For decades, the U.S. Air Force trusted the dependable F-15C and F-15D fighter jets to reign supreme in the skies. They bore the air superiority with dependability, but time and shifting threats started revealing their vulnerabilities. With the need to modernize repeatedly aging old-age jets or bring on an entirely newer platform, the Air Force chose the F-15EX Eagle II—an updating of a battle-tested design, engineered to meet today’s needs while being adaptable for tomorrow’s surprises.
Albeit visually similar to the last generation, the F-15EX is indeed a new jet. An advanced attack aircraft, it is equipped with fly-by-wire flight control, all-digital cockpit, and cutting-edge electronic warfare capabilities, among others, such as the Eagle Passive/Active Warning and Survivability System (EPAWSS).
These, together with an enormous payload carriage capacity, render the Eagle II highly operationally superior. Its open architecture systems make it easily integratable with prospective new weapons and avionics, and its hypersonic missile capabilities make it the optimal stakeholder in new tactics planning.
The Eagle II accelerated its development in 2019 when the Air Force knew it was imposing a greater load on its old fleet of F-15s. Rather than continuing to fly older jets, a new generation of aircraft was brought into service that used the well-proven nature of the F-15 with much greater capability. The first F-15EX rolled off Boeing in March 2021, and four aircraft were already in test at Eglin Air Force Base by the end of 2023, ready for fleet-level integration.
The Air Force originally had 144 F-15EXs planned, but budget cuts lowered that to 98. Testing has already shown the aircraft to integrate into other platforms, shoot new missiles, and operate in heavy-threat conditions. Subsequent versions added a cockpit pressure warning system, improved satellite communications, and a new forward fuselage design, indicating the program’s responsiveness to operational input.
The Air National Guard has played a significant role in the F-15EX story. The 142nd Wing in Portland, Oregon, became the first operational unit to receive the jet, marking a milestone in placing next-generation aircraft in the hands of Guardsmen before active-duty units.
Eighteen jets are scheduled for Portland, with additional deliveries planned for Fresno, California, and New Orleans, Louisiana. Community leaders have welcomed the Eagle II as a significant step toward defense at the national level, enhancing readiness for mission and homeland security.
Technically, the F-15EX is a beast. Two F110-GE-129 engines drive the plane to cruise at Mach 2.5 or higher, one of the fastest combat-capable fighters on the planet. It can carry up to 12 air-to-air missiles and launch hypersonic missiles that are 20 feet long. Its APG-82(V)1 AESA radar enables the pilot to locate and identify multiple targets at long ranges, providing him with the tools he needs to respond quickly and effectively to battle.
Budget limitations still dominate the program, however. As one small illustration, only 18 F-15EXs were included in the FY25 defense budget to pair with 42 F-35As, illustrating how tough choices the military must make between modernization and affordability. Budget limitations play into the pace at which older aircraft are phased out of service and new ones go online.
And looming above these problems, however, is the F-15EX as an American pillar of airpower. Its ability to be replaced by stealth aircraft such as the F-35, flexibility in being able to perform a broad array of missions, and adaptability in growing with evolving technology make the aircraft one of the most adaptable aircraft in the inventory. Boeing has called the Eagle II the backbone of future tactical airpower—a title that it well deserves based upon its ability and potential.
With increasing F-15EX aircraft being inducted into the Air Force, not only are they advanced in weapons and systems, but also imbued with America’s illustrious air dominance heritage. The Eagle II is not just any fighter aircraft – it’s a declaration of intent to remain atop the skies come what may.