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Hello everybody. Today, I’d like to introduce and suggest the F-15QA “Ababil,” the second member of the F-15 Advanced Eagle family, for War Thunder. As one of the most advanced F-15 variants ever designed, the F-15QA was specifically developed for the Qatari Emiri Air Force (QEAF) and serves as the foundation for the US Air Force’s F-15EX Eagle II. Equipped with a cutting-edge digital fly-by-wire system, enhanced engines, advanced radar technology, and additional weapons pylons, the F-15QA entered service in 2020. It becomes one of the most crucial Qatari jet fighters in the QEAF inventory.
Key Characteristics
- Multirole strike fighter / jet fighter
- Fully digital fly-by-wire system
- AN/APG-82(V)1 AESA Radar
- New F110-GE-129 afterburning turbofan jet engines
History
BackgroundThe Boeing F-15E Strike Eagle, originally developed by McDonnell Douglas before the companies merged, was a product of the US Air Force’s Enhanced Tactical Fighter program initiated in March 1981. Later renamed the Dual-Role Fighter competition, the program aimed to replace the fleet of F-111 Aardvarks with multirole strike fighters capable of executing deep interdiction missions without needing fighter escorts or dedicated electronic warfare aircraft. Although the F-15 was initially designed for air superiority, the concept of adapting it for ground-attack roles faced official opposition. However, the F-15E Strike Eagle was secretly envisioned as a versatile replacement for aging F-111s and F-4 Phantoms. Its selection as the program’s winner was driven by its relatively low development costs and the survivability afforded by its twin-engine design.
The US Air Force began receiving F-15E Strike Eagles in 1988, and the aircraft proved its value during the Gulf War in 1991, marking its first major combat deployment. F-15Es have since participated in nearly every US operation in the Balkans and the Middle East, establishing themselves as the USAF’s chief strike platform. The aircraft’s growth potential was realized through continuous upgrades, extending its service life and bolstering its capabilities. Export variants of the F-15E were developed for several countries, including the F-15I (Israel), F-15S (Saudi Arabia), F-15SG (Singapore), and F-15K (South Korea), allowing them to replace their aging F-4 fleets or meet their specific operational requirements.
Boeing also explored more advanced derivatives of the F-15E Strike Eagle, starting with the F-15SE Silent Eagle, unveiled in 2009. The F-15SE was designed to incorporate modern features such as conformal weapons bays for internal weapons storage and radar-absorbent materials to reduce its radar signature. Its twin vertical tails were angled outward by 15 degrees to further lower the aircraft’s radar cross-section. Marketed as the first exportable fighter with stealth elements, the Silent Eagle targeted international customers, including Saudi Arabia, Israel, Japan, and South Korea. However, despite unveiling a mockup and demonstrator, the F-15SE project never advanced beyond the development stage and was ultimately shelved as potential buyers opted for other options.
Boeing then shifted its focus to refining the F-15E platform for international customers, prioritizing enhancements over the ambitious stealth capabilities envisioned in the F-15SE project. This effort resulted in the development of the F-15 Advanced Eagle family. The F-15SA (Saudi Advanced) and F-15QA (Qatari Advanced) were key variants from this lineage, incorporating state-of-the-art systems to replace outdated hybrid electronic and mechanical controls with a fully digital fly-by-wire system, thus improving reliability and extending service life. These aircraft incorporated features from earlier export variants, such as South Korea’s F-15K Slam Eagle and Singapore’s F-15SG, while integrating innovations from the F-15SE. The advancements in these variants laid the groundwork for the F-15EX Eagle II, developed for the US Air Force.
Enter the F-15QA (Qatar Advanced) AbabilNamed after the peregrine falcon, F-15QA is a subsequent variant and second member of the F-15 Advanced Eagle family, following the first variant of F-15SA (Saudi Advanced) for Royal Saudi Air Force. Building on the foundations of the F-15SA, Boeing developed the F-15QA for the Qatari Emiri Air Force, and it is one of the most advanced F-15 variants to date. It also served as the direct predecessor and design basis for the U.S. Air Force’s F-15EX Eagle II.
In June 2017, Qatar finalized an order for 36 F-15QA aircraft, which included weapons, training, maintenance, and logistics support. The US State Department approved the sale of up to 72 units, with the deal aimed at enhancing the strategic partnership between the U.S. and Qatar while promoting security and stability in the Persian Gulf region.
The F-15QA features cutting-edge advancements, including F110-GE-129 engines, a fully digital fly-by-wire control system, and an all-glass cockpit with a large area display. It is equipped with the Raytheon AN/APG-82(V)1 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, a sophisticated Digital Electronic Warfare System (DEWS) with an integrated Common Missile Warning System, and the AN/AAS-42 infrared search and track (IRST) system. These systems, combined with additional weapons pylons, allow the aircraft to carry up to 12 air-to-air missiles. Its upgraded structure provides a service life of up to 20,000 flight hours, ensuring long-term operational lifetime.
