Amir visits Qatar’s Rafale Squadron at French airbase

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani arrived in Paris Thursday evening on an official visit to France.

The Amir arrived from Mont-de-Marsan Air Base where he visited the Qatari Rafale Squadron (QRS). He was accompanied by French Defence Minister Florence Parly. They were briefed on the nature of joint defence work and the training programme for the Amiri Air Force personnel as part of the QRS project in France.

Brigadier General (Pilot) Salem Abdullah al-Dosari spoke about the most prominent operations and fighting capabilities of the squadron and the joint training programme. He also briefed the Amir on what was achieved in 2015 as well as about the future plans.

The Amir was given a presentation on the Qatari Rafale plan, including details on how to fly and maintain the squadron by officers in the Qatari Armed Forces.

The Amir also met with Qatari Armed Forces officers who are part of the Rafale squadron, currently receiving training in co-operation with the French Air Force. He also visited the operations centres.

The Amir was accompanied during the visit by an official delegation and a number of Qatari military leaders of the military attache from the Qatari embassy in Paris.

He also held bilateral talks with the Frech defence minister.

They discussed military and defence co-operation and the means to enhance them. They also discussed the latest regional and international developments.

He was seen off at Mont-de-Marsan Air Base by the French defence minister, the mayor of Landes, French Air Force General Philippe Adam, Commander of Centre D’expertise Aerienne Militaire (CEAM) Matthieu Pellissier and Mont-de-Marsan Air Base Commander Colonel Cedric Gaudilliere.

French ambassador to Qatar Eric Chevallier and several senior Qatari officers of the air base and members of the military attache at the Qatari embassy in France were also present at the airbase to see off the Amir and the accompanying delegation.

Earlier when he arrived at the airbase, the Amir was received by Parly, the mayor of Landes, General Adam, Pellissier and Colonel Gaudilliere.

He was also received by Qatar’s ambassador to France Khalid bin Rashid al-Mansouri, Chevallier, Qatari officers of the air base and members of the military attache at the Qatari embassy in France.

Later in the day, the Amir hosted a dinner for senators from the ruling party and senior officials and businessmen at the Peninsula Hotel.

During the banquet, they exchanged views on co-operation and friendship between Qatar and France and ways to boost them, especially in the fields of politics, economy and investment.

The talks also dealt with regional and international developments of common concern.

The banquet was attended by members of the delegation accompanying the Amir.

قام حضرة صاحب السمو الشيخ تميم بن حمد آل ثاني أمير البلاد المفدى، عصر أمس، بجولة في مبنى سرب الرافال القطري بقاعدة مون دو مارسان الجوية رافقته فيها سعادة السيدة فلورنس بارلي وزيرة الدفاع بالجمهورية الفرنسية الصديقة، للاطلاع على طبيعة العمل فيها وعلى العمل الدفاعي المشترك بين البلدين، بالإضافة إلى التعرف على البرنامج التدريبي للقوات الجوية الأميرية القطرية في إطار مشروع سرب الرافال القطري QRS في فرنسا.

واستمع سموه، خلال الزيارة إلى إيجاز من العميد الركن طيار سالم عبد الله الدوسري حول مشروع طائرات الرافال وأبرز العمليات والقدرات القتالية والهجومية التي يتميز بها سرب الطائرات هذه، والبرنامج التدريبي المشترك، وما تم تحقيقه منذ عقد الاتفاق في 2015 والخطط المستقبلية.

واطلع سمو الأمير، خلال الزيارة، على نموذج لطائرة رافال قطرية وعرض تدريب على قيادتها وصيانتها قام به ضباط القوات القطرية.

كما التقى سمو الأمير خلال الزيارة مع ضباط وضباط صف وأفراد سرب طائرات الرافال التابعين للقوات الجوية الأميرية القطرية، والذين يتلقون التدريبات الخاصة على قيادة وصيانة سرب الرافال بالتعاون مع القوات الجوية الفرنسية، وزار مراكز العمليات التي يضمها المبنى.

رافق سموه، عدد من أعضاء الوفد الرسمي وعدد من القيادات العسكرية القطرية التابعين للملحق العسكري بسفارة دولة قطر لدى باريس.