The U.S. Air Force unveils a new version of the F-15 in a record-breaking show of force amid rising tensions between enemy nations.
Dubbed the F-15EX Eagle II, the plane is said to be the most capable jet yet. The F-15EX bombers were purchased by the U.S. military from Boeing in 2020. The military acquired two of the $80 million aircraft in 2021 and has since tested them and trained pilots to fly them.
Technology is taking the F-15 to new heights! Find out how the F-15E Strike Eagle and F-15EX Eagle II will play big roles in the future fighter force. pic.twitter.com/ztv507vz24
— Global Defense Insight (@Defense_Talks) December 19, 2022
“Having been a part of the Eglin F-15EX team from Day One, it’s exciting to see the progress made and new milestones achieved as we work to field the most combat-capable F-15EX,” said Maj. Brett Hughes of the Operational Flight Program Combined Test Force.
The upgraded F-15 is said to carry and launch up to 12 air-to-air missiles, compared to the older aircraft’s maximum capacity of six to eight warheads. With a weapon load capacity of 13.6 tons, it can also carry the highest weight of any F-15 aircraft.
“The F-15EX is a ready-now replacement for the F-15C that includes best-in-class payload, range and speed,” Boeing described in their website. “Designed to deliver value to the U.S. Air Force, the F-15EX will be a backbone fighter for the service – not just today, but for the next several decades. Boeing engineers created hundreds of digital aircraft before cutting any metal, and flew thousands of hours before our first test flight.”
It’s expected that the new plane would fly for at least 20,000 hours. The new aircraft reportedly costs $29,000 on average per flight hour, which is a third less than the F-35.
Up to 76 F-15EX aircraft could be delivered to the Air Force over the next five years, including six more in 2023. The USAF wants 144 of these brand-new weapons in total. The jets are also likely to be equipped with hypersonic missiles and other cutting-edge weapons in the near future.
“The F-15EX is an incredible addition to the USAF inventory,” said Lt. Col. Christopher Wee, commander of the test force. “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.”
