CNN says Qatari and U.S. sources confirmed a F-15QA Ababil intercepted the 2 Iranian Su-24s “two minutes” away from Al Udeid Air Base and Ras Laffan throughout a low altitude strike run.
On Mar. 2, 2026, the Qatari Ministry of Protection has introduced that the Qatar Emiri Air Drive (QEAF) has shot down two Iranian Su-24 Fencer tactical bombers, with out offering particulars concerning the belongings employed. A brand new report by CNN now mentions {that a} Qatari F-15QA Ababil has been confirmed for the double kill, thus scoring the primary air-to-air victories for one of many Eagle’s most superior variants.
What occurred
Based on CNN’s report, the 2 Iranian Su-24s had been making an attempt to strike Al Udeid Air Base, the Qatari base closely utilized by U.S. forces, and Ras Laffan’s liquified pure fuel processing facility. The sources quoted by the report mentioned the 2 tactical bombers had been “two minutes” away from their targets and had been flying at simply 80 ft to keep away from detection.
A Supply to CNN confirmed these Iranian Su-24s had been certainly shot down by F-15QA. pic.twitter.com/rDDVQigU2S
— Doha (@Doha1389960) March 4, 2026
The Su-24s didn’t reply to Qatari warnings over the radio and had been thus visually recognized and photographed “carrying bombs and guided munitions.” Contemplating the beforehand talked about “time constraints” and “primarily based on the out there proof,” the plane had been “categorised as hostile” and engaged by an F-15QA of the QEAF.
CNN says the Su-24s crashed into Qatar’s territorial waters, with Qatari Overseas Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari saying {that a} search and rescue effort continues to be underway to search for the crews. This incident can be being reported as the primary time Iran has employed its plane to focus on neighboring nations for the reason that starting of Operation Epic Fury/Roaring Lion, as an alternative of drones and missiles.
The involvement of Qatari fighters jets was additionally reportedly confirmed by the U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Workers, Gen. Dan Caine, throughout a briefing on the Pentagon. “Qatari fighters for the primary time have shot down two Iranian bombers on path to their location,” mentioned Caine.
Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani described the incident as “escalatory,” saying it signifies Iran has “no real need” to deescalate the state of affairs. “Reasonably, it seeks to inflict hurt on its neighbors and drag them right into a warfare that isn’t theirs,” Al Thani mentioned.
F-15QA’s First Aerial Victory
As we talked about earlier, the preliminary Qatari assertion was unclear on which particular belongings had been used to intercept the 2 Su-24s. The usage of air defenses was solely explicitly talked about for the ballistic missiles intercepted on the identical day, which left open the potential for fighter plane being concerned.
The QEAF operates three totally different fighter jets: the F-15QA Ababil, the Eurofighter Storm and the Dassault Rafale. The F-15QA is without doubt one of the most superior variants of the F-15 Eagle, and has been used as the bottom for the event of the U.S. Air Drive’s F-15EX Eagle II.
With the F-15QA now confirmed to be the asset employed to shoot down the Su-24s, the spectacular fight file of the F-15 now elevated much more.
Social media are actually arguing whether or not this needs to be nonetheless at 104-0, contemplating solely the kills by the pure fighter A-B-C-D variants, 106-0, contemplating additionally the 2 new kills because the jets are nonetheless F-15s (though one might argue that this rely is lacking the Mi-24 shot down by an F-15E with a GBU-10), and even 106-3, since three F-15E Strike Eagles had been shot down in a pleasant fireplace incident over Kuwait on the identical day, Mar. 2, 2026.
Nevertheless, pleasant fireplace incidents usually are not counted in the direction of that file. In actual fact, in 1995, a Japanese F-15J was shot down by a second Eagle which unintentionally launched an AIM-9L Sidewinder throughout air fight coaching, and that was not counted within the F-15’s fight file.
F-15QA Ababil
In 2017, Boeing was awarded a contract to fabricate 36 F-15QA fighter jets for the Qatar Emiri Air Drive (QEAF). The F-15QA made its first flight on Apr. 14, 2020 and the primary 4 plane had been delivered to the QEAF in 2021.
The F-15QA (Qatar Superior) options new outer wing hardpoints for elevated payload, AN/APG-82(V)1 Superior Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, Joint Helmet-Mounted Cueing Methods (JHMCS) for each the pilot and the Weapon Methods Officer (WSO), 10×19-in Massive Space Shows (LADs) and low-profile Head-Up Show (HUD) in each cockpits, digital fly-by-wire and Basic Electrical F110-GE-129 engines.
In comparison with the F-15C/E, the F-15QA is supplied with the the Missile Method Warning System (MAWS) sensors on the finish of the tail booms and under the cockpit. Formally, it’s not recognized which MAWS system and self-defense suite has been put in within the plane, nonetheless we will see from the pictures that the sensor is similar to the AN/AAR-57A(V) Frequent Missile Warning System (CMWS) produced by BAE Methods that could possibly be likely coupled with the AN/ALQ-239 Digital Electronics Warfare Methods (DEWS), additionally produced by the identical firm.
Primarily based on the F-15QA is the brand new F-15EX, that was developed to deal with a sequence of wants primarily emerged after the Nationwide Protection Technique directed the U.S. armed companies to adapt to the brand new threats from China and Russia. The plane, whereas extraordinarily much like the QA variant, options some US-only capabilities like the brand new AN/ALQ-250 Eagle Passive Lively Warning Survivability System (EPAWSS) digital warfare and digital surveillance system and Open Mission Methods (OMS) structure.
