In March 2021, Qatar is expecting six F-15 fighter jets to be delivered to its air force, which will be the first batch of 36 agreed upon in a deal worth U.S $12 billion made with the United States in November 2017, as stated by a military official said on this week.

As reported by Brigadier General Issa al-Mahannadi, Al Udeid air base will be expecting a further 6 jets, an estimated three months after the initial batch is received, and 4 more every three months until the final delivery is complete.

The sale was made to increase security cooperation and interoperability between the United States and Qatar. "This is not a purchase, it is a strategic partnership with the US," Mahannadi said. Qatar signed the agreement for the deliverables of these warplanes not only from the United States but also Europe shortly after a political dispute broke out in the Middle East.

As per announcements made this year in August, Qatar is planning to expand its Al Udeid air base, which currently contains the largest U.S military facility in the Middle East and will further accommodate the F-15s jets from the U.S amongst 12 more French Rafale fighters and 24 Eurofighter Typhoon aircrafts set to be delivered from Europe.

Construction is expected to commence in 2020 and be completed a year after and Qatar has already sent pilots this year for comprehensive training in the U.S, as well as transitioning experienced pilots to fly the F-15 in hopes to prepare a total of 53 aircrew members, just in time for its first delivery.

Source: This Is Money UK, The Peninsula.

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