- Qatar Armed Forces
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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 serviceMales aged 15–49: 306,850 (note: includes non-nationals (2000 est.)), age 15–49 Fit for
military serviceMales age 15–49: 160,899 (2000 est.), age 15–49 Reaching military
age annuallyMales: 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[when?] 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.
Contents
History
Qatar played an important[peacock term] 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]
Army
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 of8,500 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).
Major Army units
- 1x Armored Brigade (1x armd battalion,1x mech battalion,1x arty battalion)
- 4x Mechanized Battalions
- 1x Royal Guard Brigade (3x Inf.battalions)
- 1x Special Forces Battalion
- 2x Artillery Battalions
Tanks and vehicles
- 36x KMWLeopard 2A4 120mm MBT- (36 on order)
Germany
- 100x AMX-56 Leclerc 120mm MBT
France-(40-100 on order ?)
- 44x AMX-30B-2 105mm MBT
France
- 2x GIAT AMX-30D recovery tank
France
- 38x MOWAG Piranha-MK-II 8x8 (36 with 90mm CCTS-90mm turret
Belgium gun+2 ARVs-recovery APC)
Swiss\
United Kingdom
- 40x AMX-10P (with M693 20mm gun)
France
- 33x AMX-VCI
France
- 16x Panhard VBL
France
- 12x AMX-10RC 105mm gun 6x6 ARV
France
- 8x Cadilac LAV V150 Commando
United States
- 8x Bravia SARL Commando MK-III 4x4 APC
Portugal
- 20-32x Engesa EE-9 Cascavel 6x6 90mm ARV
Brazil
- 12x Daimler FV-702 Ferret MK-2\2 4x4 ARV
United Kingdom - status unknown
- 10x Alvis FV-601 Saladin 6x6 76mm ARV
United Kingdom-status unknown
- 6x AM General Humvee 4X4
United States
- 30x Alvis FV-603 Saracen 6x6 APC
United Kingdom-status unknown
- 158x Renault VAB 6x6 APC
France
- 4x Renault VAB\VPM-81 4x4 APC with 81mm mortar
France
- 24x Renault VAB 4x4\6x6 APC with MBDA HOT anti tank missile launcher
France
- 10x Fahd 4x4 APC
Egypt
- Landrover
United Kingdom
- Mercedes Benz Unimog U-4000\U-5000 trucks
Germany
- Iveco Stralis trucks
Italy
- 20x Thyssen Henschel UR-416 4x4 APC
Germany
- C4I System
France
Artillery and missiles
- 24x Panzerhaubitze 2000 155mm sel-propelled artillery (24 on order)
Germany
- 12x G5 howitzer 155mm towed howitzer
South Africa
- 22-28x AMX Mk F3 155mm SP-Howitzer
France
- 9x Roland missile MK-II SP-SAM launchers\ with 200 missiles
France\
Germany
- 6x Blowpipe missile MANPADs launchers\with 50 missiles
United Kingdom
- 24x MBDA Mistral MANPADs launchers\ with 500 missiles
France
- 12x FIM92C Stinger MANPADs launchers \ with 60 missiles
United States
- SA-7B Grail MANPADs
Soviet Union
- 7x MIM23B Adv. Hawk SAM launchers
United States
- 12x MIM-104 Patriot PAC-3 SAM launchers
United States
- 18x Rapier SAM launcher \ with 250 missiles & 6x Blindfire Radars
United Kingdom
- Crotale SP-SAM
France-reported.
