The Qatar Air Force Monitor (QAFM) Project

Memri

2 days ago

The Qatar Air Force Monitor (QAFM) Project aims to present current trends in the development of Qatari air power, acquisitions, training and global cooperation. The project will expose the potential regional implications of a jihadi terror-sponsoring state – the emirate of Qatar – that is armed with the latest and most advanced American, European and Israeli combat aviation technology.
The following is a preliminary background report on the Qatari Emiri Air Force.
The Qatar Air Force Monitor Project
The Qatari Emiri Air Force is one of the most rapidly evolving air forces in the world. Up until 2014, its operational backbone numbered only nine Mirage 2000-5EDA defense fighters. In a leap of military transformation that began around 2014 – focusing on enhancing airpower capabilities through acquisition of the most advanced non-stealth and stealth-enhanced fighters – Qatar was able to build one of the most powerful air fleets in the Middle East.
Qatari Emiri Air Force badge.
On April 11, 2025, Qatar participated in a multinational drill hosted by Greece, alongside France, India, Italy, Montenegro, Poland, Israel, Slovenia, Spain, UAE, and the U.S. The Qatari air force demonstrated the capabilities of its F-15QA fighter squadron.[1]
The Qatari Emiri Air Force Active Fleet (2025)
Source: Flightglobal.com/download?ac=98881
The Three-Pronged Acquisition Model: Defense Relations Through Purchase
In its expansion process, the Qatari air force had opted to purchase fighter jets from three different companies:
The F-15QA, manufactured by the Boeing company
The Rafale , manufactured by French Dassault Aviation
The Typhoon Eurofighter, a combined multinational development of the UK, Germany, Italy, France and Spain.
Each of these acquisitions came with complete maintenance and pilot training, thus enhancing and solidifying Qatari relations with the USAF, the French Air Force and the UK's RAF.[2]
The photo above shows Boeing's state of the art F-15QA "Ababil," on its pre-delivery fueling mission before flying to Qatar, April 10, 2025. The "Ababil" (ابابيل), named after a mythical Quranic bird that protected the Kaaba by pelting the invading armies with stones, is currently one of the most advanced "stealth-enhanced" fighter jets.[3] According to the website of the Israeli company Elbit Systems, the F-15 is equipped with Elbit components, including "fuel tanks, pylons, horizontal stabilizers and adapters."[4] According to other media reports, Boeing's Qatari F-15QA is equipped with an Elbit "anti-jamming" system,[5] as well as the Israeli Rafael Sky Shield electronic warfare system.[6]
Dassault "Rafale". The Qatari model could be also equipped with an optional Elbit component: the TARGO-II helmet-mounted target designation system.
The Typhoon Eurofighter. The Qataris have formed a joint squadron of Typhoons with the RAF - the 12 squadron based in Coningsby. The 11 joint squadron of the RAF and Qatari air force, flying the "Hawk" training aircraft (see below), is based in Leeming airbase in North Yorkshire [7].
The Al-Zaeem Mohammed Bin Abdullah Al-Attiyah Air Academy In Al-Udeid
Since 2009, the Qatari air force has been running its own pilot training program at the Al-Zaeem Mohammed Bin Abdullah Al-Attiyah Air Academy,[8] which is named after the former head of the Qatari armed forces, who later served also as chief of police.[9] The academy is located at the Al-Udeid airbase. The 12th class of the academy graduated on January 22, 2025. Training a cohort of cadets – among them female cadets – takes up to 4 years, including advanced training in the UK and Italy for pilots trained to fly the F-15 and Typhoon fighter jets. One hundred and nineteen graduates qualified as pilots and drone operators in the latest class of the Academy – 100 men and 19 women – among them 14 from "neighboring and friendly countries": Jordan, Tunisia, Somalia,. and Rwanda.[10]
The Al-Zaeem Academy badge.
Qatari basic flight training aircraft below include (left to right) the PC21, H125 (Helicopter), and the BAE Systems "Hawk."
