The F-15EX Eagle II is one of those rare airplanes that straddle the distance between old-school fighter muscle and the requirements of the warfighting of today. Depending on whom you ask, it’s a retro-homage throwback or an essential piece of the future. The truth is, however, that it’s neither a relic nor a Band-Aid—it’s a purpose-built, highly modernized jet designed for the realities of the nowadays highly complex world of air combat.
Its lineage traces back to the first F-15 Eagle, which made its maiden flight in the early 1970s. The F-15 was then built to dominate the dogfighting world, using energy-maneuverability theory to deliver unmatched agility. Through the years, it evolved in the form of the F-15C/D and multirole F-15E Strike Eagle, each with new technology to stay ahead of the threat. When the U.S. Air Force purchased the F-15EX for the first time in 2020, the mission was straightforward: trade old F-15C/Ds for a more powerful, modernized aircraft that can do a lot more than air-to-air battle.
In terms of performance, the F-15EX is a monster. It can fly up to Mach 2.5, which makes it the fastest U.S. fighter production aircraft today. Its two General Electric F110-GE-129 engines develop nearly 30,000 pounds of thrust each and carry it to a maximum altitude of 60,000 feet. Digital fly-by-wire flight controls—included in the F-15 family for the first time—give the pilots even tighter handling and safety margins, allowing them to make extreme maneuvers similar to those of more sophisticated thrust-vectoring designs. Big touchscreen screens and double Digital Helmet Mounted Cueing Systems in the cockpit offer pilots a good view of the battlefield.
Where the Eagle II excels is in delivering a huge payload—more than 29,000 pounds of ordinance. It can be a dozen AMRAAM missiles or even hypersonic missiles that are 22 feet long. With AMBER racks, it can carry as many as 22 air-to-air missiles, which means it is without peer “missile truck” for supporting stealth fighters by delivering raw firepower from a distance. Its open mission systems architecture enables it to quickly install new sensors and weapons as technology advances.
Its electronic warfare capabilities are impressive as well. Its AN/APG-82(V)1 AESA radar possesses extended-range detection and multitarget tracking, while its EPAWSS (Eagle Passive/Active Warning and Survivability System) provides it with improved threat detection and countermeasures. Brig. Gen. Jason Voorheis described EPAWSS as a game-changer in survivability and lethality, able to detect and identify adversary systems and jam them on its own. Since it’s software-centric, it can be updated in real-time to stay effective against changing threats.
The F-15EX is multi-mission. Air dominance is part of its DNA, but it’s also on the list for use in missions ranging from electronic attack to manned-unmanned teaming. It can be equipped with Next Generation Jammer Pods, which will handle some of the electronic warfare missions that were previously the purview of other aircraft. Its two-seat design provides space for a backseat weapons officer to manage drone formations, extending the jet’s reach without putting it in the most dangerous parts of the battlefield.
Most unconventional of all is its potential as a high-speed air refueler. With “buddy” tanker pods already underway, the F-15EX might be able to top off stealth fighters in much closer range to the battle than large, exposed tankers can, resupplying the front line and sustaining it.
From a cost and logistics standpoint, the F-15EX is a giant benefit. It costs significantly less to buy and support than stealth-specific jets, and it utilizes about 70% of its parts from earlier F-15s. Rotating an F-15C pilot into an F-15EX only requires a couple of weeks, which is little time away from operational squadrons. The Air Force plans to buy at least 144 of them, providing it with a healthy fighter inventory without having to rely exclusively on high-maintenance stealth squadrons.
Globally, the jet has piqued the interest of several allies. Israel purchased 50 F-15IAs, Indonesia purchased 24 F-15IDNs, and Poland is contemplating its position. Qatar and Saudi Arabia already possess sophisticated models of the Eagle, further solidifying the type’s reputation as a capable and adaptable platform.
Its inability to maintain stealth is generally disparaged as its biggest flaw, especially in light of modern long-range air defenses. That’s missing the point, though—the F-15EX isn’t supposed to supplant stealth aircraft. Instead, it complements them, filling roles where stealth isn’t quite as crucial and providing massive firepower, electronic warfare support, and flexible mission profiles. After the air space is cleared, it can do much of the heavy lifting, freeing stealth platforms to be used only for missions to which they’re uniquely suited.
The combination of proven airframe, leading-edge avionics, and next-generation electronic warfare capabilities ensures the F-15EX will be on the battlefield for decades to come. In an era where responsiveness and flexibility are king, the Eagle II shows that speed, payload, and flexibility are just as vital as stealth in shaping air combat’s future.