Boeing F-15s for Saudi – and Qatar

Another batch of Boeing F-15A Advanced Eagles has been delivered to the Royal Saudi Air Force, deliveries beginning in December 2016, which curiously co-incided with Qatar Minister of State for Defence Affairs, Dr Khalid Mohammed Al Attiyah visiting Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina to gain insight on the US Air Force’s F-15Es. Qatar is now poised to buy “over 30” F-15QA aircraft, the US State Department having approved a possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to the Qatar Emiri Air Force (QEAF) for up to 72 F-15QA aircraft at an estimated cost of $21.1bn. This would include weapons and related support, equipment and training. However, sources have suggested the numbers are actually for 36 aircraft and will include the provision of continental United States-based lead-in-fighter-training.