Boeing’s F-15EX Eagle II fighter jet has achieved initial operational capability with the US Air Force.
Air Combat Command chief Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach announced the achievement at a Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies webinar last week.
The milestone was reached a year later than planned due to production delays. A buffer of one year was later planned for the initial operational capability, which will be completed next month.
Delivered Aircraft
The initial operational capability followed the fulfillment of the criteria for delivering Lot 1B of eight aircraft.
A total of six aircraft have been delivered to Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, for developmental and operational testing, while the Oregon Air National Guard recently received two operational F-15EXs.
The Portland Air National Guard Base in Oregon is expecting 18 Eagle IIs as replacements for the F-15Cs of the 123rd Fighter Squadron.
The US Air Force is expected to procure 90 F-15EXs to replace its aging fleet of F-15C/Ds. In addition, Israel is planning to acquire 50 Eagle IIs.
Upgrades
The F-15EX features many upgrades over its previous iterations, such as a new electronic warfare suite — the BAE Systems Eagle Passive Attack Warning Survivability System.
It also features a fly-by-wire flight control system, a large-area display glass cockpit, and an APG-82 AESA radar.
Additionally, it boasts enhanced weapons carriage, computing power, maneuverability, acceleration, and durability.
“That’s going to be a tremendous platform for us because of its 4th-gen-plus capability and external weapons carriage,” Aviation Week quoted Wilsbach as saying.
“The F-15EX can carry some immense weapons that can go a long way. And so that F-15EX and that F-15E will continue to be important platforms.”