Qatar graduates first Typhoon QWI
April 18, 2025
On 16 April 2025, personnel from No.12 Squadron, the UK-Qatar Joint Typhoon Squadron, celebrated the graduation of the first Qatar Emiri Air Force Qualified Weapons Instructor. The unnamed pilot graduated from No.1 Course of the Typhoon Qualified Weapons Instructor Partner Course during a prestigious ceremony at RAF Coningsby.
The seven-month training course taught the QWI candidates how to deliver instruction and training in air combat, close air support, air weapons delivery and large force employment exercises, enabling them to instruct, lead and supervise all elements of training and operational flying.
The inaugural Qatari Emiri Air Force Qualified Weapons Instructor (QWI) Course at RAF Coningsby was supported by Inzpire, which was involved at every step. Experts from the company’s training services team undertook analysis of the Qatari QWI role to help shape the design and development of the training and provided further expertise to support the ground school elements of the course.
Nick Borbone, Director of Collective Training and Services at Inzpire, explained that:
“This is a great example of what Inzpire does best. By intrinsically understanding and working closely with our Royal Air Force and Qatari partners, we have provided a range of essential training expertise from concept to execution.”
One of Inzpire’s pilots was involved in instructing students, including providing live flying support to the Qatari Qualified Weapons Instructor Course. The former RAF pilot was able to get airborne in an RAF Typhoon aircraft, as part of a whole force military and civilian team.
Brendan Nolan, the Managing Director of Inzpire, said that: “Inzpire has a long-established reputation for working as an integrated part of military and industry teams. This is a significant milestone, as it is the first time that one of our team will fly alongside the RAF to support their delivery of critical training to an overseas ally. We are immensely proud to have such an integral role.”
Inzpire’s combat air experts were also involved in the design, co-ordination and delivery of Exercise Cobra Warrior, which took place at RAF Waddington in March 2025. This marked the culmination of the course, enabling the students to utilise their skills in the role of combat air functional team leaders in the planning, briefing, execution and debriefing of a large-scale global exercise.
