The modern United States Air Force (USAF) finds itself in need of fulfilling a 144-strong fighter gap and the advanced Boeing "F-15EX" has been selected to fill the requirement. This gap emerged after the early termination of Lockheed F-22 "Raptor" 5th Generation Fighters and emerging delays within the Lockheed F-35 "Lightning II" Strike Fighter program, resulting in a need for an all-modern combat aircraft to be had at a manageable cost. Since the F-15 remains in widespread service with the USAF, an evolved form of this same platform was selected as a bridging solution.
The single-seat, twin-engine fighter is a mainstay in the USAF inventory (along with the lightweight Lockheed F-16 "Fighting Falcon") with a long and storied history and unparalleled combat record to boot. The EX-model is a further evolution of the line that began in the 1970s with the original production A-models. In time, the line was expanded to include twin-seat trainer B-models followed by improved F-15C (single-seat) and D-model (twin-seat) aircraft. Japan operates the type as the F-15J and its trainer counterpart as the F-15DJ. The F-15E "Strike Eagle", as its name would suggest, was developed (from the two-seat form) with a focus on precision ground attack.
The F-15EX is being marketed by Boeing as an economical, capable aircraft-hunting platform complete with support for new-generation hypersonic weapons. The product is, itself, an evolution of the earlier F-15X (detailed elsewhere on this site) in which an advanced single-seat version of the twin-seat F-15QA (36 units currently destined for the Qatari Air Force) was developed as a successor to their F-15C and F-15D models in service.
The EX-model is set to feature next-generation systems, components, and onboard technologies to meet current and near-future battlefield threats around the world. Since it is based on the proven framework of the existing F-15, the aircraft will see an expedited development phase in which first-forms will be delivered to the USAF as soon as 2021 for formal evaluation. The EX-model will bring about all of the inherent benefits of the agile, versatile, and supersonic Eagle fighter with all-new capabilities added that will further broaden the battlefield reach of this fine fighter.
Externally, the new aircraft retains the same form-and-function of its predecessors including its single-seat cockpit set aft of a radar-housing nosecone assembly, side-mounted intakes aspirating the side-by-side engine pairing, shoulder-mounted mainplanes, and twin vertical tail fins. A tricycle undercarriage (retractable) will continue to be featured for ground-running operations. up to 80% of the original F-15 will be retained and up to 90% of the same support equipment will be reusable in the new design - driving procurement and maintenance costs down considerably.
The cockpit is set to feature large color Multi-Function Displays (MFDs) with touchscreen capability and these will be a critical part of the aircraft, providing pertinent mission information to the pilot for enhanced situational awareness. Additionally, survivability will be enhanced by way of an integrated Electronic Warfare (EW) suite to better protect against active search, tracking, and engaging radar / missile systems. Automation of onboard functions will also figure into reducing pilot workload and reduce reaction times against threats. Future growth of internal systems is also being built into the F-15EX's design, allowing integration of on-the-horizon components still-to-come.
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July 2020 - The USAF has procured eight examples of the F-15EX fighter. First deliveries are planned for middle-late 2021 with the remainder following in 2023.
August 2020 - The Oregon Air National Guard (ANG) will become the first recipient of the new F-15EX model. The first operational unit is expected in 2023 and the new units will succeed an aging fleet of Eagle C- and D-models.
September 2020 - General Electric has begun deliveries of its F110-129 turbofan engines intended for the F-15EX program.
February 2021 - Boeing has flown the first iteration of its F-15EX platform. The successful flight, spanning some 90 minutes, took place from its St. Louis location on February 2nd, 2021.
March 2021 - The USAF has taken delivery of its first F-15EX platform.
April 2021 - On April 7th, the USAF officially named the F-15EX the "Eagle II".
April 2021 - A second test example F-15EX has been delivered to the USAF at Elgin AFB.
August 2021 - Boeing has revealed its F-15QA entry destined for Qatar; ferry flights are expected to take place before the end of the year.
October 2021 - GE Aviation has been named as the official supplier of F-15EX fleet engines by the USAF.
February 2022 - The USAF has successfully test-fired a missile from the F-15EX.
March 2022 - U.S. Central Command has revealed that it plans to supply Egypt with F-15EX multirole fighters.
Specifications
Boeing Company - USA Manufacturer(s)
Egypt (announced); Qatar (ordered); United States Operators
AIR-TO-AIR COMBAT
General ability to actively engage other aircraft of similar form and function, typically through guns, missiles, and/or aerial rockets.
INTERCEPTION
Ability to intercept inbound aerial threats by way of high-performance, typically speed and rate-of-climb.
GROUND ATTACK
Ability to conduct aerial bombing of ground targets by way of (but not limited to) guns, bombs, missiles, rockets, and the like.
63.8 ft (19.45 meters) Length
42.8 ft (13.05 meters) Width/Span
18.5 ft (5.65 meters) Height
31,967 lb (14,500 kilograms) Empty Weight
81,571 lb (37,000 kilograms) Maximum Take-Off Weight
Monoplane
Design utilizes a single primary wing mainplane; this represents the most popular modern mainplane arrangement.
Shoulder-Mounted
Mainplanes are mounted at the upper section of the fuselage, generally at the imaginary line intersecting the pilot's shoulders.
Swept-Back
The planform features wing sweep back along the leading edges of the mainplane, promoting higher operating speeds.
2 x Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-220 / PW-229 afterburning turbofan engines developing 15,000lb thrust dry and up to 30,000lb thrust with reheat. Propulsion
STANDARD (Fixed, Forward-Firing):
1 x 20mm M61A1 Vulcan internal Gatling gun / cannon.
OPTIONAL:
Support for up to 22 x Air-to-Air Missiles (AAMs) most likely a mix of AIM-9 "Sidewinder" short-ranged AAMs and the AIM-120 AMRAAM medium-ranged AAMs as well as jettisonable fuel tanks and special-mission pods.
9 (some mountings inline / shared) Hardpoints
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Hardpoints Key:
Centerline
Wingroot(L)
Wingroot(R)
Wing
Wingtip
Internal
Not Used
F-15EX "Eagle II" - Base Series Designation.
F-15QA - Export model for the Qatari Emiri Air Force; 72 on order as of August 2021.
General Assessment
Firepower
Performance
Survivability
Versatility
Impact
Values are derrived from a variety of categories related to the design, overall function, and historical influence of this aircraft in aviation history.
Overall Rating
The overall rating takes into account over 60 individual factors related to this aircraft entry.
90
Rating is out of a possible 100 points.
Relative Maximum Speed
Hi: 1900mph
Lo: 950mph
This entry's maximum listed speed (1,864mph).
Graph average of 1,425 miles-per-hour.
City-to-City Ranges
NYC
LON
LON
PAR
PAR
BER
BER
MOS
MOS
TOK
TOK
SYD
SYD
LAX
LAX
NYC
Operational range when compared to distances between major cities (in KM).
Max Altitude Visualization
Design Balance
The three qualities reflected above are altitude, speed, and range.
Aviation Era Span
Showcasing era cross-over of this aircraft design.
Unit Production (144)
144
36183
44000
Compared against Ilyushin IL-2 (military) and Cessna 172 (civilian).
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Images
1 / 1
Image from official Boeing marketing materials.
Similar
Developments of similar form and function or related to the Boeing F-15EX Eagle II...
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