Qatar Emiri Air Forces F-15QA (Qatari Advanced) fighter jet successfully performed its first flight. In  2017, Qatar signed for the purchase of 36 F-15QA fighter jets, with an initial cost of 12 billion dollars

Qatari Boeing F-15QA after its first takeoff (Picture source: Boeing)

In November 2016, the United States State Department approved possible sale of up to 72 F-15QA aircraft to Qatar worth US$21.1 billion. Boeing Co is the prime contractor on the fighter jet sale to the Middle East nation. Finally,  Qatar signed  in 2017 for the purchase of 36 F-15QA fighter jets, with an initial cost of 12 billion dollars.

The F-15QA (Qatari Advanced) introduces a number of previously announced features, including an advanced cockpit system with a large format display, says Steve Parker, Boeing’s vice-president of F-15 programmes.

Qatar’s F-15s are the most advanced version of the fighter yet developed. Based on the F-15SA that is being supplied to Saudi Arabia, the F-15QA has an infrared search and track sensor, a digital electronic warfare suite, and Raytheon’s APG-63(V)3 AESA radar. Unlike earlier F-15s, the new SA and QA versions have fly-by-wire flight control systems.