The F-15EX is set to replace the USAF’s oldest F-15C/Ds. The first two jets will be delivered to the USAF early next year and the other six will be delivered in 2023. All eight will initially be based at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida for testing.
The USAF said that they have requested 12 F-15EX in the fiscal year 2021 budget and plans to purchase a total of 76 over the five year Future Years Defense Program.
Future plans call for as many as 144 aircraft with a ceiling value of nearly $23 billion, Boeing said.
“The F-15EX is the most affordable and immediate way to refresh the capacity and update the capabilities provided by our aging F-15C/D fleets,” said Gen. Mike Holmes, commander of Air Combat Command. “The F-15EX is ready to fight as soon as it comes off the line.”
A two-seat fighter, the F-15EX can carry more weapons than any other fighter in its class, and can launch hypersonic weapons up to 22 feet long and weighing up to 7,000 pounds, Boeing said.
Pilots and mechanics currently operating the legacy F-15s will be able to transition to the F-15EX in a matter of days as opposed to years and with no additional manpower and little to no infrastructure changes.
Though the deal will be funded with US defense aid, a total of $38 billion over the coming decade, the contract is expected to lower the cost of F-15IAs.
Meanwhile, the US State Department approved the sale of 105 F-35 fighters and related equipment to Japan in a deal worth an estimated $23 billion as the country moves to strengthen its naval strike capabilities.
In a statement, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency said Japan requested 63 of the traditional F-35A conventional take-off-and-landing (CTOL) aircraft and 42 of the F-35B short-take-off-and-landing (STOVL) aircraft for its aircraft carriers.
This article has been amended from its original source.
