F-15QA Display Heralds Fresh Boeing Sales Push

DUBAI—As Boeing continues to seek additional sales in the Middle East, a pair of Qatar Emiri Air Force Boeing F-15QA fighters landed on Nov. 10 at Al Maktoum International airport to participate in the Dubai Airshow flying display.

The so-called Ababil variant, which serves as the configuration baseline for the U.S. Air Force F-15EX, remains in production, but Boeing continues to seek additional foreign orders for new-build F-15s and modifications to existing fleets globally.

“We’re aggressive and looking for those opportunities where new builds make the right sense for the customer. And those conversations are happening,” says Rob Novotny, Boeing’s director of F-15 business development.

Boeing has delivered the first three of 104 F-15EXs currently being sought by the U.S. Air Force to replace an aging fleet of more than 200 F-15C/Ds, but that number could still increase. The service originally wanted to buy at least 144 F-15EX fighters.

“We don’t see a break in the production line anytime in the near future,” Novotny says.

The Middle East region also represents options for new orders, especially among the type’s existing operators in Israel, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

A possible Foreign Military Sale of the F-15EX has been under discussion for years, but is currently on pause as government officials in Tel Aviv remain focused on the aftermath of the Oct. 7 invasion by Hamas that killed more than 1,400 Israelis.

“Obviously they have bigger issues to work on,” Novotny says. "But I will tell you that everybody currently flying F-15s is always talking with the OEM.”

Saudi Arabia also needs a replacement for an aging fleet of Tornado fighters. The Royal Saudi Air Force has been linked to sales discussions with Eurofighter and Dassault, but Novotny says Boeing is also interested in further F-15 sales to Riyadh.

“I’m optimistic. The Saudi Arabian air force is one of the largest F-15 fleets in the world,” he says. “I would be thrilled if we could get either mods or new airplanes in there for them, if that’s something they want.”

Boeing also has offered the F-15EX to several countries outside the Middle East. Indonesia signed a nonbinding commitment with Boeing to order the F-15EX in the future. Boeing has also offered the F-15EX to India and Thailand.