Doha, Qatar: On Tuesday 20th May the UK and Qatar signed an agreement to extend the Joint Memorandum of Understanding supporting UK/Qatar Typhoon operations for a further two years, until 2027, the UK Embassy in Doha said in a statement.
The agreement was signed by HE Maj. General (pilot) Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Dosari, Commander of the Qatar Emiri Air Force and Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, Chief of the Air Staff of the Royal Air Force.
The agreement was signed as part of a visit to the UK Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Affairs, HE Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, who met with his UK counterpart, Secretary of State for Defence, the Rt. Hon. John Healey MP at the Ministry of Defence in London as well as the Heads of both the UK’s Army and Air Force.
No. 12 Squadron, the joint UK-Qatar Typhoon squadron, is the UK Royal Air Force’s only joint squadron with another nation since World War II. It was established in 2018 and commenced flying as a joint squadron in 2020.
The continued collaboration, extended until 2027, continues the closest of collaborations between the RAF and QEAF, further cementing the bilateral security and defence relationship between the UK and Qatar.
British Ambassador to Qatar, HE Neerav Patel, said: “The joint UK-Qatar Typhoon squadron, which was stood up in 2018, is a testament to the enduring friendship and partnership between Qatar and the UK.
This extension boosts our mutual abilities to tackle shared security challenges and is to the benefit of both our Air Forces and nations. We are genuinely so proud to see our pilots flying side by side.”
As part of the visit, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed with the Royal Military Academy of Sandhurst regarding a £25 million donation to support the establishment of the Sandhurst Command and Technology Centre, a pioneering project in the development of military leadership, education and technology. The donation was first announced during the State Visit to the UK by the Amir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, in December 2024.
During his visit to the UK, HE Sheikh Saoud also visited the home of 12 Squadron and the training station for Typhoon pilots - Royal Air Force station Coningsby, in Lincolnshire.
