TSAMTO, August 27. On August 25, Boeing announced the roll-out ceremony of the first F-15QA (Qatar Advanced) fighter of the Qatar Air Force held jointly with the command of the US Air Force and the Qatari Air Force at the enterprise in St. Louis.
As it was announced during the event, the aircraft will receive the official name "Ababil" (Ababil).
The F-15QA (QA500) demonstrated at the event was equipped with a number of weapons, including the AIM-9X Sidewinder air-to-air missile, the AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missile, the AGM-84A Harpoon missile, the GBU-31 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) high-precision aerial bomb. The aircraft was also equipped with AN AN/AAQ-28(V) Litening container targeting system and an AN/AAQ-33 "Sniper" suspended targeting container, an AN/AAS-42 Tiger Eyes integrated infrared detection and tracking System (IRST).
As planned, the first batch of F-15QA aircraft will be sent to Qatar at the end of 2021 after the completion of pilot training, which began in the first half of the year. In addition, until 2024, Boeing will create a training center for the training of pilots and technicians of the Qatari Air Force at the Al-Udeid Air Base, and will also supply spare parts and provide logistical support services in Qatar after the delivery of aircraft.
As reported by TSAMTO, US Secretary of Defense James Mattis and Qatar's Minister of State for Defense Affairs Khaled bin Mohammed Al Attiyah signed a preliminary agreement of intent on the sale of F-15QA (Qatar Advanced) fighters for the Qatari Air Force on June 14, 2017.
Earlier, in November 2016, the US State Department approved the potential supply to Qatar under the "Foreign Military Sales" program of up to 72 F-15QA multi-purpose fighters, as well as weapons and services related to the contract. The total cost of the sale was estimated at up to $ 21.1 billion.
In December 2017, the US Department of Defense signed the first contract with Boeing worth $ 6.173 billion, providing for the supply of 36 new aircraft in the F-15QA configuration to the Qatari Air Force under the Foreign Military Sales program. Boeing began assembling the first F-15QA in August 2018. Its flight tests began in April 2020.
It is assumed that Boeing will complete the delivery of aircraft to the customer in 2023. The contract contains options for the supply of 36 more aircraft, if implemented, production will continue until 2026.
The F-15QA is distinguished by new generation technologies, including remote control, digital cockpit, upgraded sensors, radar and electronic warfare equipment, and a high-performance onboard computer.