- 30x L16 81mm Mortar
United Kingdom
- 15x Brandt 120mm heavy mortar
France
- 5x Sea Cat\Tiger Cat missile (75 missiles)
United Kingdom
- 18x Astros II MLRS SS-40\30 180mm\127mm MRLs with SS-30\40\60\80 Rockets & 3x Astros AV UCF fire control radars
Brazil
- 3x BM-21 Grad 122mm MRLs
Soviet Union
- 40x Carl Gustav M2-550 84mm RCLs
Sweden
- 48x MBDA HOT anti tank missile launchers \ with 1,000 missiles
France\
Germany
- 100x MBDA MILAN anti tank missile launchers \ with 630 missiles
France\
Germany
- Bofors AT4CS light ATRL
United States\
Sweden
- Swingfire anti tank missile
United Kingdom
Small arms
- Heckler & Koch HK4
Germany
- SIG Sauer P226
Germany
- S&W Model-10
United States
- Heckler & Koch MP5A3
Germany
- Sterling MK-IV\L2A3
United Kingdom
- 3,000x M16A-1[3]
United States
- 3,000x Colt CAR-15A1
United States
- 100x Colt M4 carbine
United States
- AK-47[4]
Soviet Union
- Heckler & Koch HK21[5]
Germany
- 200x M203 grenade launcher, M203-PI
United States
- Barrett M82A-1
United States
- AKM
Soviet Union\
Russia
- M2 Browning machine gun
United States
- Valmet M76
Finland
- Valmet M62
Finland
- Heckler & Koch G3A3
Germany
- FN FAL 50-00
Belgium
- FN MAG 60-00\T-14
Belgium
- FN Minimi
Belgium
- Mosberg Model-700
United States
Qatar Emiri Air Force
Qatar Emiri Air Force Founded 1974-present Country Qatar Commanders Current
commanderBrigadier 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:- No. 1 Fighter Wing
- No. 2 Rotary Wing
- No. 6 Close Support Squadron – Eurocopter SA342
Europe
- No. 8 Anti-Surface Vessel Squadron – Westland Sea King Commando Mk 3
- No. 9 Multi-Role Squadron – Westland Sea King Commando Mk 2
- No. 6 Close Support Squadron – Eurocopter SA342
- Qatar Amiri Flight – C-17 Globemaster III
United States
As of January 1993, all the air force's aircraft were based at Doha International Airport.[7]
Air Force equipment
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
Historical Aircraft
- 15 Dassault Mirage F1 DDA (3)\Mirage F-1EDA (12)
France-sold to Spain.
- 4 Hawker Hunter FGA-78 (3) \T-79 (1)
United Kingdom
- 2 BAC EEC Canberra B.2
United Kingdom-Loan from RAF
- 1 Vickers VC-10
United Kingdom
- 2 Westland Whirlwind WS-55 Srs-3
United Kingdom
Missiles
- AIM-9M Sidewinder
United States
- 144x MBDA Mica-RF
France
- 272x MBDA Magic-II R.55O
France
- Matra\MBDA R.530
France
- 128x MBDA AS-30L
France
- 5x MBDA AM-39 Exocet
France
- 225x Euromissile HOT ATGM (for SA-342 Attack Helicopters)
France\
Germany
- 50x Apache Black Pearl ASM (for Mirage 2000-5)
France
Other equipment:-
- 6x TRS-2100 Tiger radars
France
- TTL BTT-3 Banashee target drone
United Kingdom
Future aircraft
- Four Lockheed C-130J-30 Super Hercules have been ordered at a total value of $393 million
- In July 2008, Qatar’s Emiri Air Force signed a EUR 260 million (currently about $400 million) contract with AgustaWestland for 18 AW139 medium twin helicopters (formerly the AB139, until the Bell partnership dissolved in 2005).[9] The helicopters will be used for utility tasks, troop transport, search and rescue, border patrol, special forces operations, law enforcement and homeland security. Three additional aircraft were ordered in March 2011 for Medivac services.[10]
- As of January 2011, the Air Force is evaluating 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. The total order will be between 24–36 aircraft with a procurement decision to be made by the end of 2012.[11]
Qatar has a small navy 1,800-man navy, including its marine police force and coastal defence artillery. Since the 1990, the Qatari Navy has increased its manpower.
The navy headquarter at Doha and has base at Halul island. The commander of the Navy is Commodore Mohammed Nasser al-Mohanadi.
