, time was 20hrs and 22mins (still have to do the last leg to here in Oz).
But…
One Typhoon didn’t make it, it broke down in Abu Dhabi, a repair team has been sent to Abu Dhabi with the hope to have all six available for Pitch Black.
I understand the A400M were mostly carrying spares. After the Oz exercise the Germans are going up for one with Japan and Korea before returning.
Look smart in camouflage
It’s not quite the camo I would have expected actually.
Hmm. Qatar helped fund the Arab spring which most people saw as a good thing when it happened. Did it fund Isis? There’s not much good evidence and there is also the issue that some supposed evidence was found to have been planted(invented) by the other countries. Some Qatari citizens have been involved in some dodgy financing but also the qatar government have arrested and sentenced some citizens involved. In the past few years the seem to be taking steps in the right direction. With regards to the sale of fighter jets France and the USA thought it was ok… Read more »
I’d hoped we had slightly more ethics than The Yanks or the French…sadly it seems not.
The payment cleared at the bank. That’s the standard now.
Now?
Hasn’t that always been the standard?
Hi MS, slightly of topic but a relevant question on Mid East defence matters. Might you know if the second planed buy of Saudi Typhoons is going ahead? I have been unable to find an update.
Last I heard any news it was the big announcement of 48 typhoons inn 2018. Then there was the German ban on selling weapons to Saudi (perhaps in 2020?) which impacts BAE ability to sell typhoons to Saudi.
I don’t know if the Germans are still blocking sales of military stuff to Saudi.
The uk could really do with an order when Qatar jets are all finished.
Thanks for the reply MS. Totally concur with you comment “The uk could really do with an order when Qatar jets are all finished.”
I remain optimistic.
While no more UK orders are likely the situation is not all bad,with Spain and Germany ordering more Typhoons BAE still has plenty of work to be getting on with.While another Saudi order would be very welcome bare in mind they have the facilities to build ( assemble ) their own.
Thanks Paul
My main worry will be is there enough work for the staff at BAE and suppliers etc to keep them on until tempest starts up. Tempest aircraft will need to go as smooth and cheap as possible.
The world may only be left with the choice of new jets from the USA or tempest builders.
Well we sell ’em ours cus the price is right so that only seems fair…doesn’t it ??
I’m with you it doesnt sit right with me selling anything to anyone of em tbh from Saudi Arabia who kill journalists to QATAR who supported AL Quaeda but we can’t afford to be as ethical as some would like.
I mean if we didnt sell em stuff someone else would…so that makes it alright …..
Some of the best arguments for weening ourselves off middle East oil asap. Few saints (pun intended) in that part of the world. We’ve just picked a side to ensure the oil and gas keeps flowing (and causing climate change).
So I will ask the question. Your a young Qatari citizen joining the airforce and are given a choice of what jet program you want to go into. What would you pick?
I think I would go hawk/typhoon. After 5 years of front line typhoon, I would try to transfer to the F15 for 5 years, then 5 on the rafale and finally serve the rest of my time on C-17.
😎Geez Mate, I’d be spoilt for choice, bit like a kid in a toy shop.
So we sold an aircraft to a foreign country. Yawn.
Ahh a delightful and exciting post so much information, insight, on the typhoon aircraft program.
Your post is really yawn. I don’t even know why you bother.
Talk us through the thought process. Go look at defence website, select boring article, read boring article, go to the comments section and join site to be able to post. Then post a big yawn like reading this kept you from getting to bed on time.
Why read it then dork?
That’s what I asked you. Why read it. Anyway in these 24 hour news times not all stories will be of great interest to all people. That does not mean that something someone finds interesting is boring just because that’s your view. I don’t read every article and if I do read one and have constructive to add I wouldn’t comment. It can lower the tone of the comments and put further people off reading and posting further. The definition of a dork: someone who has keen interests often academic and is happy doing what they like no matter what… Read more »
When the sheik’s out of western cars and yachts to buy they buy western military kit. Pity they never use them for fear of getting them dirty.