Check Out This Stunning Photo Of The Qatari-British Typhoon Squadron In Action

Published Apr 26, 2021 5:15 PM EDT

Aviation photographer and The War Zone contributor Jamie Hunter recently captured this typically dynamic shot of three Eurofighter Typhoons from a unique joint U.K./Qatari unit. The spectacular three-ship break is the first time we have seen an aerial photo sortie of this kind involving the jets of No 12 Squadron, stationed at RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire.

No 12 Squadron was set up to provide operational training for pilots and ground crew of the rapidly expanding Qatar Emiri Air Force (QEAF) which, alongside Typhoons, has also ordered Dassault Rafales and Boeing F-15QA multirole fighter jets as part of a wide-ranging overhaul. Ultimately, No 12 Squadron will head to the Middle East to continue its mission, including providing air defense coverage for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, before likely returning to the U.K.

A No 12 Squadron Typhoon leads a QEAF Rafale and Mirage 2000., Crown Copyright

A former Tornado GR4 unit that saw active duty during the fight against ISIS under Operation Shader, No 12 Squadron was re-established in July 2018 to provide operational training and support to the QEAF as part of that service’s purchase of 24 Typhoons.

In 2019 the squadron took its Typhoons to Qatar for the first time to take part in Exercise Epic Skies III , a series of maneuvers that took place at Al Udeid Air Base and which involved technical training and joint flying. Four Typhoons from the unit flew also over the Qatari capital city of Doha as part of Qatar National Day celebrations, flying alongside QEAF Rafales. The squadron returned to Qatar for another edition of the same drill last December, too, this time bringing six jets.

The operational U.K./Qatari Typhoon unit will be followed later this year by a training squadron following the same format. Under an agreement formalized earlier this month, a new squadron flying Hawk T2 advanced jet trainers will be established at RAF Leeming, Yorkshire. This will provide advanced training to both U.K. and Qatari pilots, operating the nine Hawk T2s ordered by Qatar. The squadron is expected to stand up in September.

The relationship between the U.K. and Qatari air forces is clearly flourishing. The Typhoon is set to become an essential part of the QEAF fighter capabilities, and we’re very happy to get a chance to see the jets being put through their paces in British skies before the unit heads to their permanent home next year.

Contact the author: thomas@thedrive.com

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发布于美国东部时间2021年4月26日下午5:15

航空摄影师兼《战区》撰稿人杰米·亨特（Jamie Hunter）近日拍摄到了这张极具动感的照片，照片中三架欧洲台风战斗机隶属于一支独特的英卡联合部队。这三架战机组成的壮观编队，是我们首次见到驻扎在林肯郡康宁斯比皇家空军基地的第12中队进行此类空中摄影任务。

第12中队成立的目的是为快速扩张的卡塔尔埃米尔空军（QEAF）的飞行员和地勤人员提供作战训练。卡塔尔埃米尔空军除了订购台风战斗机外，还订购了达索阵风战斗机和波音F-15QA多用途战斗机，作为其全面升级计划的一部分。最终，第12中队将前往中东继续执行任务，包括为2022年卡塔尔世界杯提供防空保护，之后很可能会返回英国。

第12中队的台风战斗机领先于伊丽莎白女王空军的阵风战斗机和幻影2000战斗机。（英国皇家版权所有）

第 12 中队曾是“旋风”GR4 战斗机部队，在“沙德行动”中参与了打击 ISIS 的战斗。该中队于 2018 年 7 月重建，旨在为卡塔尔空军提供作战训练和支持，作为该军种购买 24 架“台风”战斗机的一部分。

2019年，该中队首次携其“台风”战斗机前往卡塔尔，参加了在乌代德空军基地举行的“史诗天空III”联合演习。演习内容包括技术训练和联合飞行。作为卡塔尔国庆日庆祝活动的一部分，该中队的四架“台风”战斗机还飞越了卡塔尔首都多哈，与卡塔尔空军的“阵风”战斗机一同飞行。去年12月，该中队再次前往卡塔尔参加同样的演习，这次出动了六架战机。

英国/卡塔尔联合组建的“台风”战斗机作战部队之后，今年晚些时候还将组建一支采用相同模式的训练中队。根据本月初正式签署的协议，一支装备“鹰”T2高级喷气教练机的新中队将在约克郡的利明皇家空军基地成立。该中队将为英国和卡塔尔飞行员提供高级训练，使用卡塔尔订购的九架“鹰”T2教练机。该中队预计将于九月正式组建。

英国和卡塔尔空军之间的关系显然正在蓬勃发展。“台风”战斗机将成为卡塔尔空军战斗机力量的重要组成部分，我们非常高兴有机会在明年该部队前往其永久驻地之前，在英国上空观看这些战机的测试。

联系作者：thomas@thedrive.com

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