Kuwait/Qatar: US fighter jet sales bulk up airforces

The State Department has finally given the green light for the sale of fighter jets to Qatar and Kuwait, after long delays which caused mounting frustration both in the Gulf and the United States defence industry. Qatar has been given approval to buy 72 Boeing F-15QA multi-role fighter aircraft and associated weapons at a cost of $21.1bn. This is twice as many planes as had been expected and marks a significant expansion of Qatar’s fleet (it currently has just 18 combat-capable aircraft, including 12 Dassault Mirage fighters).