RAF Typhoons and Royal Navy personnel will provide security and tackle terror threats at World Cup 2022 in Qatar, MoD reveals
- 4th-gen RAF planes, maritime security and venue search training planned: MoD
- Wallace: ‘GB and Qatar will join forces to provide air policing above World Cup’
- Qatari Emiri Air Force (QEAF) is a frequent buyer of UK-made military equipment
- RAF’s No 12 Squadron at Coningsby, Lincs houses Typhoons and trains Qataris
- Qatar is Britain’s only military ally with joint RAF units as part of £6bn arms deal
RAF warplanes and the Royal Navy will protect this year’s World Cup in Qatar, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced.
A squadron of fourth-generation Typhoon jets will ‘police the skies’ above tournament venues and fight terror threats, according to the Defence Secretary.
Ben Wallace said: ‘Making sure citizens from across the world can enjoy attending the World Cup, Britain and Qatar will join forces to provide air policing in the skies above the tournament.
Royal Air Force Typhoons, pictured in December 2020, fly above Lincs air base Coningsby
‘I am delighted that our joint squadron with the Qatari Emiri Air Force of Typhoons will patrol the airspace during the tournament.’
The announcement came after the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani, visited the UK last week and met Boris Johnson.
The deal also includes advanced venue search training, operational planning and command and control support, and further specialist advice.
Maritime security support from the Royal Navy will also be provided.
The MoD did not respond to a request for more details.
Qatar is Britain’s only military ally with joint RAF squadrons
Dual units include 11 Squadron Qatari Emiri Air Force, the Joint Hawk Training Squadron at RAF Leeming, and 12 Squadron, the Joint Typhoon Squadron at RAF Coningsby.
Doha’s flagship Khalifa stadium pictured during construction in January 2013
Doha bought 24 BAE Systems Typhoons in 2017, plus 9 Hawk jet trainers and a ‘bespoke support and training package’.
The deal, worth more than £6billion, also includes an associated weapons package from MBDA Missile Systems.
The Ministry added that the deal is ‘a demonstration of our strong defence relationship, and further enhances the UK and Qatar’s ability to tackle our shared security challenges’.
The 2022 World Cup will take place from November 21 to December 18.
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