Boeing awarded $6.2-bn contract for 36 F-15 aircraft by Qatar

Boeing Co has been awarded a $6.2-billion contract for 36 F-15 aircraft for Qatar's air force, the Pentagon said in a statement yesterday.(See: Despite tensions, US inks deal to sell Qatar 36 F-15 jets)

The airplanes, which will be manufactured by Boeing in north St Louis County, are likely to be delivered to Qatar by the end of 2022.

''This contract provides for the foreign military sales requirement to procure 36 new F-15QA aircraft for the Qatar Emiri Air Force,'' the Pentagon said in a statement.

According to commentators, the announcement of the contract is likely to welcomed by the Qatari government and comes amid a diplomatic row between Qatar and a number of its Gulf neighbours, including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.

They point out that while the F-15, an aircraft that was originally developed by McDonnell Douglas, is assembled in St Louis County by Boeing, it will involve a network of dealers, creating jobs.

Qatar's defence ministry said in June that the deal would create 60,000 jobs in 42 US states while reducing the burden on US forces.

They point out that Qatar is an important base for the US military, which is carrying out operations against Islamic State militants and other groups in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan and beyond.

"This contract provides for the foreign military sales requirement to procure 36 new F-15QA aircraft for the Qatar Emiri Air Force," the Pentagon said in a statement.

Though president Donald Trump initially appeared to back Saudi Arabia in the dispute, saying in June that, "the nation of Qatar unfortunately, has historically been a funder of terrorism at a very high level," he appeared to have change course only days later and offered to help the parties settle their differences during a call with the Qatari emir.

"If I can help mediate between Qatar and in particular, the UAE and Saudi Arabia, I would be willing to do so," Trump said in September while appearing alongside the emir of Kuwait.