BAE Systems delivered Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft to Qatari Air Force

British company BAE Systems has officially delivered its first Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft to the Qatar Armed Forces (QAF).

The ceremonial handover took place at the company’s facility in Warton, UK.

The Defense Post reported about this.

The event was attended by BAE Systems representatives and the QAF officials.

Another milestone in our joint UK-Qatar defence collaboration was reached today, as Defence Secretary @BWallaceMP met with His Excellency @Kbmalattiya to deliver the first Typhoon aircraft to the Qatari Emiri Air Force.👇🇬🇧 🇶🇦 @BAESystemsplc pic.twitter.com/ldSsW8KKza

— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) August 15, 2022

BAE Systems reported that the first Typhoon has been delivered on schedule and will be ferried from the UK to Qatar later this month.

This, according to the company, is a “significant milestone” in the €5 billion program to acquire Eurofighter fighters and Hawk jet trainer aircraft.

“We are working in partnership with the QEAF to ensure we transfer the skills and knowledge required to support, maintain and upgrade both their Typhoon and Hawk aircraft,” Tony Gilchrist, Director Business Development, BAE Systems Air Sector, said.

In addition to the delivery of the fighter itself, both countries will exchange experience and conduct training to ensure its effective use.

The Eurofighter Typhoon is a multi-role fighter of the fourth generation. It is in service with the Air Forces of Germany, Italy, Spain, Great Britain, Austria and Saudi Arabia.

As previously reported, in July the Ministry of Defense of the United Kingdom announced that UK Royal Air Force fighters were to receive next-generation radars as part of an upgrade program.

At the end of the decade, new ECRS Mk2 radars will replace the Captor E-Scan radars currently used by Typhoon fighters.

The cost of the investment program for the development of a new radar system is £2.35 billion ($2.83 billion).

The Ministry said the ECRS radar, or European Common Radar System Mk2, should provide the fourth-generation Eurofighter Typhoon fighters with the ability to counter emerging threats “until 2040 and beyond if required.”

The state-of-the-art radar will allow the aircraft to simultaneously detect, identify, and track multiple targets in the air and on the ground in the most challenging operational environments.