Qatar to Base Rafale, Mirage 2000 Jets in Turkey for 5 years

Qatar to Base Rafale, Mirage 2000 Jets in Turkey for 5 years

Qatar will base 12 Rafale and 9 Mirage 2000 fighter jets besides four Boeing C-17A Globemaster III transport aircraft in Turkey for a period of five years for training purposes.

Doha will be able to temporarily deploy 36 fighter jets, according to a technical deal introduced to the Turkish parliament last month. The parliament needs to now sign the deal into law. The bill has attracted criticism from opposition parliamentarians.

As per information published on a Turkish government website (tbmm.gov.tr), an agreement pertaining to the deployment of 36 fighter jets to Turkey was signed in March 2020 by Turkish Chief of General Staff Gen. Yaşar Güler and Qatar Chief of General Staff Al-Ghanim. It allows Doha to receive aerial training in Turkey for the next five years with the possibility of a one-year extension. The agreement also includes the stationing of 250 Qatari personnel in Turkey.

Qatar is to inform Ankara 60 days prior to its deployment of jets to Turkey.