SORC Defence
Client Force Profile

Qatar Armed Forces

القوات المسلحة القطرية — State of Qatar

The Qatar Armed Forces comprise the Qatar Army, Qatar Emiri Air Force (QEAF), and Qatar Emiri Naval Force. Qatar has undertaken one of the most ambitious defence modernisation programmes in the region, simultaneously acquiring Rafale, Typhoon, and F-15QA fighters — making it the only nation in the world to operate all three simultaneously.

Key Metrics
16,000
Total Armed Forces
All branches combined
~96
Combat Aircraft
QEAF fixed-wing fleet
~30
Main Battle Tanks
Leopard 2A7+ (on order)
~20
Naval Vessels
Corvettes, patrol, landing
$6.8B
Defence Budget
FY 2024 (est.)
~2.5%
GDP on Defence
2024 estimate

Sources: IISS Military Balance 2024; Qatar Ministry of Finance; SIPRI Military Expenditure Database 2024.

Qatar Emiri Air Force (QEAF) Inventory
Platform / SystemRoleQty (est.)Origin
Dassault Rafale EQ / DQMulti-role fighter36France
Eurofighter Typhoon Tranche 3Multi-role fighter24UK / Eurofighter consortium
Boeing F-15QA Advanced EagleMulti-role strike fighter36USA
C-17A Globemaster IIIStrategic transport4USA
C-130J Super HerculesTactical transport4USA
NH90 TTHMedium transport helicopter16NATO consortium
AgustaWestland AW139Utility / SAR helicopter12Italy
Qatar Army — Key Land Systems
Platform / SystemRoleQty (est.)Origin
Leopard 2A7+Main battle tank (on order)30Germany
AMX-30Main battle tank (legacy)~30France
VAB Mk IIIArmoured personnel carrier~160France
Piranha IIIWheeled APC~40Switzerland
Caesar 155mm SPHSelf-propelled howitzer24France
Qatar Emiri Naval Force — Principal Vessels
Platform / SystemRoleQty (est.)Origin
Doha-class (Gowind 2500)Corvette4France (DCNS)
Barzan-class (Vita-class)Fast attack craft (missile)4UK
Damsah-class (Combattante III)Fast attack craft (missile)3France
Al Deebel-classOffshore patrol vessel4Italy
Active Modernisation Programmes
Rafale EQ Full Delivery
36 Rafale EQ/DQ fighters contracted in 2015 — all delivered by 2023; follow-on order under discussion
F-15QA Advanced Eagle
36 F-15QA contracted in 2017 — deliveries ongoing through 2026; AESA radar, JASSM-ER, and advanced EW suite
Eurofighter Typhoon
24 Typhoon Tranche 3 aircraft contracted in 2017 — deliveries ongoing; most advanced Typhoon variant
Leopard 2A7+ MBT
30 Leopard 2A7+ main battle tanks contracted with Germany; deliveries from 2024
Gowind Corvette Programme
4 Gowind 2500 corvettes in service; further naval expansion under evaluation
SORC Engagement

SORC supports Qatar's procurement offices with NSN parts sourcing, export licensing for US-origin F-15QA components under ITAR/FMS frameworks, and compliance advisory for UK Typhoon-related transactions under SIEL/OIEL requirements.

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