The US-based aerospace giant Boeing has entered into three separate foreign military sales contracts worth more than $800 million with the US Air Force for offering equipment training and support services to the American-Qatar F-15 transactions.
Through a previously undisclosed $240 million contract, awarded in 2019 Boeing will offer its F-15QA program management, maintenance and aircrew training services to Qatar Emiri Air Force (QEAF) over a five-year contract period.
The aerospace giant will also provide maintenance and logistics support for Qatar Air Force during their pre-delivery training for the F-15QA aircraft, which will commence early next year. The not-to-exceed contract worth $68 million will train QEAF pilots and weapon system operators at its US facility prior to receiving their new aircraft.
Training will include in-person instruction, simulation events and flying operations and will be held near Boeing’s F-15 production facility in the US through mid-2021.
Boeing is expected to set up and operate an aircrew and maintenance training center for the QEAF at Qatar’s Al Udeid Air Base through 2024.
A third $500 million contract awarded in November will provide the QEAF with in-country spares and logistics support once the aircraft is delivered to Qatar.
Tim Buerk, Boeing’s Director of Middle East defense services stated that “The tailored training and sustainment delivered by our team, coupled with Boeing’s platform expertise, allows us to deliver a holistic solution to our Qatari customer so they can optimize the full capability of their fleet with high availability rates. We look forward to our continued partnership with Qatar and further supporting their mission readiness needs.”
F-15QA
The F-15QA is an advanced variant of the undefeated F-15 aircraft. The Advanced F-15 features next-generation technologies that offer more speed, range and payload than any other fighter in its class. Boeing will deliver 36 F-15QA aircraft to Qatar starting in 2021.
