First Rafale Handed Over to Qatar | Aviation International News

First Rafale Handed Over to Qatar

The Qatar Amiri Air Force has formally accepted its first Dassault Rafale, while training of personnel is being undertaken n France.

VIPs from Qatar and France pose in front of the first Rafale to be handed over. The stylised Arab stallion graphic is the badge of the new Rafale squadron. (Photo: Dassault Aviation)

By Jon Lake

February 13, 2019

The first Dassault Rafale for Qatar was ceremonially handed over at Dassault’s Merignac facility on Feb. 6, 2019. The ceremony was attended by a host of VIPs, including Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Affairs, HE Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah, Qatar's Ambassador to France, Sheikh Ali bin Jassim al-Thani, Staff Major General (Pilot) Mubarak bin Mohamed Al Khayareen, Commander of the Qatar Amiri Air Force, and Staff Brigadier General (Engineer Air) Mohamed Mubarak al-Shahwani, as well as Geneviève Darrieussecq, Secretary of State to the French Minister of the Armed Forces, and Dassault Aviation chairman and CEO, Eric Trappier.

Qatar’s purchase of the Rafale follows on from earlier acquisitions of the Dassault Mirage F1, Alpha Jet, and Mirage 2000. “For the fourth time in our long and trustful partnership with Qatar, a Dassault Aviation aircraft will serve proudly in the Qatari Amiri Air Force,” said Trappier. “This first delivery is the culmination of a relationship started more than 40 years ago and I am very pleased and grateful that once again the State of Qatar has renewed its confidence in our dedication and confirmed not once, but twice, the choice of the Rafale to protect its land and people.”

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