The Qatar Air Force is expected to receive the first six of 36 Boeing F-15QA in 2021
The first of 36 Boeing F-15QA multirole fighters ordered by Qatar will arrive in the emirate in early 2021, Brigadier General Eisa al-Mohannadi, the Qatari Emiri Air Force (QEAF) officer heading the programme was quoted by Janes weekly as saying during a press trip to Al-Udeid Air Base on 26 November.
"The aircraft deliveries to Qatar [will] begin in early 2021 and will be continued through late 2022, when all 36 aircraft will be in-country," Gen Eisa said. The first delivery will consist of six F-15QAs and the entire fleet will be fully operational by 2023, he added.
The F-15QA, the Qatari version of the F-15E Advanced Eagle, will be known as the Ababil in QAEF service and will be based at Al-Udeid.
The United States state department approved the order of 36 aircraft for $12 billion last year.