The Most Advanced Western Twin Engine Fighter Makes its First Flight: Boeing’s F-15QA Rolls Off Production Line

The Boeing F-15QA twin engine heavyweight strike fighter has made its first flight, with Chief Test Pilot Matt Giese performing a ‘Viking takeoff’ and climbing to high altitude with full afterburner. The F-15QA is the most advanced variant of the F-15 to be produced so far, building on the F-15K, F-15SG and F-15SA built for South Korea, Singapore and Saudi Arabia respectively. The fighter is conspired the most capable and sophisticated twin engine jet in the Western world, and while it lacks the advanced F119 engines and stealth capabilities of its fifth generation counterpart the F-22 raptor the F-15QA benefits from technologies developed over a decade later including much newer computer architecture and more sophisticated electronic warfare systems, cockpit displays and data links. Qatar has ordered 36 of the elite American fighters, and has placed parallel orders for lighter and less costly European jets including the Rafale and Eurofighter. The superior capabilities of the F-15QA, and the considerable logistical disadvantages of operating three separate classes of twin engine fighter, has led analysts to widely speculate that the European jets were acquired in exchange for European political support - with more F-15s being a more cost effective option.

Boeing’s Vice President and the company's F-15 program manager Prat Kumar stated regarding the firsts flight of the F-15QA: “This successful first flight is an important step in providing the QEAF [Qatar Emiri Air Force] an aircraft with best-in-class range and payload… The advanced F-15QA not only offers game-changing capabilities, but is also built using advanced manufacturing processes which make the jet more efficient to manufacture. In the field, the F-15 costs half the cost per flight hour of similar fighter aircraft and delivers far more payload at far greater ranges. That’s success for the warfighter." The total value of the F-15 contract, including associated support services, weaponry, parts and training, was estimated by Bloomberg at $12 Billion in 2017 when it was signed. This would place the F-15QA’s cost at around $333 million per aircraft - a much more competitive price than its European rivals.

The F-15QA integrates what Boeing claims is the world’s fastest mission computer, and although it lacks stealth capabilities it has excellent electronic warfare capabilities and remains the world’s fastest fighter jet. The fighter enjoys Mach 2.5 speeds and can manoeuvre excellently at high speed and operate at extreme altitudes well above those of any other Western fighter. A new wing design for the QA variant is expected to reduce maintenance requirements and further improve its flight performance. The F-15QA is capable of deploying up to 16 AIM-120 long range air to air missiles, and it has been speculated that the contract could include the first AIM-120D missiles ever exported to the Middle East which would give Qatar jets a considerable advantage over rival jets operated by Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. The F-15QA is being used as a basis for the F-15EX program, under which the U.S. Air Force will place orders for over 100 new fighters from Boeing.