Qatar Orders, Receives PC-21 Trainers
Oct 01, 2014 14:50 UTCQatar is in the middle of overhauling its air force, with a competition for new fighters that has attracted interest from around the world. They’re also busy upgrading their pilot training, to serve with the newly established Air Force Academy in Qatar. In July 2012, Switzerland’s Pilatus Aircraft announced that the QEAF had joined in neighbors in the UAE and Saudi Arabia with an order for 24 of the firm’s high-end PC-21 turboprop trainers, a corresponding Training System, and “an extensive [and long term] logistics support and maintenance package.” The deal’s value wasn’t disclosed, and the exact details of the support agreement could make a big difference. As a point of comparison, however, the UAE’s deal for 25 PC-21s and associated items ran to $511 million in 2009.