To enable 12 Squadron to operate at full capacity, our investment projects team has worked alongside the Ministry of Defence to design and build a new headquarters for the squadron along with eight aircraft shelters, two storage hangars and a ground equipment store at RAF Coningsby.
Using modern modular construction techniques, the joint team were able to fast track the design and build of these facilities ensuring they are ready for the first Qatari pilots which have started operational training on 12 Squadron.
The project has taken around 60 weeks to complete by a team of 30 sub-contractors from the local supply chain using nearly 1,500 tonnes of concrete and more than 1,000 tonnes of steel.
The facilities will become home to Qatari and RAF pilots and ground crew, with the first QEAF pilot cohort starting joint flying with their RAF counterparts this week.
They have completed their Typhoon operational conversion training in the Typhoon Training Facility at RAF Coningsby.
QEAF ground crew will soon complete their initial training at RAF Cosford and many of them will move on to support 12 Squadron in the new facilities.
The Qatar Emiri Air Force will become the ninth customer in the global Typhoon fleet when it receives the first of its 24 aircraft in 2022, supported by a fleet of nine Hawk training aircraft.
Charles Woodburn, Chief Executive Officer, BAE Systems said:
