TSAMTO, May 26. Boeing has completed the production of 36 multifunctional F-15QA (Qatar Advanced) fighters for the Qatar Air Force.
As reported by Scramble.nl, On May 23, the F-15QA Advance Eagle (also known as F-15QA Ababil) with the serial number FMS 17-0037 made its first control flight (FCF) at St. Louis Lambert International Airport (pcs.Missouri). This aircraft is the first of the last two aircraft from the original order. It is expected that tests of FMS 17-0038 will also begin soon.
Initially, FMS production numbers for Qatar were reserved in the order from 17-0001 to 17-0036. However, during the assembly process, two aircraft were transferred to the US Air Force as F-15EX 20-0001 and 20-0002. Thus, to fulfill the Qatari order, aircraft with numbers 17-0037 and 17-0038 were added to production.
One of the aircraft (serial number FMS 17-0010) crashed on May 18, 2021 on the runway of Belleville Air Base / Scott (Midamerica Airport, Illinois). The pilots ejected. This fighter is still under repair and it is unlikely that it will be ready for transfer to the Qatar Air Force this year.
As previously reported by TSAMTO, in November 2016, the US State Department approved the potential supply to Qatar under the Foreign Military Sales program of up to 72 multi-purpose F-15QA fighters, as well as weapons and services related to the contract. The total value of the sale was estimated at $21.1 billion.
On June 14, 2017, US Secretary of Defense James Mattis and Qatar's Minister of State for Defense Khaled bin Mohammed Al-Attiyah signed a preliminary agreement of intent on the sale of F-15QA fighters for the Qatari Air Force.
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 Qatar Air Force under the Foreign Military Sales program. Boeing started assembling the first F-15QA (s.n. 17-0001) in August 2018. Its flight tests began in April 2020.
It was assumed that the F-15QA deliveries to the customer would be completed in 2023 and they would replace the fleet of aging French Mirage-2000-5.
The contract contains options for the supply of 36 more aircraft, in case of implementation of which, production will continue until 2026. According to the information Scramble.nl at the moment, we are talking about an option for only 12 units of the F-15QA, although it is not yet known when these additional aircraft will be produced, taking into account the increase in the order for the F-15EX from the US and Israeli Air Forces.
Until 2024, Boeing will create a training center for the training of flight and technical personnel of the 51st Ababil Squadron ("Flock of Birds") as part of the 5th Air Wing of the Qatar Air Force at Al-Udeid Air Base, and will also supply spare parts and provide logistical support services in Qatar after the delivery of aircraft.
As reported, 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 on-board computer.
Demonstrated by Boeing on August 25, 2021, together with the command of the US Air Force and Qatar at the St. Louis facility, the first F-15QA (QA500) fighter was equipped with a range of weapons, including the AIM-9X Sidewinder air-to-air missile, the AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missile, AGM-84A "Harpoon" PKR, GBU-31 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) high-precision aerial bomb. The aircraft was also equipped with AN AN/AAQ-28(V) "Lightning" 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).
