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2024-04-03

Boeing’s Schultz Reveals Sky-Altering F-15QA Breakthroughs

A recent interview with Kirk Schultz, Regional Director of International Business Development at Boeing Defense, Space & Security, shed light on Boeing’s enduring presence and impactful contributions in the Middle East. The conversation focused on the cutting-edge F-15QA fighter jet, innovative sustainment solutions, and Boeing’s commitment to fostering long-term partnerships in the region.

Schultz highlighted the F-15QA’s evolution into an advanced multirole fighter jet, aligned with the U.S. Air Force’s F-15EX. The F-15QA boasts exceptional payload capabilities, speed, and range, incorporating cutting-edge technologies such as fly-by-wire flight controls, a digital cockpit, and upgraded sensors.

The F-15 Qatar Advanced programme has evolved into an advanced multirole fighter jet that shares a lot of commonalities with the U.S. Air Force’s cutting-edge F-15EX. This alignment encompasses exceptional payload capabilities, speed, and range.

The F-15QA incorporates the latest technologies, such as fly-by-wire flight controls, an all-glass digital cockpit, and upgraded sensors, radar, and electronic warfare capabilities.

Moreover, the F-15QA shares a “digital core” with the F-15EX, ensuring its readiness to seamlessly integrate emerging technologies and systems.

Sustainment Strategies

Boeing is transforming sustainment for Qatar’s air force through Next Generation Product Support, ensuring fleet mission readiness by guaranteeing parts availability.

Notable success includes the performance-based logistics support contract for the C-17 Globemaster, leveraging digital tools like the Aircraft Data Reasoner to anticipate operational challenges and reduce costs.

The company’s Next Generation Product Support has garnered significant interest from air forces in the Middle East. This innovative approach guarantees a predetermined level of fleet mission readiness by ensuring the availability of parts and resources whenever they are needed. As a result, operational efficiencies are achieved, and life-cycle costs are reduced.

One of the most notable performance-based logistics support (PBL) contracts worldwide, according to Schultz, is for the sustainment of the C-17 Globemaster. Countries such as Qatar, the UAE, and Kuwait operate the C-17, undertaking various missions, including impactful humanitarian and relief operations.

Boeing leverages digital tools and data analytics to anticipate potential operational challenges. This proactive approach allows us to invest in parts or replacements in advance, ensuring fleet mission readiness while driving down costs and emissions.

Schultz observed: “In our comprehensive package for the C-17, we have introduced a digital tool called the Aircraft Data Reasoner (ADR). The implementation of ADR has already yielded significant results, with over two million litres of fuel saved across the global C-17 fleet.”

Key Achievements

Boeing platforms like the C-17, AH-64 Apache, and F-15 have achieved significant milestones in the Middle East. Notably, Qatar operates C-17s for humanitarian missions globally, demonstrating the aircraft’s usefulness and impact in crisis situations.

A significant milestone, as per Schultz, is the 15-year service of the C-17 Globemaster III airlifters with the Qatar Emiri Air Force. Qatar made history as the first Gulf Cooperation Council nation to operate these airlifters, with operations commencing in 2008.

DIMDEX also marked the fifth anniversary of the AH-64 Apache helicopters’ service with the Qatar Emiri Air Force (QEAF).

For the past three years, the company has been providing support to the QEAF’s F-15 fighter jet fleet since deliveries began in 2021.

These Boeing platforms have played a crucial role in safeguarding Qatar’s air, land, and sea borders, as well as participating in humanitarian missions worldwide. Qatar’s C-17s have become a vital capability in assisting with humanitarian and disaster relief efforts globally.

Major Partner

Boeing’s presence in the Middle East spans nearly eight decades.

The company serves as a key partner, providing the region with commercial airplanes, defence platforms, and space and security systems. It fosters a robust network, employing nearly 3,000 people across the Middle East and collaborating extensively through joint ventures.

From Boeing satellites enabling communication to a shared interest in space exploration, the future holds immense potential for collaboration between Boeing and Middle Eastern nations.

In the defence sector, Boeing has been a trusted partner since the 1970s. Numerous air forces rely on Boeing’s high-performance aircraft and unmanned aerial systems for defence, surveillance, and humanitarian missions. These platforms include the C-17 Globemaster, CH-47 Chinook, AH-64 Apache, F/A-18 and F-15 fighters, Airborne Warning and Control Systems (AWACS), Insitu ScanEagle drones, and Boeing satellites.

Education and Skills Development

Boeing actively supports science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education initiatives across the Middle East. Since 2012, over US$20 million has been invested in community outreach programmes, benefiting more than 16,000 individuals.

The company collaborates with leading institutions like Qatar University, Khalifa University, and Cairo University on research and development projects.

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