| Qatar Armed Forces |
|
|---|---|
| Leadership | |
| Commander-in-Chief | Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani |
| Minister of Defense | Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani |
| Chief of General Staff | Major-General Hamad bin Ali al-Attiyah |
| Manpower | |
| Military age | 18 years of age |
| Available for military service |
Males aged 15–49: 306,850 (note: includes non-nationals (2000 est.)), age 15–49 |
| Fit for military service |
Males age 15–49: 160,899 (2000 est.), age 15–49 |
| Reaching military age annually |
Males: 6,471 (2000 est.) |
| Expenditures | |
| Budget | US$ $816 million (FY99/00) |
| Percent of GDP | 8.1% (FY99/00) |
The Qatar Armed Forces are the military forces of Qatar. The country maintains a modest military force of approximately 11,800 men, including an army (8,500), navy (1,800) and air force (1,500). Qatar's defense expenditures accounted for approximately 4.2% of gross national product in 1993. Qatar has recently signed defense pacts with the United States and United Kingdom, as well as with France earlier in 1994. Qatar plays an active role in the collective defense efforts of the Gulf Cooperation Council; the other five members are Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, the UAE, and Oman. The presence of a large American military base in the country provides the country with a guaranteed source of defence and national security.
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Qatar played an important role in the Gulf War of 1991, taking part in the Battle of Khafji and providing important basing areas for U.S. forces.[1]
In July 2008, the US Defence Security Cooperation Agency announced Qatar’s official request for logistics support, training, and associated equipment and services. The total value of the support arrangements could be as high as $400 million.
In March 2011, Qatar announced to participate with its Air Force in the enforcement of the Libyan no-fly zone.[2]
This is the largest branch of the Qatar Armed Forces. Qatar maintains a modest military force of approximately 11,800 men, the army is made of 8,500 men. The lack of sufficient indigenous manpower to staff the army is a continuing problem, Qatari citizens constitute only 30 percent of the army, in which more than twenty nationalities are represented.
Initially outfitted with British weaponry, Qatar shifted much of its procurement to France during the 1980s in response to French efforts to develop closer relations. The tank battalion is equipped with French-built AMX-30 main battle tanks. Other armored vehicles include French AMX-10P APCs and the French VAB, adopted as the standard wheeled combat vehicle. The artillery unit has a few French 155mm self-propelled howitzers. The principal antitank weapons are French Milan and HOT wire-guided missiles.
Qatar had also illicitly acquired a few Stinger shoulder-fired SAMs, possibly from Afghan rebel groups, at a time when the United States was trying to maintain tight controls on Stingers in the Middle East. When Qatar refused to turn over the missiles, the United States Senate in 1988 imposed a ban on the sale of all weapons to Qatar. The ban was repealed in late 1990 when Qatar satisfactorily accounted for its disposition of the Stingers.
Qatari tank battalion fought in the Gulf war in 1991, their AMX-30's took part in the battle of Khafji. Qatari contingent, composed mostly of Pakistani recruits, acquitted itself well during the war.
As United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, Qatar is buying Leopard 2 tanks. In 2009 Germany delivered 36 tanks to the Qatari tank battalion, where they will replace the 44 AMX-30 that are left, dating from sales in 1977 (24) and 1987 (30).
