Four RAF Typhoons from joint UK-Qatar No 12 Squadron have been deployed at the request of the Qatari government, citing rising regional tensions.
Four RAF Typhoons assigned to No. 12 Squadron jointly manned by the United Kingdom and Qatar have been deployed to Qatar for “defensive purposes” at the express request of the Qatari government, citing rising regional tensions. The deployment also comes amid a buildup of U.S. forces in the Middle East.
No. 12 Squadron It regularly deploys to Qatar, where it participates in training exercises with the Qatar Emiri Air Force (QEAF) and other Middle Eastern partner states such as Bahrain and Oman. Exercises such as EPIC SKIES and SOARING FALCON help enable the seamless integration of RAF aircraft into allied operations, strengthening the UK’s relationship with its partner states in the Gulf.
UK Defense SecretaryMP John Healey stated:
“Qatar and the United Kingdom are close partners with historic defense ties dating back decades. This partnership strengthens the national security of our two nations and supports stability in the Gulf region.
“Today’s deployment builds on those shared objectives, as our joint squadron’s Typhoon aircraft deploy to support their defence.”
The current deployment of four heavily armed Typhoons takes place under the UK-Qatar Defense Assurance Agreement signed last year in Doha by Healey, which commits the UK and Qatar to closer defense collaboration and joint planning on threats facing both nations, in this case namely Iran.
The UK and Qatar have a long history of defense partnership, with both nations establishing joint squadrons for the purposes of flight training and defense expertise. No. 12 Squadron RAF, which flies Typhoons, and No. 11 Squadron QEAF, which flies Hawk 167s, were established in 2018 and 2021 respectively to help prepare Qatar for the arrival of its own Typhoon aircraft. Together, the squadrons represent a close defense link, which could now allow RAF aircraft to fly over Qatar in defense of the nation.
#USAF United States Air Force / #RAF Royal Air Force – Activity in the Middle East
January 22, 2026 – 11:00 p.m.In recent hours there has been confirmation from the British Ministry of Defense that No. 12 Squadron of the RAF has been deployed to Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. Furthermore, a third… https://t.co/v35uGtP70N pic.twitter.com/0boNmZRhdW
– Armchair Admiral 🇬🇧 (@ArmchairAdml) January 23, 2026
Tensions in the Gulf appear to be rising following recent protests against the Iranian government that have been heavily repressed by its security forces and, as a result, the United States threatened to intervene. In recent developments, the United States has deployed the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group (CSG) and the United Kingdom’s F-15E Strike Eagles, along with multiple support elements such as air-to-air tankers and transport aircraft, suggesting that the United States may still decide on intervention and regime change.
Recent climbs
Small-scale protests began in December 2025, following the collapse of the Iranian currency and the overall poor state of the Iranian economy as a result of decades of economic mismanagement and conflict, but escalated dramatically and millions of Iranians took to the streets in early January. The Iranian government and security forces harshly repressed the protests, leaving tens of thousands dead and an even greater number of injuries, sparking international outrage and calls for regime change of opponents to the regime.
Twelve USAF F-15E Strike Eagles deployed from England to the Middle East. pic.twitter.com/hH1b3YdYBo
— HACKTORIA || OSINT 🏴 (@hacktoria) January 23, 2026
In response to the crisis and the significant death toll, United States President Donald J. Trump threat of military action against Iran on January 13, which were reportedly narrowly postponed after Iran declared its intention not to execute captured protesters. According The war zoneMilitary action could have been delayed to allow for a buildup of forces in the Gulf to better prepare for what would be the inevitable Iranian retaliation.
A U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle assigned to the 494th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron lands at a base in the Middle East, Jan. 18. The presence of the F-15 enhances combat readiness and promotes regional security and stability. pic.twitter.com/QTXgOsOozV
— US Central Command (@CENTCOM) January 20, 2026
In response to Trump’s threats, the Iranian government warned of retaliatory attacks against the United States and its allies in the Gulf if the United States assisted the protesters with military force. This pushed the United States and the United Kingdom to withdraw a number of personnel from Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, which may have led the Qatari government to consider requesting military assistance from the United Kingdom, should Iran follow through on its warnings.
The arrival of four Typhoons armed with eight air-to-air missiles in total, including four Meteor and four ASRAAM, is a stark warning that military action is likely in the future. The payload seen on Typhoons deployed in Qatar was also previously used by Typhoons flying QRA missions, but was changed in recent years.
Indeed, Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) missions and air surveillance missions in the UK and abroad typically include Typhoons armed with two beyond-visual-range missiles, either AMRAAM or Meteor, as well as two shorter-range ASRAAMs for within-visual-range engagements. Although no official reason has been found, this is likely due to a combination of a lower threat assessment of Russian aircraft near NATO airspace, a small number of targets per QRA sortie, fuel efficiency where reduced drag caused by fewer missiles allows the Typhoon to be kept on station longer, as well as conservation of flight hours per missile.
Given the likely threat environment of a massive missile and drone attack by Iran, it is likely that the RAF would like to maximize its firepower in the region, hence the full air-to-air combat loadout seen in the cover image.
It is true that Qatar is concerned about possible drone and cruise missile attacks by Iran in response to any US intervention in the country, since Qatar is separated from Iran only by the Persian Gulf. This puts the nation within range of drone and cruise missile attacks which, as demonstrated by the War in UkraineIt can be extremely detrimental to a nation’s population and its economy. Luckily, the UK has some experience shooting down Iranian droneswith several shot down by RAF typhoons over Iraq and Syria in April 2024, during Iran’s first direct attacks on Israel.
The RAF was not involved in attacks against Iran during the previous conflict and it is likely that if attacks were to be seen against Qatar, the RAF would similarly act in a defensive role due to the limited scale of forces deployed in the country. That said, the RAF also reportedly has several Typhoons stationed in Saudi Arabia for the annual Spears of Victory exercises, which run from January 18 to February 5, as well as several Typhoons still stationed in Cyprus for Operation Shader. Ultimately, the RAF will be well placed to intervene should conflict in the Gulf break out again.
