Engineering:Boeing F-15EX Eagle II

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Short description: American all-weather multirole fighter aircraft
F-15EX Eagle II
F-15EX Eagle II.jpg
An F-15EX Eagle II from the 40th Flight Test Squadron flies above Northern California, May 2021.
Role Multirole strike fighter
National origin United States
Manufacturer Boeing Defense, Space & Security
Status Active
Primary user United States Air Force
Produced 2020–present
Developed from McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle

The Boeing F-15EX Eagle II is an American all-weather multirole strike fighter derived from the McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle.[1] The aircraft resulted from the U.S. Department of Defense' Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation (OSD CAPE) study in 2018 to recapitalize the aging F-15C/D fleet due to inadequate numbers of F-22s, delays in the F-35 program, and maintaining diversity in the U.S. fighter industrial base through Boeing's St. Louis division (former McDonnell Douglas). The F-15EX is expected to replace the F-15C/D in performing homeland and air defense missions and also serve as an affordable platform for employing large stand-off weapons to augment the frontline F-22 and F-35.[2] The first aircraft was delivered in 2021 and operational service is expected in July 2024.[3]

Design and development

In 2018, following the OSD CAPE study, the United States Air Force (USAF) and Boeing discussed the F-15X or Advanced F-15, a proposed single-seat variant based on the F-15QA to replace USAF F-15C/Ds. Improvements included the AMBER (Advanced Missile and Bomb Ejector Rack) system to carry up to 22 air-to-air missiles, infrared search and track, advanced avionics and electronic warfare equipment, active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, and revised structure with a service life of 20,000 hours.[4][5] Single- and two-seat variants were proposed, called F-15CX and F-15EX respectively, with identical capabilities. The USAF opted for the two-seat variant, which can be flown either by a single pilot or by a pilot and weapon systems officer (WSO) for complex missions and, someday, controlling collaborative combat aircraft. One reason for this decision is that only two–seat F-15 models remained in production.[6][7]

A F-15EX on the assembly line, July 2020

The USAF bought the F-15EX to maintain fleet size as F-22 production ended, the F-35 was delayed, and its F-15s aged. Although it is not expected to survive against modern air defenses by 2028, the F-15EX can perform homeland and airbase defense, enforce no-fly zones against limited air defenses, and deploy standoff weapons.[8] In July 2020, the U.S. Defense Department ordered eight F-15EXs over three years for $1.2 billion.[9][10] In August 2020, the USAF announced plans to replace F-15Cs of Air National Guard units in the Florida and Oregon with F-15EXs.[11] The F-15EX made its maiden flight on 2 February 2021.[12] The first F-15EX was delivered to the USAF in March 2021, and was flown to Eglin Air Force Base in Florida for further testing.[13]

The first delivery of the F-15EX at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida

On 7 April 2021, its official name Eagle II was announced.[14] The FY2021 defense appropriations bill funded F-15EX procurement at $1.23 billion for 12 aircraft, bringing total orders to 20 aircraft.[15] By May 2022, the USAF had ordered 144 F-15EXs. It has proposed reducing its orders to 80.[16] The first operational F-15EXs are not to receive conformal fuel tanks.[17] The Air Force's proposed budget for fiscal 2024 includes funds to buy 24 more F-15EXs,[18] which would bring the planned fleet up to 104 aircraft.[18] On 18 April 2023, the USAF announced that the California and Louisiana Air National Guards would replace their F-15C/D fleets with the F-15EX.[19] On 25 May 2023, it was announced that the 173rd Fighter Wing at Kingsley Field ANGB, Oregon, would become a Formal Training Unit (FTU) for the F-35A rather than the F-15EX. Basic F-15 training, for both the F-15E and F-15EX, will instead take place at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base , North Carolina, from 2026 onwards.[20]

Operational history

Potential operators

Israel

The Israeli Air Force ordered 25 F-15IA fighters and plans to upgrade 25 F-15Is to the F-15IA standard.[21]

Indonesia

In February 2022, the U.S. State Department approved the sale of up to 36 F-15IDs and related equipment to Indonesia.[22] As of 21 November 2022, Indonesia's planned purchase of F-15s is in advanced stages and awaiting final sign-off from the government, as stated by the Indonesian Minister of Defense. Speaking after meeting his U.S. counterpart Lloyd Austin in Jakarta, Prabowo Subianto said that Boeing had agreed to the financial offer proposed and he is confident the package is affordable.[23] In June 2023 during a Ministry of Defense press conference it was stated that the contract for the F-15 aircraft is still in the discussion stage with the U.S. government.[24] On 21 August 2023, Boeing and the Indonesian government signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the purchase of 24 F-15EX fighters.[25]

Poland

At MSPO 2023 in September 2023, Boeing pitched the F-15EX to Poland.[26] However, there were no specifics on price or delivery.[27]

