Dassault has handed over the first of an eventual 36 Rafale combat aircraft – a DQ two-seat variant – to Qatar, for operation by the country's air force.

Doha signed for 24 examples in 2015, adding a further 12 aircraft a little over two years later.

“For the fourth time in our long and trustful partnership with Qatar, a Dassault aircraft will serve proudly in the Qatari Emiri Air Force," says Dassault chief executive Eric Trappier.

Dassault

Qatar has previously taken a number of Dassault-built types, including the Mirage F1 and Mirage 2000 fighters, as well as the Alpha Jet trainer.

Flight Fleets Analyzer lists the Qatar Emiri Air Force as operating nine Mirage 2000s and six Alpha Jets. In addition to the Rafales, the Gulf state has 36 Boeing F-15QAs and 24 Eurofighter Typhoons on order.

Source: FlightGlobal.com