F-15QA Qatar Advanced Ababil Fighter Jet

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Boeing has officially rolled out its new advanced F-15 fighter jet variant, F-15QA named as Ababil, for the Qatar Emiri Air Force (QEAF).

After the completion of pre-delivery pilot training, the first set of F-15QA aircraft will ferry to Qatar later this year.

The pre-delivery pilot training began earlier this year and the company is already providing maintenance and logistics support for the QEAF.

US Air Force 9th Air Force commander lieutenant general Greg Guillot said: “The rollout of the F-15QA is momentous, not just in terms of capability but also in terms of the enhanced partnership it represents.

“The relationship the United States shares with Qatar is critical to the stability and security of the central command area of responsibility, and we are grateful for our coalition partner’s continued focus on building interoperability and combined readiness.

“It is a privilege and honour to stand with our Qatari counterparts this day and every day.”

The company will establish and operate an aircrew and maintenance training centre for the QEAF at Al Udeid Air Base by 2024.

In 2017, Boeing secured a $6.2bn contract to manufacture 36 F-15 fighter jets for the QEAF.

[shotdown]

I never understood why it took almost 40 years for the outer underwing pylons to be used in the F-15.