Wing Commander Mark Baker, OC N°1 (Fighter) Squadron, led his team on the first sortie of the joint UK/Qatari Exercise EPIC SKIES II which commenced on 11 November. Launching alongside two of the Qatari Emiri Air Force (QEAF) Dassault Mirage 2000-5 aircraft, the UK Typhoons took part in counter air training and capability demonstrations, ahead of the QEAF’s procurement of 24 Typhoon aircraft from the UK and the formation of the joint RAF/QEAF Number 12 Squadron.