Qatar inks $12 bn deal with Boeing for F-15QA fighter jets

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World Aviation Defense & Security News - Qatar
 
 
Qatar inks $12 bn deal with Boeing for F-15QA fighter jets
 
Qatar's Minister of Defense Dr. Khalid Bin Mohammed Al-Attiyah announced yesterday the signing of the letter of offer and acceptance for the purchase of as many as 36 F-15QA fighter jets, with an initial cost of 12 billion dollars.
     
A formation of F-15C Eagles, assigned to the 493rd Fighter Squadron, and an F-15E Strike Eagle, assigned to the 492nd Fighter Squadron, flying over Gloucestershire, England
(Credit: U.S. Air Force/Senior Airman Erin Trower)
     
"The purchase agreement will directly contribute in the creation of 60,000 new jobs in 42 states across America," the Qatar Ministry of Defense said in an official statement.

"The signing of the LoA today is yet another step in advancing our strategic and cooperative defense relationship with the United States and we look forward to continuing our joint military efforts with our partners in the US", the Ministry added.

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. It appears now this agreement will be for about half that.

Qatar Emiri Air Force is actually relying on a small fleet of 9 France-made Mirage 2000-5EDA fighter jets. Last year, Qatar also ordered 18 Dassault Rafale C fighter jets.

Boeing's F-15 Eagle is a twin-engine, all-weather tactical fighter aircraft specially designed to gain and maintain air supremacy in aerial combat. The Eagle can be armed with combinations of different air-to-air weapons: AIM-120 advanced medium range air-to-air missiles on its lower fuselage corners, AIM-9L/M Sidewinder or AIM-120 missiles on two pylons under the wings, and an internal 20mm Gatling gun in the right wing root.