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with a predictive 72 aircraft fighter deal, possibly consists
out of multiple types. Boeing, Eurofighter and Dassault were
immediately interested and from 2012 actual evaluations
of aircraft started. This resulted in the order of 24 Dassault
Rafales in March 2016 (estimated USD 7.6 billion). The option
of 12 more Rafales was capitalized in December 2017. Boeing
will built 36 F-15QAs, with options of 36 more approved
by the United Sates. The contract was signed in June 2017
(estimated USD 12 billion). BAE Systems will provide 24
Typhoons, this contract was finalized in December 2017 after
the letter of intent was signed in September (estimated USD 7
billion). Added to the BAE System deal are nine Hawk training
aircraft and a training support contract. The initial intention
to buy six Hawks was increased to nine in January 2018.
It is incredible that the QEAF is set to receive so many new
different fighter aircraft, integrate them in their doctrine,
setting up a logistic system, create a ground infrastructure
and above all provide training (pilots and technicians). Qatar
will have to lean massively on foreign support from UK, US
and French manufacturers and these countries air forces. At
RAF Coningsby an joint RAF Qatar squadron will be formed
to train new Typhoon pilots for example. But an interesting
question is, how will they fill all those new cockpits? At
least some 150 pilots to man the new fighters will have to be
trained.
The Government of Qatar has signed for the long awaited
NH90 contract at the DIMDEX 2018 defense trade show in
Doha in March 2018. Some years ago Qatar signed a tentative
agreement for 22 examples of the 11t-class rotorcraft: 12
TTH troop transports and 10 NFH maritime helicopters.
But the contract that is now signed is for the purchase of 28
NHIndustries NH90 helicopters. Sixteen NH90-TTHs (Troop
Transport Helicopter built by Airbus at Marignane) and
twelve NH90-NFHs (Navy Frigate Helicopter built by Leonardo
at Venice) are now on order, with deliveries starting from
the 2019-2020 time frame. Qatar also ordered sixteen Airbus
H125 helicopters (formerly known as AS350). These Écureuil
will be used for training for and join the Al Zaeem Air College
at Al-Udeid, replacing the SA341L Gazelle. It is unclear if the
intention to purchase 22 Sikorsky Seahawk and twelve Black
Hawk, announced in July 2012, will still materialize.
At the same DIMDEX 2018 defense trade show in Doha that
Qatar signed contract for the acquisition of six Turkish
manufactured Bayka Makina Bayraktar TB2 combat
unmanned aerial systems on 14 March 2018. The QEAF already
operates Turkish UAS, as they acquired in 2012 ten mini UAS
from Bayka Makina. The medium altitude long endurance
propeller driven Bayraktar TB2 (length 6.5 meter, wing span
12 meter) is already operated by the Turkish armed forces
since 2014. The production line of this CUAS is in full swing
as Turkey ordered 150 aircraft with some 40 delivered up to
today.
Saudi Arabia
al Quwwat al-Jawwiya as Sa’udiya (AF)
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has signed a Memorandum
of Intent with the United Kingdom Government aimed
at finalising discussions for the purchase of 48 Typhoon
Aircraft. The MoI was signed on 9 March 2018, during a visit
to the UK by Mohammed bin Salman, the Crown Prince of
Saudi Arabia. The Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) ordered
72 Eurofighter Typhoons in 2006, and these have all been
built and delivered by BAE Systems by June 2017. Plans to
assemble at least some of the 72 Typhoons in country failed
to materialize. After some early problems with an interim
software standard, the RSAF has enthusiastically embraced
the Typhoon, becoming the first Typhoon operator to gain an
air-to-ground capability with the Tranche 2 aircraft, the first
to start gunnery training, the first to gain a night AAR (air-
to-air refuelling) clearance, and the first to use the Tranche
3 aircraft in combat. The type’s apparent successful combat
record in Yemen made the acquisition of more aircraft
inevitable. Arrangements for local final assembly will play a
key part in negotiations for the 48 additional aircraft. Saudi
Arabia wants to develop key industrial capabilities.
Saudi Arabian Government (GV)
C295W
MOI-C1 MOI ex Airbus EC-003 S-143 dec15
MOI-C2 MOI ex Airbus EC-004 S-165 nov17
MOI-C3 MOI ex Airbus EC-005 S-174 feb18
MOI-C4 Airbus Military f/n feb18
All these four new Royal Saudi Ministry of the Interior Per-
suader aircraft, also designated as C295MPA, passed through
Luqa, Malta, during the delivery ferry flights. The “EC” regis-
tration was temporarily applied as a sticker on the fuselage.
United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates Air Force & Defence Force (AF)
Global 6000
(M-ABFQ) Marshall ex C-GNKW 9494 jan17
1326 Marshall ex M-ABFR, C-GPZH 9517 nov17
SE-RMU Saab AB ex C-FSYV 9787 sep17
SE-RMY Saab AB ex C-FIPT 9714 feb18
SE-RMZ Saab AB ex C-FLGD 9743 feb18
These are all original green Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global
Express 6000 Vision Flight Deck aircraft that are modified as
special mission aircraft and destined to end up in the inven-
Saudi F-15SA deliveries are well underway. Lakenheath is often used as a convenient stop after crossing the pond on the way to the desert
nation. (12-1022, F-15SA, 23 March 2018, Martin Greenman)
