History
Background
The Boeing F-15E Strike Eagle, originally developed by McDonnell Douglas before the companies merged, emerged from the US Air Force’s Enhanced Tactical Fighter program launched in March 1981. Later renamed the Dual-Role Fighter competition, this initiative sought to replace the F-111 Aardvark fleet with multirole strike fighters capable of conducting deep interdiction missions independently without requiring fighter escorts or dedicated electronic warfare support. While the F-15 was initially conceived as an air superiority platform, engineers secretly explored adapting it for ground attack roles despite official resistance. The F-15E ultimately won the competition due to its relatively low development costs and the inherent survivability of its twin-engine design.
The USAF began receiving F-15E Strike Eagles in 1988, with the aircraft proving its combat worth during the 1991 Gulf War, its first major operational deployment. Since then, F-15Es have participated in nearly every US military operation in the Balkans and the Middle East, establishing themselves as the Air Force’s premier strike platform. Continuous upgrades have extended its service life and enhanced its capabilities. Boeing developed several export variants, including the F-15I for Israel, F-15S for Saudi Arabia, F-15SG for Singapore, and F-15K for South Korea, allowing these nations to replace aging F-4 Phantom fleets or meet specific operational needs.
Boeing pursued further evolution of the F-15E platform with the F-15SE Silent Eagle, unveiled in 2009. This ambitious design incorporated modern stealth features like conformal weapons bays for internal armament storage and radar-absorbent materials. Its twin vertical tails were canted outward 15 degrees to reduce radar cross-section. Marketed as the first exportable fighter with stealth characteristics, the Silent Eagle targeted customers including Saudi Arabia, Israel, Japan, and South Korea. However, despite producing a mockup and a demonstrator, the project never progressed beyond development as potential buyers chose other options.
Shifting focus from stealth enhancements, Boeing refined the F-15E platform for international customers through the F-15 Advanced Eagle family. The F-15SA (Saudi Advanced) and F-15QA (Qatari Advanced) represented key developments in this lineage, replacing outdated hybrid electronic/mechanical controls with a fully digital fly-by-wire system that improved reliability and extended airframe life. These variants incorporated lessons from earlier exports like South Korea’s F-15K Slam Eagle and Singapore’s F-15SG while integrating select technologies from the F-15SE program. These advancements ultimately laid the groundwork for the F-15EX Eagle II for the US Air Force.
Enter the F-15QA (Qatar Advanced) Ababil
Named after the peregrine falcon, the F-15QA represents the second variant in the F-15 Advanced Eagle family following Saudi Arabia’s F-15SA. Developed specifically for the Qatari Emiri Air Force, it stands as one of the most advanced F-15 variants ever created, and it served as the direct predecessor and design basis for the USAF’s F-15EX Eagle II.
In June 2017, Qatar finalized an order for 36 F-15QA aircraft, including weapons, training, maintenance, and logistics support. The US State Department approved potential sales of up to 72 units, with the deal strengthening US-Qatar strategic ties while promoting Persian Gulf regional security.
The F-15QA incorporates cutting-edge systems, including F110-GE-129 engines, a fully digital fly-by-wire control system, and an all-glass cockpit with a large area display. Its sensor suite features the Raytheon AN/APG-82(V)1 AESA radar, a Digital Electronic Warfare System (DEWS) with a Common Missile Warning System, and AN/AAS-42 IRST. These systems, combined with additional weapons stations, enable the carriage of up to 12 air-to-air missiles. Structural upgrades provide a 20,000-hour service life, ensuring long-term viability.
The advanced fly-by-wire system dramatically enhances maneuverability, delivering agility unavailable in earlier F-15 variants. The aircraft can mount the AN/AAS-42 “Tiger Eyes” IRST on a targeting pod pylon for passive detection and tracking of heat-emitting targets, including aircraft and helicopters.
The first F-15QA completed its maiden flight on April 13, 2020, from Boeing’s St. Louis facility. By 2024, all 36 initial aircraft will have been delivered to Qatar.
Currently, the QEAF’s Flying Wing 5 ‘Ababil’ operates the F-15QA through its 51st, 52nd, and 53rd squadrons based at Al Udeid Air Base. Alongside Qatar’s Rafale and Typhoon fleets, the F-15QA forms a critical element of national airpower. Boeing continues enhancing the platform, including integrating Elbit Systems’ anti-jamming technology for improved performance in contested electromagnetic environments. Production continues on an additional 36 aircraft for Qatar.
The F-15QA recently debuted at the 2024 Royal International Air Tattoo, demonstrating its full 12-missile AIM-120 payload during an impressive flight display.
