A force facing the future

The Qatar Emiri Air Force presented a glimpse of its growing ambitions during celebrations marking the Gulf country’s national day. Alexander Golz reports from Doha. Qatari air power The Gulf state’s air arm – the Qatar Emiri Air Force (QEAF) – currently operates a force of 18 combat jets: 12 Mirage 2000-5s and six Alpha Jets. Compared with the other ‘big-hitters’ in the region, their relevance is mainly symbolic. However, this will soon change after orders were placed in 2017