11 Squadron (Qatar)

Flying squadron of the Qatar Emiri Air Force May 2023 May 2023 11 Squadron QEAF 2021 – Present Qatar Qatar UK United Kingdom 23px Qatar Emiri Air Force23px Royal Air Force Joint Qatari/British training squadron Advanced fast jet flying training BAE Systems Hawk Mk.167 Aircraft RAF Leeming Home station 11 Squadron is a flying squadron of the Qatar Emiri Air Force (QEAF). The squadron most recently reformed in November 2021 as a joint QEAF/Royal Air Force squadron. It is currently based at RAF Leeming, North Yorkshire, in the United Kingdom and operates nine BAE Systems Hawk Mk.167s. The unit provides advanced and high-speed jet training for both QEAF and RAF pilots. History Close Air Support 11 Squadron was originally formed in 1984 as 11 (Close Air Support) Squadron at Doha International Air Base, Doha, operating six Dassault Alpha Jet Es.https://www.squadronprints.com/item/3904/11-Sqn-Hawk-Mk167-Squadron-Print.html #1641 11 Sqn, Hawk Mk167 Squadron Print Squadron Prints 9 May 2023 In 2017, the Qatar Emiri Air Force placed an order for six BAE Systems Hawk Advanced Jet Trainers, followed by an extra three in 2018, as a replacement for the Alpha Jet.Dominic Perry https://www.flightglobal.com/bae-systems-reveals-qatar-hawk-order-amid-cutbacks/125703.article BAE Systems reveals Qatar Hawk order amid cutbacks Flight Global 10 October 2017 9 May 2023https://www.keymilitary.com/article/qatar-increases-hawk-order-nine Qatar increases Hawk order to nine Key Military 16 August 2018 9 May 2023 Training thumb|right|BAE Systems Hawk Mk.167 ZB131 at RIAT, 2022. In October 2020, British Secretary of State for Defence Ben Wallace and Qatari Minister for Defence Affairs Khalid bin Mohammad Al Attiyah agreed to establish Qatar's new Hawk squadron at an RAF station as a joint Qatari-British unit.https://www.raf.mod.uk/news/articles/second-joint-raf-qatari-air-force-squadron-intended-for-uk/ Second joint RAF & Qatari air force squadron intended for UK Royal Air Force 15 October 2020 9 May 2023 This Joint Hawk Squadron was to be based upon similar lines as No. 12 Squadron of the Royal Air Force, which reformed as a joint RAF-QEAF squadron to train Qatari pilots on the Eurofighter Typhoon in 2018.https://www.gov.uk/government/news/joint-uk-qatari-typhoon-squadron-stands-up-as-defence-relationship-deepens Joint UK-Qatari Typhoon squadron stands up as defence relationship deepens Ministry of Defence 24 July 2018 9 May 2023 On 1 April 2021, it was announced the Joint Hawk Squadron would be based at RAF Leeming, North Yorkshire, in the United Kingdom.Gareth Jennings https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/uk-confirms-joint-hawk-unit-with-qatar UK confirms joint Hawk unit with Qatar janes.com 6 April 2021 9 May 2023 On 1 September 2021, the first two Hawk Mk.167s (ZB131 and ZB133) for the Joint Hawk Squadron were delivered to RAF Leeming.David Cenciotti https://theaviationist.com/2021/09/02/qeaf-hawks-raf-leeming/ First Two Hawk Mk167 Jets For the Qatar Emiri Air Force Delivered To RAF Leeming theaviationist.com 2 September 2021 9 May 2023 The first four QEAF pilots began training in October 2021, with RAF student pilots planned to start their training with the unit in 2022.https://www.timesaerospace.aero/news/defence/qatar-stands-up-hawk-squadron-in-north-yorkshire Qatar stands up Hawk Squadron in North Yorkshire Times Aerospace 29 November 2021 9 May 2023 On 24 November 2021, the Joint Hawk Squadron was formally given the numberplate of 11 Squadron (Qatar) when it reformed at RAF Leeming.https://www.raf.mod.uk/news/articles/new-joint-hawk-squadron-unveiled-during-reformation-event-at-raf-leeming/ New Joint Hawk Squadron unveiled during Reformation Event at RAF Leeming Royal Air Force 24 November 2021 9 May 2023 11 Squadron received its full complement of nine Hawk Mk.167s when the last two (ZB138 and ZB139) were delivered to Leeming on 29 September 2022.https://ukserials.com/results.php?serial=ZB Displaying Serials in range ZB ukserials.com 9 May 2023 The first batch of Qatari students graduated in November 2022.https://www.qatar-tribune.com/article/30569/nation/first-batch-of-joint-hawks-squadron-11-pilots-graduates First batch of Joint Hawks Squadron 11 pilots graduates Qatar Tribune 13 November 2022 9 May 2023 References Category:Military of Qatar Category:Flight training in the United Kingdom Category:Military units and formations established in 2021