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QNA
Doha
Qatar will establish a new air base named Tamim Air Base, Deputy Commander of the Amiri Air Force Major-General (Pilot) Ahmed Ibrahim al Malki has announced.
In an interview with Al Talai magazine published on Sunday by the Directorate of Moral Guidance in the Ministry of Defense, Malki said Al Udeid airbase will be expanded and the Doha airbase will be developed to welcome new aircraft and systems that have been introduced to the air force service.
The aircarft and systems include the French Rafale fighters, American F-15 fighters, Eurofighter Typhoon and other advanced aircraft.
In addition, command and control systems will be developed by introducing the latest radar systems and communications, Malki added.
"The development of the Air Force has taken a quantum leap under the Amir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani, as equipment have been doubled and new systems have been brought into service including fighter jets, transport aeroplanes and helicopters," Malki said.
He touched upon the reorganisation of the Amiri Air Force after introducing modern aircraft systems, stating that it is currently under review and will be revealed soon.
He said the most important role of the air force is the protection of the air space, providing deterrence and ground attack.
Malki added that the greatest challenge is continuous development as modern technology in the area is constantly upgraded and the mission of the Amiri Air Force is to assimilate modern systems, which require modernising human resources.
He said there are organisational projects of strategic nature which will be implemented in the Amiri Air Force.
In 2018 the force has welcomed the first female batch as pilot candidates, he added.
The Qatari air force has seen significant development after 2014, and Doha has concluded several major deals over the past months.
In December 2017, Qatar signed an agreement with the UK to buy 24 Eurofighter Typhoon after two successive agreements, with the US to buy 36 F-15QA fighters and with France to buy 12 Rafale fighters.
