RAF completes Qatar deployment that included supporting security at World Cup

A Royal Air Force deployment to Qatar, which included providing security for the World Cup, has successfully come to an end.

It consisted of 12 Squadron, a joint UK-Qatar Typhoon squadron, which deployed to the World Cup host nation in September last year, successfully keeping football fans safe in December.

During the six-month deployment, the RAF also assisted as Qatar stood up its first Typhoon squadron.

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The deployment, arriving in Qatar in September 2022, consisted of 160 personnel and eight Typhoon aircraft from 12 Squadron, the joint UK-Qatar Typhoon squadron formed at RAF Coningsby.

It is the RAF's first joint squadron with another nation since the Second World War.

The deployment was named Project Thariyat, meaning Typhoon in Arabic.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: "Our relationship with Qatar has been strengthened further through this deployment, during which aircraft from our joint UK-Qatar Typhoon squadron demonstrated the true benefits of our partnership."

Since September, the RAF has been conducting joint training with the Qatar Emiri Air Force, which has recently purchased 24 Typhoons.

For the duration of the World Cup, 12 Squadron took part in the Qatar Emiri Air Force's air security operations to ensure security for the competition and, when the World Cup finished in December, 12 Squadron went back to training. 

During the deployment, the RAF helped stand up Qatar's first Typhoon squadron at Dukhan Air Base in Qatar.

With both air forces drawing upon operational knowledge gained working together at RAF Coningsby, Officer Commanding 12 Squadron Chris Wright said: "The conclusion of Project Thariyat brings to a close this phase of the Joint Squadron.

"12 Squadron has provided the necessary training and advice to see the first Qatari Typhoon Wing flying operational missions within weeks of receiving its first aircraft.

"This is testament to the close teamwork that lies at the core of delivering air power between partners," Wng Cdr Wright said.

12 Squadron is not coming back to RAF Coningsby just yet – in the next few days, it will be moving on to Exercise Magic Carpet in Oman.