The United States and Qatar have signed a deal for the purchase of F-15 fighter jets with an initial cost of $12bn.
The F-15 is a twin-engine, all weather fighter that is the backbone for the U.S. Air Force’s air superiority and homeland defense missions. Its proven design is undefeated in air-to-air combat, with more than 100 aerial combat victories.
Its two engines provide 58,000 pounds of thrust, which enable the F-15 to exceed speeds of Mach 2.5. Boeing has built more than 1,600 of the aircraft for six countries around the world providing unparalleled interoperability.
The weapon transfer comes just after President Donald Trump signed a deal with Saudi Arabia for almost $110bn in US arms.
It also comes amid a diplomatic row between a Saudi-led bloc of nations and Qatar.
Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Bahrain and a number of other countries severed relations with Qatar, accusing it of supporting armed groups and Iran.
In November, the United States approved possible sale of up to 72 F-15QA aircraft to Qatar for $21.1 billion.