F-15 jobs in STL tangled in Mid-East politics

The Boeing Co.’s F-15 assembly line and employees are located in St. Louis, but a decision from the White House could determine how much longer they remain in operation.

President Barack Obama’s administration is considering foreign policy in the Middle East as more countries there place orders for American fighter jets that are being phased out in favor of Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Lightning II.

An order for as many as 72 F-15’s from Qatar has been delayed two years as the U.S. government considers the imbalance such a move might have on Israel’s military. Kuwait also has placed an order now on hold for 28 F/A-18 jets also produced by Boeing in St. Louis.

Boeing is currently filling orders on the F-15 for Saudi Arabia and is scheduled to shut down production in 2019.

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