In a ceremony at RAF Leeming on November 24, it was announced that the QEAF-British Hawk training squadron being established at the Yorkshire base will be known as 11 Squadron (Qatar).
It can be assumed – as the backdrop to the presentation was ZB134/Q04; wearing the unit’s badge – that all the Qatari Hawks will eventually be seen with the insignia.The squadron’s identity continues the QEAF’s association with No 11 Sqn in the training role – it had been a training/light attack support squadron operating six Dassault-Dornier Alpha Jets.
To train next-generation fast-jet pilots, the QEAF entered a six-year contract with BAE Systems in 2018 to provide a training and sustainability package, initially for six Hawk Mk167 advanced jet trainers – later increased to nine aircraft – with deliveries mid-2021. A further amendment to the package would also include RAF student pilots training alongside their QEAF counterparts.