Boats
- 4 Vosper patrol boats – 120 tons full load
United Kingdom
- 4 Vosper Thornycroft Vita-class Fast Attack Craft – 480 tons full load – 8 x MM40 Exocet missiles (+8 Mistral SAMs), 1 x Goalkeeper gun, 1 x 76mm gun.
France
- 3 Combattante III Fast Attack Craft – 430 tons full load – 8 x MM40 Exocet missiles, 1 x 76mm gun, 2 x 40mm guns, 4 x 30mm guns
France
- 6 Vosper 110 ft. class PCs
United Kingdom
- 6 Damen Polycat 1,450 class PCs
- 2 Keith Nelson type 44 ft.class PCs
- 2 Fairey Marine Interceptor class PCs
United Kingdom
- 4 MV-45 class PCs
- 25 Fairy Marine Spear class
United Kingdom
- 5 P-1500 class PCs
- 4 DV-15 class PCs
- 3 Helmatic M-160 class PCs
- 1 Robha class LCT (3x MBTs\100 men)
Auxiliary
- 2 Halmatic (Vosper Thornycroft) Pilot craft
- 4 Rotrork craft
Special Maritime Forces
- 11 fast interceptor boats
Qatar
Missiles and Equipment
- MBDA Exocet MM40 Block-III (x70)\ MM-40 (x220)\ MM-38 SSMs
France
- MBDA Mistral SAMs
France
- 4x Goalkeeper anti missile\aircraft gun
United Kingdom\
Netherlands
- 4x Stingeo ship sensor
Netherlands
- 4x Exocet coast defense batteries
France
- 4x 76\72 Compact-weapon system
Italy
- 4x MMR-3D Radar
France
References
- ^ The Gulf War with the 401TFW/614TFS Lucky Devils. Lucky-devils.net. Retrieved on 2011-03-28.
- ^ Qatar defends participation in Libya operations. Straitstimes.com (2011-03-20). Retrieved on 2011-03-28.
- ^ Jane's Special Forces Recognition Guide, Ewen Southby-Tailyour (2005), p. 446
- ^ Jones, Richard D. Jane's Infantry weapons 2009/2010. Jane's Information Group; 35 edition (January 27, 2009). ISBN 978-00710628695
- ^ Gangarossa, Gene Jr. Heckler & Koch: Armorers of the Free World (2001)
- ^ Scramble on the Web – Qatar Emiri Air Force. Scramble.nl. Retrieved on 2011-03-28.
- ^ United Arab Emirates, Library of Congress Country Study, 1993
- ^ Scramble on the Web – Qatar Emiri Air Force
- ^ Qatar Armed Forces Sign Contract for 18 AW139 Helicopters – ASDNews. Asd-network.com. Retrieved on 2011-03-28.
- ^ "The Qatar Armed Forces Order Three EMS-Configured AW139s" Agusta Westland 21 March 2011
- ^ "Qatar targets multibillion-dollar fighter jet deal". The National. 6 January 2011. http://www.thenational.ae/business/aviation/qatar-targets-multibillion-dollar-fighter-jet-deal.
See also
Military of Asia Sovereign
states- Afghanistan
- Armenia
- Azerbaijan
- Bahrain
- Bangladesh
- Bhutan
- Brunei
- Burma (Myanmar)
- Cambodia
- People's Republic of China
- Cyprus
- East Timor (Timor-Leste)
- Egypt
- Georgia
- India
- Indonesia
- Iran
- Iraq
- Israel
- Japan
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan
- North Korea
- South Korea
- Kuwait
- Kyrgyzstan
- Laos
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- Maldives
- Mongolia
- Nepal
- Oman
- Pakistan
- Philippines
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- Russia
- Saudi Arabia
- Singapore
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- Syria
- Tajikistan
- Thailand
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- Turkmenistan
- United Arab Emirates
- Uzbekistan
- Vietnam
- Yemen
States with limited
recognition- Abkhazia
- Nagorno-Karabakh
- Northern Cyprus
- Palestine
- Republic of China (Taiwan)
- South Ossetia
Dependencies and
other territories- Christmas Island
- Cocos (Keeling) Islands
- Hong Kong
- Macau
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