British and Qatar Emiri Air Forces start flying as a Joint Squadron with Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft.

British and Qatar Emiri Air Forces No.12 Typhoon Squadron have started flying as a Joint Squadron. Based at Coningsby in the United Kingdom, No.12 Squadron is a unique initiative between the UK and Qatar and will provide the QEAF (Qatar Emiri Air Force) with valuable experience operating the Eurofighter Typhoon fighter aircraft as they prepare to receive their first aircraft.

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Eurofighter Typhoon fighter aircraft of No.12 Typhoon Squadron. (Picture source British Air Force)

The UK has a long history of working with international partners in our Armed Forces, with such defense engagement recognized as key to strengthening partnerships and promoting our national interest. However, No. 12 Squadron is the first Joint Squadron in the RAF since the Second World War and the Battle of Britain.

The Joint Squadron was stood up on 24 July 2018 and will drive closer collaboration between the RAF and QEAF, putting our bilateral security and defense relationship on a long-term and sustainable footing

According to BAE Systems, Qatar has ordered 24 Typhoon aircraft and 9 Hawk Advanced Jet Trainers. The delivery of the first Eurofighter Typhoon fighter aircraft is planned to start in 2022, the aircraft are part of a £5.1 billion deal between signed in December 2018 by BAE Systems and the Government of Qatar.

Eurofighter Typhoon is one of the world’s most advanced swing-role combat aircraft. A highly agile aircraft, it is capable of ground-attack as well as air defense. It is also the largest and most complex European military aviation project currently running. A collaboration between Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK, it is designed to meet air force requirements well into the 21st Century.

The Eurofighter Typhoon features a glass cockpit without any conventional instruments. It incorporates three full-color multi-function head-down displays (MHDDs) (the formats on which are manipulated by means of softkeys, XY cursor, and voice (Direct Voice Input or DVI) command), a wide-angle head-up display (HUD) with forward-looking infrared (FLIR), a voice and hands-on throttle and stick (Voice+HOTAS), a Helmet Mounted Symbology System (HMSS), a MIDS, a manual data-entry facility (MDEF) located on the left glare shield and a fully integrated aircraft warning system with a dedicated warnings panel (DWP).

The Eurofighter Typhoon is powered by two EJ200 engines that give the Eurofighter Typhoon its impressive thrust-to-weight ratio and maneuverability.

The Eurofighter Typhoon is armed with a Mauser BK27mm 27 mm caliber revolver cannon manufactured by Mauser (now part of Rheinmetall) of Germany. It has 13 hardpoints for weapon carriage, four under each wing, and five under the fuselage. According to mission roles, the Typhoon can be fitted with a mix of missiles including air-to-air missiles, cruise missiles, anti-radar missiles, Brimstone anti-armor missiles, or anti-ship missiles.