The F-15EX Eagle II takes a mature design and makes it ready for ωɑɾ in the 21st century. Can it take on the best that China or Russia have to offer? And what about the F-35? The McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle first entered service back in 1976, just months before the United States’ bicentennial celebrations.
The F-15EX Eagle II is the latest variant of the renowned F-15 Eagle fighter jet, which has been a staple of the United States Air Force (USAF) for several decades. The F-15EX is an upgraded version that incorporates modern technologies and advanced capabilities, making it the Air Force’s big fighter jet plan.
Here are some key features and highlights of the F-15EX Eagle II:
- Enhanced Capabilities: The F-15EX features advanced avionics, improved radar systems, and modernized sensors, offering enhanced situational awareness and combat effectiveness. It also incorporates the latest mission systems and can carry a larger variety of weapons compared to previous F-15 models.
- Increased Payload and Range: The F-15EX has an increased weapons payload capacity, allowing it to carry more munitions and extend its time on station during missions. It also has a longer range, which enhances its ability to operate in various theaters of operation.
- Advanced Electronic Warfare: The F-15EX is equipped with advanced electronic warfare systems, including electronic countermeasures and defensive measures, to enhance its survivability in contested environments.
- Compatibility and Cost-Effectiveness: The F-15EX is designed to be highly compatible with existing infrastructure and support systems for the F-15 fleet, which reduces training and maintenance costs. Its integration with current USAF platforms facilitates a smooth transition to the new variant.
The acquisition of the F-15EX Eagle II is part of the USAF’s efforts to modernize its fighter aircraft fleet and maintain air superiority. It provides the Air Force with a versatile and highly capable platform that complements the fifth-generation F-22 Raptors and F-35 Lightning II fighters in its inventory.
It’s important to note that my knowledge is based on information available up until September 2021, and there may have been further developments or updates since then. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, I recommend referring to official statements from the United States Air Force or trusted defense publications.
The F-15EX is a two-seat all-weather, multi-role fighter that offers enhanced capabilities that are completely unique to the U.S. Air Force. It includes fly-by-wire flight controls, new ωεɑρσռs stations, new electronic ωɑɾʄɑɾε suite, advanced radar and computer, conformal fuel tanks and a strengthened airframe. The improved F-15EX also features a deep magazine that will allow it to carry a load of advanced ωεɑρσռs – yet with a 28 percent larger payload than the F-15E. At the same time, the fighter will also require only minimal transitional training and little additional manpower from the older versions of the F-15. According to the Air Force it has also required little to no infrastructure changes.
The Air Force has estimated that the F-15EX fighter shares about 70 percent of parts with the current F-15Cs and F-15Es that it will be replacing. In addition, the original production lines in St. Louis still in place, while the aircraft’s training facilities, maintenance depots, and other infrastructure can be also be readily shifted to F-15EX support. The result is the a fighter will be easier to build and quicker to put into service, while it will also result in a platform that can be maintained over an equal number of F-35s.
Boeing has also noted that the F-15EX can enable rapid technology insertion that will ensure the platform’s relevance for decades to come. This will be accomplished via an Open Mission Systems Architecture, which can deliver Advanced Battle Management Systems (ABMS) capabilities, allowing the F-15EX to operate independently while isolated but also to reconnect to the global cloud. The F-15EX made its inaugural flight on Feb. 2, 2021, and last year delivered two of the aircraft to Eglin Air Force Base (AFB) for testing.
The Air Force Wants the F-15EX
As part of the Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) budget, the Air Force will cut the number of F-35s it will acquire and instead will procure additional F-15EXs. The service even opted to surge F-15EX procurement so that it could replace its F-15C/Ds as quickly as possible and lower F-35 procurement until the time where the service can buy the more advanced F-35 Block 4 model.
The United States Air Force may not be the only operator of the F-15EX however. Boeing has announced that it plans to submit the aircraft for the Indian Air Force’s Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA) competition, which was set up to determine the aircraft that could meet the Indian armed force’s requirements. The U.S. government has authorized the aerospace giant to sell F-15 fighter jets to India, and that would be the F-15EX Eagle II variants.
If the submission is accepted, Boeing will face some tough competition from the likes of the Saab Gripen, Russia’s MiG-23 and Su-35 aircraft, as well as France’s Dassault Rafale, Lockheed Martin’s F-21, and the Eurofighter Typhoon.
