F-15EX

F-15EX. The F-15EX Eagle II is a next-generation, all-weather multirole combat aircraft developed by Boeing for the United States Air Force. Designed as a direct replacement for the aging F-15C/D Eagle fleet, it incorporates advanced avionics, enhanced weapons capacity, and an open mission systems architecture. The aircraft is intended to serve as a complementary platform to the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II within the U.S. Air Force inventory, providing significant payload and range advantages for homeland and regional defense missions.

Development and procurement

The program originated from a U.S. Department of Defense requirement to rapidly field a capable aircraft to replace legacy airframes facing structural fatigue. In 2020, Congress authorized the initial procurement through a direct commercial sale with Boeing, bypassing traditional development cycles. This decision was influenced by the strategic need outlined in the National Defense Strategy to bolster the Air National Guard and Pacific Air Forces. The first contract was awarded under the F-15EX program name, with the U.S. Air Force planning to acquire up to 144 aircraft. Key milestones included the maiden flight from Lambert–St. Louis International Airport and subsequent testing at Eglin Air Force Base.

Design and features

The airframe is based on the advanced F-15QA developed for the Qatar Emiri Air Force, featuring a strengthened structure with a service life of 20,000 hours. It is powered by two General Electric F110 afterburning turbofan engines, providing improved thrust and fuel efficiency. A core advancement is the Raytheon-built AN/APG-82 active electronically scanned array radar, offering superior tracking and electronic warfare capabilities. The cockpit integrates a large-area display from Collins Aerospace and features the Open Mission Systems standard, allowing for rapid software upgrades. Its most notable feature is an increased weapons payload, capable of carrying up to 12 AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles or a mix of JDAMs and AGM-158 JASSM standoff weapons.

Operational history

The first two aircraft were delivered to the Florida Air National Guard's 125th Fighter Wing at Jacksonville Air National Guard Base in 2023 for initial operational testing and evaluation. These units are tasked with developing tactics and procedures for the homeland defense mission. Further deliveries are scheduled for the Oregon Air National Guard and the 144th Fighter Wing in Fresno. The aircraft is expected to assume the alert mission formerly held by the F-15C, defending U.S. airspace under the command of the North American Aerospace Defense Command. Future deployments may see the platform operate in the Indo-Pacific theater alongside assets like the E-3 Sentry and KC-46 Pegasus.

Variants

The F-15EX is the sole production variant for the U.S. Air Force. However, its design is directly derived from the F-15QA and the similar F-15SA built for the Royal Saudi Air Force. Boeing has marketed an enhanced version, often referred to as the F-15EX Advanced Eagle, to international customers like Indonesia and Israel, which may include conformal fuel tanks with additional weapon stations and further sensor fusion improvements. These proposals are part of Boeing's strategy to offer a "4.5 generation" alternative to the Lockheed Martin F-35.

Operators

* United States ** United States Air Force – Primary operator. *** Air Combat Command – Oversight for operational testing. *** Pacific Air Forces – Planned future operator. *** Air National Guard – Units in Florida and Oregon are the first to receive the aircraft.

Specifications (F-15EX Eagle II)

Category:United States fighter aircraft 2020–2029 Category:Boeing aircraft Category:Twinjet aircraft