| Qatar Emiri Air Force | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1974-present |
| Country | Qatar |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
Brigadier General Mubarak Mohammed Al Kumait Al Khayarin |
| Insignia | |
| Roundel | |
| Air Force Ensign | |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Attack | Aérospatiale Gazelle |
| Interceptor | Dassault Mirage 2000 |
| Patrol | Eurocopter SA342 |
| Reconnaissance | Westland Sea King Commando Mk 2 |
| Trainer | Dornier Alpha Jet Piper Cherokee Piper PA-34 Seneca |
| Transport | C-17 Globemaster III AgustaWestland AW139 Boeing 707 Boeing 727 Dassault Falcon 900 Sikorsky S-92 |
The Qatar Emiri Air Force was formed in 1974, three years after achieving independence from Great Britain in 1971. Initially equipped with ex-RAF Hawker Hunters, the air force soon began expansion with six Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jets in 1979. Fourteen Dassault Mirage F1 were delivered between 1980-84. After the Gulf War, Qatar's air force infrastructure was upgraded by France for $200 million, leading to the order of nine single Mirage 2000-5DEA multi-role combat aircraft and three two seat Mirage 2000-5DDA combat trainers in August 1994. Deliveries started in December 1997, and involved the buy back of the remaining 11 Mirage F1s by France that were later sold on to Spain. ,[6] The current commander of the Qatar Emiri Air Force is Brigadier General Mubarak Mohammed Al Kumait Al Khayarin.
British pilots in Oman remain on duty with the air force, and French specialists are employed in a maintenance capacity. Nevertheless, an increasing number of young Qataris have been trained as pilots and technicians.
Its units include:
As of January 1993, all the air force's aircraft were based at Doha International Airport.[7]
These aircraft numbers are sourced from Scramble.nl, an organisation of Dutch aviation enthusiasts.[8]
| Aircraft | Origin | Type | Versions | In service | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aérospatiale Gazelle | France | Utility/attack helicopter | SA 342G (12)/L (2) | 14 | Operated by 6th Close Support Squadron |
| AgustaWestland AW139 | Italy | Tactical transport/medivac | 5 | 21 in total on order | |
| Airbus 340 | France | VIP transport | 2 | ||
| Airbus 320 |
France |
transport |
1 |
||
| Airbus 310 |
France |
transport |
1 |
||
| Airbus 300 |
France |
transport |
1 | ||
| Hawker HP 800XP |
United Kingdom |
VIP transport |
1 |
||
| Boeing 747-SP |
United States |
transport |
2 |
||
| BAe Hawk 200\203 |
United Kingdom |
Jet trainer\CAS |
18 ordered |
||
| Sikorsky UH-60R Sea Hawk |
United States |
ASW helicopter |
6 ordered |
||
| Boeing C-17 Globemaster III | United States | Strategic air transport | C-17A | 2 | Operated by Qatar Amiri Flight |
| Boeing 707 | United States | VIP transport | 2 | ||
| Boeing 727 | United States | VIP transport | 1 | ||
| Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet | France/ Germany | Advanced trainer/light attack | Alpha Jet E | 6 | Operated by the 6th Close Support Squadron |
| Dassault Falcon 900 | France | VIP transport | 2 | ||
| Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma |
France |
Helicopter |
12 (6 SA-330J+6 SA-332F Super-Puma\SA-532 Cougar) |
||
| Westland Lynx-HC28 |
United Kingdom |
Helicopter |
3 (status unknown) |
||
| Dassault Mirage 2000 | France | Multirole fighter | Mirage 2000-5 | 12 | Operated by the 7th Air Superiority Squadron |
| Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules | United States | Tactical air transport | C-130J-30 | 4 | |
| Piper Cherokee | United States | Training and Liaison | PA-28 Archer | 10 | |
| Piper PA-34 Seneca | United States | Training and Liaison | PA-34 Seneca | 4 | |
| Sikorsky S-92 | United States | VIP transport | 2 | ||
| Westland Commando | United Kingdom | Transport/utility and maritime patrol helicopter | Commando 2A, 2C and 3 variants | 12-13 | Commando 2A/2C are operated by 9th Multirole Squadron Commando 3 are operated by 8th Anti Surface Vessel Squadron |
Qatar has a small 1,800-man navy, including its marine police force and coastal defence artillery. Since 1990, the Qatari Navy has increased its manpower.
The navy headquarters is at Doha there is also a base at Halul island. The commander of the Navy is Commodore Mohammed Nasser al-Mohanadi.