Thailand

The Royal Thai Air Force is seeking multirole fighters to replace the F-16A/Bs it has in service. On 31 December 2021, the RTAF Commander-in-chief announced that the Air Force proposes to buy 8 to 12 F-35 Lightning IIs in 2023. On 12 January 2022, the council of ministers approved the first batch of four F-35As.[28] On 22 May 2023, a Royal Thai Air Force source stated that the United States Department of Defense implied it will turn down Thailand's bid to buy F-35As, and instead offer F-16 Block 70 and F-15EX Eagle II fighters.[29]

Variants

F-15EX
Two-seat variant
F-15IA
The F-15IA (Israel Advanced) is a variant for the Israeli Air Force based on the F-15EX.[30] The Israel Defense Forces approved the plan to acquire 25 new-build F-15IA and upgrade 25 F-15Is to the F-15IA standard in February 2020.[30]
F-15IDN
The F-15IDN (formerly F-15ID) is a proposed export version of the F-15EX for the Indonesian Air Force .[25] In February 2022, the U.S. State Department approved the sale of up to 36 F-15IDs and related equipment to Indonesia worth around $13.9 billion.[22]

Operators

 United States
  • United States Air Force – 4 delivered out of 104 planned[31][32][33]
    • 53rd Wing (ACC) – Eglin Air Force Base , Florida[32]
      • 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron
    • 96th Test Wing (Air Force Materiel Command ) – Eglin Air Force Base, Florida[32]
      • 40th Flight Test Squadron
    • 142nd Fighter Wing (ANG) – Portland Air National Guard Base, Oregon (planned for 2025)[34]
      • 123rd Fighter Squadron
    • 144th Fighter Wing (ANG) – Fresno Air National Guard Base, California (planned)[19]
      • 194th Fighter Squadron
    • 159th Fighter Wing (ANG) – Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans, Louisiana (planned)[19]
      • 122nd Fighter Squadron

Specifications (F-15EX)

Data from Air and Space Forces Magazine,[35] USAF Flight Manual (TO 1F-15E-1),[36] General Electric[37][38]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1 or 2 (pilot and weapon systems officer)
  • Length: 63 ft 9.6 in (19.446 m)
  • Wingspan: 42 ft 9.6 in (13.045 m)
  • Height: 18 ft 6 in (5.64 m)
  • Wing area: 608 sq ft (56.5 m2)
  • Airfoil: root: NACA 64A006.6; tip: NACA 64A203[39]
  • Empty weight: 34,600 lb (15,694 kg)
  • Max takeoff weight: 81,000 lb (36,741 kg)
  • Powerplant: 2 × General Electric F110-GE-129 afterburning turbofan, 17,155 lbf (76.31 kN) thrust each dry, 29,500 lbf (131 kN) with afterburner

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 1,434 kn (1,650 mph, 2,656 km/h) / Mach 2.5+ at high altitude
782 kn (900 mph; 1,448 km/h) / M1.2 at low altitude
  • Combat range: 687 nmi (791 mi, 1,272 km)
  • Ferry range: 2,100 nmi (2,400 mi, 3,900 km) with conformal fuel tanks and three external fuel tanks
  • Service ceiling: 60,000 ft (18,000 m)
  • g limits: +9
  • Rate of climb: 50,000 ft/min (250 m/s) +
  • Thrust/weight: 0.93

Armament

  • Guns: 1× 20 mm (0.787 in) M61A1 Vulcan 6-barreled Gatling cannon, 500 rounds of either M-56 or PGU-28 ammunition
  • Hardpoints: 4 wing pylons, fuselage pylons, bomb racks on CFTs with 23 hardpoints with a capacity of 29,500 lb (13,400 kg) of external fuel and ordnance,
  • Missiles:

Avionics

  • Radar:
  • Targeting pods:
  • Countermeasures:
    • BAE Systems AN/ALQ-250 Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability System (EPAWSS) - combined electronic warfare/electronic countermeasures system[43]

