British pilots and fighters will be used to defend the FIFA World Cup in Qatar against potential threats such as aircraft attacks and drones said the official.
His 24 Typhoon jets, built by BAE Systems, are set to be sold to Gulf states by next year as part of his £6 billion deal closed in 2017.
Eight of them will be delivered. According to Fahad bin Mohammed Al-Attiyah, Qatar's top diplomat in London, they are waiting to shoot down an unidentified aircraft in time for the football tournament kickoff in November.
Although no specific threats have been identified, al-Attiyah told The Times that the host country sees public events as a "weak spot" for attacks.
The jets will be flown by a team of British and Qatari pilots. This is Britain's first multinational squadron since World War II.
But this is not the first elite air defense force to defend a major sporting event. Typhoon was also included in UK security nets around the London 2012 Olympic Games.
In addition to monitoring threats, joint task forces also patrol the skies and share training, expertise, and information.
The first Typhoon was handed over to a delegation of the Qatari Army this week at a ceremony in Wharton, Lancashire.
Britain will sell a number of Hawkjets to Qatar after he agrees to support the fleet for six years.
Secretary of Defense Ben Wallace said: Both countries remain at the forefront of their defense capabilities.
"This joint project underscores how much the UK attaches importance to partnerships in the Middle East. A partnership with the Qatari Defense Forces is gearing up to host the FIFA World Cup. It shows your commitment and support to the Qatari military.”
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