The F-15QA’s advanced fly-by-wire system enhances its agility, enabling high-maneuverability flight capabilities that earlier F-15 variants lacked. Additionally, the aircraft can mount the AN/AAS-42 “Tiger Eyes” IRST on a targeting pod pylon, allowing for passive detection and tracking of heat-emitting targets such as jet aircraft and helicopters.
The first F-15QA successfully completed its maiden flight on April 13, 2020, departing from Boeing’s facility at St. Louis Lambert International Airport in Missouri. By 2024, all 36 aircraft from the initial order had been delivered to Qatar.
As of 2024, the F-15QA is operated by the QEAF’s Flying Wing 5 ‘Ababil,’ which includes the 51st, 52nd, and 53rd squadrons based at Al Udeid Air Base. Alongside Qatar’s Rafale and Typhoon fleets, the F-15QA represents a critical component of the nation’s airpower. Boeing is also working to integrate Elbit Systems’ advanced anti-jamming technology into the platform, increasing its resilience in environments with heavy electromagnetic interference. Production of an additional 36 F-15QA units for Qatar is currently underway.
The F-15QA recently made an appearance at the 2024 Royal International Air Tattoo airshow, showcasing its full 12-missile payload of AIM-120s during an impressive flight demonstration.
Specifications
Boeing F-15QA AbabilGeneral Characteristics
- Crew: 2 (Pilot and Weapon Systems Officer)
- Length: 19.43 m (63 ft 9 in)
- Height: 5.65 m (18 ft 5.5 in)
- Span: 13.05 m (42 ft 9.75 in)
- Wing Area: 56.5 sq m (608 sq ft)
- Powerplant: 2 x General Electric F110-GE-129 afterburning turbofan jet engines
→ 258 kN (58,200 lbf) thrust A/B- → 158 kN (35,600 lbf) thrust dry
- Internal Fuel: 5,858 kg (12,915 lb)
- Conformal Fuel: 10,100 kg (22,267 lb)
- Empty Weight: 14,380 kg (31,700 lb)
- Max. Takeoff Weight: 36,740 kg (81,000 lb)
- Max. Payload: 10,400 kg (23,000 lb)
Performance
- Thrust-to-Weight Ratio: 0.93
- Sea Level Speed: Mach 1.2 (1,482 km/h; 921 mph)
- Critical Altitude Speed: Mach 2.5 (2,655 km/h; 1,650 mph)
- Wing Loading: 434.6 kg/sq m (89.02 lb/sq ft)
- Rate of Climb: 250+ m/s (50,000 fpm)
- Service Ceiling: 18,000+ m (60,000 ft)
- Combat Range: 1,270 km (790 miles)
- Max. Range: 3,900 km (2,400 miles)
Armament
- Avionics:
- Large Area Display and ADCP II Mission Computer
- AN/APG-82(V)1 AESA Radar
- Digital Electronic Warfare System
- Common Missile Warning System
- AN/AAS-42 Infrared Search and Track System
- AN/AAQ-33 Sniper Targeting System
- Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System
- AN/AVS-9 Night Vision Goggles
- AN/AAQ-13 Low Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infrared for Night System
- LANTIRN Navigation Pod (3rd Generation-Tiger Eye)
- Link-16 Multifunctional Information Distribution System
- Guns:
- 1 x 20mm M61A1 Vulcan (512 rounds)
- Hardpoints:
- Up to 12 Air-to-Air Missiles
- Up to 24 Air-to-Ground Munitions
- Air-to-Air Missiles:
- 4 x AIM-9X Sidewinders
- 12 x AIM-120C-7 AARAAMs
- Air-to-Ground Bombs:
- Mk.82 bombs (500-lb)
- Mk.84 bombs (2,000-lb)
- GBU-12 Paveway II laser-guided bombs (500-lb)
- GBU-24 Paveway III laser-guided bombs (2,000-lb)
- GBU-31B JDAMs (2,000-lb)
- Air-to-Ground Missiles:
- AGM-84H/K SLAM-ER cruise missiles
- AGM-88B HARM missiles
- Others:
- Chaff/flares dispenser system
Conclusion | Why it should be in the game
The F-15QA “Ababil” serves as the direct predecessor to the F-15EX Eagle II, sharing many advanced features that enhance its capabilities in both air superiority and ground strike roles. It stands as the only US-made combat jet fighter currently operated by the Qatari Emiri Air Force. In War Thunder, the F-15QA could be an excellent addition to the US aviation tech tree, either as a squadron or premium aircraft. Alternatively, it could be added to a subtree in one of the other nations that need a powerful, modern strike fighter to their lineup if necessary.
- Boeing rolls out F-15QA Ababil fighter bomber for Qatar Emiri Air Force
- Boeing F-15QA Ababil
- Penultimate batch of F-15QA Ababil fighters head to Qatar
- F-15QA Flies Demo Unlike Any We've Seen From An Eagle Before
- https://www.dsca.mil/sites/default/files/mas/qatar_16-58.pdf
- Qatar Emiri Air Force - Wikipedia
- Boeing F-15EX Eagle II - Wikipedia
Thank you for taking the time to read my suggestion! 😃
