Qatar expanding air power

The Qatar Emiri Air Force (QEAF) have plans for major expansion of its air assets including those at Al Udeid and Doha. Al Udeid houses the largest US military facility in the Middle East while Doha will now be further developed. A new base at Tamim is also to be constructed. The expansions are required to house the massive new fleet of QEAF fighters currently on order, including F-15QA Strike Eagles, Rafale DQ/EQs and Eurofighter Typhoons.

The QEAF will also receive 24 recently ordered AH-64E attack helicopters from 2019 with deliveries to be completed by end May 2020. The Qataris have options also for up to another 24 Apache Guardians. At the same time, Qatar is to also receive 28 NH90s, with Leonardo acting as overall prime contractor responsible for management of the programme. The contract includes 16 NH90 Tactical Transport Helicopters (TTH) and 12 NH90 NATO Frigate Helicopters (NFH). The NFHs will not be equipped for anti-submarine warfare but will have the European Navy Radar (ENR) maritime surveillance radar, a Safran electro-optical system and an Elettronica DETE- 90 electronic intelligence/ support measures system.