The academy also trains pilots to fly the Pilatus PC-24 (down), a Swiss-made light business jet (below).
Classes in jet engine mechanics, like the one below, are conducted in English.
In this class, cadets are expected to understand and be able to explain the mechanics of a gas turbine engine.
A control tower simulator is used for training airfield personnel.
Air traffic control training is conducted. The Qatari air force trains personnel in both ATC (Air Traffic Control) and DCI (Data Communications Infrastructure).
Training for done operators is conducted.
Below is a Qatari training drone.
Lately, Qatar has opted to purchase eight MQ-9B "Skyguardian" UAVs , one of the most advanced UAV's in current manufacture in the U.S.[11]
Skyguardian by General Atomics.
Below, the Emir of Qatar, commander in chief of the Qatari armed forces, surveys the guard of the 12th class of cadets graduating from the Al-Zaeem Mohammed Bin Abdullah Al-Attiyah Air Academy,[12] on January 22, 2025.
Qatar In The Sky – With American Technology
Qatar is the foremost sponsor of Islamist terrorism worldwide, followed by its close ally, Iran. Israel and the U.S. were able to attack Iran, knowing how ineffective Iran's air force was (the IRIAF comprised mainly aging Cold War-era planes, largely ineffective in today's aerial battlefield).[13] However, a similar attack on Iran's ally, Qatar, would have posed much greater challenges for any attacking air force – given the bolstered strength of the Qatari air force, which is now equipped with the most advanced aircrafts, aviation technology and munitions, as well as deep knowledge of air combat tactics of the U.S and NATO states' air forces.
U.S.- Qatar Defense Contracts
Despite Qatar's deeply embedded and unwavering support for extremist Islamist movements all around the globe, as well as its blatant incitement for terrorism and antisemitism through the Qatari owned Al-Jazeera media channel, the U.S. continues to sign defense contracts with Qatar through the Defense Security Cooperation Agency.[14] A U.S. State Department press release from January 2025 states:[15]
"The U.S. has over $26 billion in active government-to-government cases with Qatar under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) system, making Qatar the second-largest FMS partner in the world. Recent and significant FMS sales include: Integrated Air & Missile Defense System, including the Patriot long-range missile system, the National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System, and the AN/FPS-132 Early Warning Radar; F-15QA fighter aircraft – the most advanced F-15 in production; and AH-64E Apache attack helicopters. Each of these programs includes facility construction and extended munitions, logistics, and training support."
Qatar and Boeing
The Boeing Company maintains both the Qatari Airways and the Qatari Air Force fleets of hundreds of Boeing Aircraft. Boeing also funds technological entrepreneurship and innovation programs in Qatar.
From the "Boeing in Qatar" brochure, 2024 (Boeing-me.com/content/dam/boeing/en_me/boeing-in-middle-east/qatar/qatar-backgrounder-en.pdf)
In 2024, Boeing and the Investment Promotion Agency Qatar (Invest Qatar) established a new legal entity called Boeing Aerospace Doha LLC, in Qatar.[16]
A May 2025 video shows President Donald Trump's total and absolute trust in the air force of Qatar, a proven ally of Iran, as Air Force One is accompanied by F-15 "Ababils."
The Apache AH-64E attack helicopter, manufactured by Boeing, currently the most advanced attack helicopter in the world.
Qatari AH-64s flying in formation
A Qatari air force C-17 "Globemaster" by Boeing. The Globemaster can carry 102 troops and their equipment, or 170,900 pounds (77,519 kilograms) of cargo (Af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/1529726/c-17-globemaster-iii/).
Qatari air force M C-17 Globemaster. Currently, Qatar has eight C-17 aircraft in its fleet.
Qatari C-130J. Four of them are in service.
* The Qatar Air Force Monitor Project provides periodical updates on Qatari air strength development.