F-15EX Proving Its Mettle with More Missiles – You want to talk about the biggest load of missiles for an American fighter? Let’s discuss the F-15EX Eagle II because it is becoming quite the missile truck.

There are two more weapons stations on the Boeing fighter that were tested with two successful missile launches in late November above the Gulf of Mexico.

Comparing the Missile Load to Other Fighters
The F-15EX fired air-to-air missiles in a manner that was deemed satisfactory by the Air Force. This evaluation was noteworthy because now the F-15EX can carry a load of 12 missiles. Other F-15 variants can only deploy eight of the munitions. F-16s have a six air-to-air missile load. Then the F-22 has a capacity for eight missiles, and these are a combination of Sidewinders and AMRAAMs. F-35s have a load of six – four internal and two external. Lockheed Martin plans to increase the missile load with a new F-35 variant.

The extra weapons stations will be affixed to the tips of the wings on the F-15EX. This worked well for the 96th Test Wing that ran the evaluation for the firing. One F-15EX launched an AMRAAM and another fired a Sidewinder during the November test. It happened over the Eglin Test and Training Complex’s water range.

Air Force Commanders Are Convinced About Its Potential
Defense News talked to the commander of the exercise about the F-15EX’s relevance to the Air Force. “The F-15EX is an incredible addition to the USAF inventory,” said Lt. Col. Christopher Wee. “This event, executed by a top-notch team of test pilots, engineers and experts proves yet again that the F-15EX will be ready if, and when, our adversaries challenge our nation’s interests.”

What Would F-15EX Combat Look Like?
This is a significant milestone for the F-15EX to show that it can be an aerial combat stalwart.

There has been some grumbling that since the new Eagle II is non-stealth that it would not make a difference flying over contested air space against an adversary like China. But one way to organize the aerial order of battle would be to allow a B-2 or the new B-21 stealth bomber fly with F-35s or F-22s to take out enemy air defenses.

Then the F-15EX could join the battle on Day Two or Day Three of the conflict and blast away with its missile load in dogfights.

Advantages of the Eagle II
This airplane will be loaded to the max and it has much potential for the Air Force. The F-15EX is a twin-engine multi-role fighter that has fly-by-wire controls, a stronger airframe, and better electronic warfare capabilities. The Eagle II should be able to fly 20,000 hours.

All in the Family
Current F-15 pilots can jump in the cockpit and fire it up without a steep learning curve. Maintenance crews should transition smoothly when it comes to keeping the airplane in the air. The production of the F-15EX may be simplified since it can use the existing factory settings to produce it in numbers. Seventy percent of the parts are the same.

Sensors Make a Difference
The Eagle II is easily upgraded with its open mission system feature. The F-15EX also features the Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability System and the AN/APG-82 radar. The Eagle II is considered a fourth generation “plus-plus” fighter.

The F-15EX is going to Air National Guard units and some pilots have already remarked that flying it is “awesome.”

There Are Some Doubters on Capitol Hill
Not everyone is convinced that the F-15EX should be a major acquisition buy. Congress trimmed its overall order in the coming years from 144 fighters to 80. The FY23 National Defense Authorization Act, funds 24 F-15EXs to enhance the F-15C/D fleet. The buy will be worth $2.3 billion.

The F-15EX is an excellent upgrade over the F-15 C/D. We now know the arms capacity is stellar. The Eagle II can first prove its mettle with Air National Guard units as they put it through its initial paces. The new fighter has many advantages and will excel in homeland defense and have a role to play in potential combat scenarios when it is time to play offense.