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The Qatar Emiri Air Force (QEAF) is the aerial branch of the Qatar Armed Forces. It was formed in 1974, three years after achieving independence from Great Britain in 1971. The airforce had 2,100 personnel in 2006. Al Udeid Air Base and Doha International Airport serve as the main site of operations for its squadrons. ==History== Initially equipped with ex-RAF Hawker Hunters, the air force soon began expansion with six Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jets in 1979. Fourteen F1 Mirages were delivered between 1980-84. In 1991 the Qatari Air Force contributed aircraft to conduct strikes against Iraqi forces during the Gulf War. After the conflict the government sought to fortify their air defense with the construction of a new base southwest of the Doha at Al Udaid. The facility has hardened aircraft shelters, air defence radars and Roland missile batteries. In the 1990s they acquired more Alpha Jets with a ground attack capability and a squadron of Mirage F1s, from France. In 2005 the Air Force participated in Exercise Eagle Resolve, along with Medical Services and Emergency Medical teams to build Interoperability with their US counterparts. The U.S. 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit took part in exercise to validate the nation’s crisis management plan prior to hosting the Asian Games in 2006. Other acquisitions have been for an order of 18 AW139 helicopters.〔(Qatar Armed Forces Sign Contract for 18 AW139 Helicopters – ASDNews ). Asd-network.com. Retrieved on 2011-03-28.〕 The helicopters are used for utility tasks, troop transport, search and rescue, border patrol, special forces operations, and law enforcement. Three additional aircraft were ordered in March 2011 for Medivac services.〔("The Qatar Armed Forces Order Three EMS-Configured AW139s" ) ''Agusta Westland'' 21 March 2011〕 By 2010 the Qatar Emiri Air Force's personnel strength was at 2100 and among its fleet of equipment was the Mirage 2000-3EDA, the SA 342L Gazelle, as well as the C-17A Globemaster III. Aircraft either fly out of al-Udeid field or Doha International Airport and receive training from British instructors. In January 2011, the Air Force evaluated the Eurofighter Typhoon, the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, the Boeing F-15E and the Dassault Rafale to replace its current fighter inventory of Dassault Mirage 2000-5s.〔http://www.defensenews.com/article/20131110/DEFREG04/311100014/US-Bid-Delays-Qatar-Jet-Competition〕 In May 2015, the Air Force awarded Dassault Aviation the deal for 24 Rafale fighters worth €6.3 billion ($7 billion).〔http://www.apnewsarchive.com/2015/France-sells-24-Rafale-fighter-jets-to-Qatar-in-a-7-billion-deal/id-c985c8c8562c4bed96073f77fa16c931〕 In Jun 2015 it was announced that 4 additional C-17s were ordered to supplement the existing 4 aircraft delivered in 2009 and 2012. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Qatar Air Force」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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