Four Rafale aircraft from the Qatar Emiri Air Force (QEAF) participated for the first time in the “Anatolian Eagle” exercise at the Turkish airbase in Konya in 2021. They also invited five Pakistani JF-17 “Thunder” aircraft. There were suspicions that Turkey and Pakistan were taking advantage of this opportunity to evaluate the performance of the French fighter aircraft, which Greece and India had acquired. It is important to mention that China employed a comparable strategy by inviting Emirati Mirage 2000-9 aircraft to participate in its “Falcon Shield” maneuvers.
The purpose of these exercises is to promote interaction, and the more one participates, the more one’s capabilities become apparent to the other party. Nevertheless, one is also hesitant to disclose all of their capabilities or potential vulnerabilities, even to a country they regard as an ally.
Nevertheless, the Turkish Parliament ratified an agreement between Ankara and Doha during the “Anatolian Eagle” exercise. This agreement is applicable for five years and permits the QEAF to deploy up to 36 aircraft and 250 military personnel in Turkey for “training and war preparation” purposes. However, Qatari aircraft would be subject to Turkish Air Force oversight during each flight.
The two nations went even further. The establishment of a joint fighter squadron, which would be stationed at Dukhan Airbase in Qatar, was announced on August 27 following a visit to the emirate by General Ziya Cemal Kadıoğlu, the chief of the Turkish Air Force.
According to the Turkish specialized website SavunmaSanayiST, the Turkish Air Force will outfit this “Turkish-Qatari fleet” with a minimum of six F-16s. This joint unit will also receive Rafales from the QEAF. However, the photographs released in conjunction with this announcement also depict Eurofighter Typhoons, a type of aircraft that Turkey is considering acquiring.
Through studies, training, and exercises with the Qatari Armed Forces, Turkey intends to broaden the exchange of shared knowledge and experiences. SavunmaSanayiST states that the establishment of the Turkish-Qatari joint fleet is among the most recent elements of this policy.
Turkey and Qatar have maintained exceptional military relations for an extended period, as they are politically, ideologically, and diplomatically close. For example, in 2017, the Turkish Parliament authorized the permanent stationing of forces in the emirate.
