US and Qatar Finalize Deal for F-15 Training Facility at Idaho Air Base

Historic Agreement Bolsters US-Qatar Defense Ties

The United States and Qatar have officially cemented a deal that will see the Gulf nation establish a dedicated air force facility at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho. The agreement, announced on Friday, October 10, 2025, by US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth alongside Qatari Minister of Defense Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani at the Pentagon, marks a significant step in deepening military cooperation between the two countries.

Under the terms of the agreement, Qatar will fully fund the construction of the facility, which will serve as a training ground for its F-15QA fighter jets and pilots. Secretary Hegseth clarified that while Qatar will build the facility, it will operate within the existing US-controlled base, emphasizing that Qatar will not have its own independent military base on US soil.

Strategic Training and Interoperability

The primary objective of the new facility is to enhance combined training opportunities, increase lethality, and improve interoperability between the US and Qatari air forces. Qatari pilots will train alongside American crews, learning to operate the advanced F-15QA aircraft. The F-15QA, a highly upgraded variant of Boeing's F-15 line, features modernized avionics, enhanced radar capabilities, and improved electronic warfare suites.

This arrangement provides Qatar with crucial strategic flexibility for operating and sustaining its advanced fighter aircraft, particularly given the country's relatively small landmass, which limits its domestic training capabilities. Mountain Home Air Force Base was selected partly due to its desert plateau topography, which is similar to Qatar's arid terrain, offering a suitable environment for realistic training exercises.

Facility Details and Precedent

Plans for the Qatari detachment at Mountain Home Air Force Base date back to at least 2022, with a detailed Environmental Assessment outlining the scope of the project. The proposal includes housing for 12 Qatari F-15QA fighter jets and approximately 300 Qatari and US personnel. The construction or renovation of 23 buildings and 4.2 miles of roadways are also part of the plan, designed to integrate with the existing 366th Fighter Wing.

The US has a precedent for such arrangements; Singapore has maintained a joint training unit with the 428th Fighter Squadron at Mountain Home since 2009, also training its F-15 pilots at the base. This long-standing partnership demonstrates a model for international military cooperation within US facilities.

Broader Context of US-Qatar Relations

The agreement underscores the strengthening defense relationship between Washington and Doha. Qatar is a significant US defense partner, hosting Al Udeid Air Base, the largest US military facility in the Middle East and the forward headquarters of US Central Command. The US has over $26 billion in active government-to-government cases with Qatar under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) system, making Qatar the second-largest FMS partner globally.

Secretary Hegseth also acknowledged Qatar's substantial role as a mediator in recent diplomatic efforts, including the ceasefire and hostage-prisoner swap deal between Israel and Hamas. This military cooperation follows a recent executive order by President Donald Trump guaranteeing Qatar's security.