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

Related lists

References

  1. ↑ "Boeing: F-15E Strike Eagle". The Boeing Company. http://www.boeing.com/boeing/defense-space/military/f15/. 
  2. ↑ Pawlyk, Oriana (22 March 2019). "Pentagon Buying F-15EX Alongside F-35s to Preserve Diversity, Official Says". Military.com. https://www.military.com/daily-news/2019/03/22/pentagon-buying-f-15ex-alongside-f-35s-preserve-diversity-official-says.html. 
  3. ↑ Tirpak, John A. (2 January 2024). "New F-15EX Fighters—Nos. 3 and 4—Arrive at Eglin for Testing". https://www.airandspaceforces.com/new-f-15ex-fighters-arrive-eglin/. 
  4. ↑ Pawlyk, Oriana (22 July 2018). "Boeing Wants build a new F-15X fighter to the US Air Force". https://www.businessinsider.com/boeing-wants-to-build-a-new-f-15x-fighter-for-the-us-air-force-2018-7?IR=T. 
  5. ↑ Rogoway, Tyler (25 July 2018). "Exclusive: Unmasking The F-15X, Boeing's F-15C/D Eagle Replacement Fighter". http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/22372/exclusive-unmasking-the-f-15x-boeings-f-15c-d-eagle-replacement-fighter. 
  6. ↑ D'Urso, Stefano (10 February 2021). "Here Are All The Details We Noticed In The Photos Of The New F-15EX During Its First Flight". The Aviationist. https://theaviationist.com/2021/02/10/here-are-all-the-details-we-noticed-in-the-photos-of-the-new-f-15ex-during-its-first-flight/. 
  7. ↑ Hunter, Jamie (8 February 2021). "Boeing's Chief F-15 Test Pilot Talks Flying the Air Force's New Eagle on Its Maiden Flight". https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/39145/boeings-chief-f-15-test-pilot-talks-flying-the-air-forces-new-eagle-on-its-maiden-flight?spot_im_redirect_source=share&spot_im_reply_id=sp_JjtET6Vo_article$39145_c_1oHtQU1rYxXvSe2dOtDdqslmkyS_r_1oIQVFJVRFp8dIXNSej85XqEc5C&spot_im_highlight_immediate=true&ow_module=conversation. 
  8. ↑ Tirpak, John A. (18 April 2019). "F-15EX vs. F-35A". Air & Space Forces Magazine. https://www.airforcemag.com/article/f-15ex-vs-f-35a/. 
  9. ↑ Tirpak, John A. (29 January 2020). "Air Force Starts F-15EX Buying Process". https://www.airandspaceforces.com/air-force-starts-f-15ex-buying-process/. 
  10. ↑ Gregg, Aaron. "Boeing lands $1.2 billion deal for eight F-15EX fighter jets". The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/07/13/boeing-f15ex-contract/#comments-wrapper. 
  11. ↑ "Air Force announces Guard locations for F-35A, F-15EX U.S. Air Force Article Display". United States Air Force. 14 August 2020. https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2314043/air-force-announces-guard-locations-for-f-35a-f-15ex/. 
  12. ↑ Newdick, Thomas (2 February 2021). "The Air Force's New F-15EX Eagle Just Took to the Sky for the First Time". https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/39027/the-air-forces-new-f-15ex-eagle-just-took-to-the-air-for-the-first-time. 
  13. ↑ Insinna, Valerie (11 March 2021). "The Air Force has its first F-15EX". https://www.defensenews.com/air/2021/03/11/the-air-force-has-its-first-f-15ex/. 
  14. ↑ Newdick, Thomas (7 April 2021). "The F-15EX Is Now Officially Named The Eagle II". https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/40085/the-f-15ex-is-now-officially-named-the-eagle-ii. 
  15. ↑ "Air Force F-15EX Eagle II Fighter Program". https://sgp.fas.org/crs/weapons/R46801.pdf. 
  16. ↑ Huguelet, Austin (7 May 2022). "'Not good for St. Louis': Air Force proposes slashing Boeing St. Louis' F-15EX line". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. https://www.stltoday.com/business/local/not-good-for-st-louis-air-force-proposes-slashing-boeing-st-louis-f-15ex-line/article_e15987ee-7e85-520a-a973-ff55302a71d4.html. 
  17. ↑ Trevithick, Joseph (20 January 2023). "F-15EX First Operational Units Will Not Get Conformal Fuel Tanks". https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/no-conformal-fuel-tanks-for-first-f-15ex-operational-units. 
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Trevithick, Joseph (13 March 2023). "F-15EX Eagle II Total Buy Increases From 80 To 104 In New USAF Budget" (in en). https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/f-15ex-eagle-ii-total-buy-increases-from-80-to-104-in-new-usaf-budget. 
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 Hadley, Greg (18 April 2023). "Air Force Picks New Guard Locations for F-35, F-15EX Fighters". https://www.airandspaceforces.com/air-force-new-guard-locations-f-35-f-15ex/. 
  20. ↑ Hadley, Greg (26 May 2023). "Oregon Guard Base Will Get Third F-35 Schoolhouse". https://www.airandspaceforces.com/f-15ex-f-35-oregon-base-training-unit/. 
  21. ↑ Egozi, Arie (19 January 2023). "Israel formally requests 25 F-15 EX from the US: Sources" (in en-US). https://breakingdefense.sites.breakingmedia.com/2023/01/israel-formally-requests-25-f-15-ex-from-the-us-sources/. 
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 "Indonesia – F-15ID Aircraft". 10 February 2022. https://www.dsca.mil/press-media/major-arms-sales/indonesia-f-15id-aircraft. 
  23. ↑ Lamb, Kate; Teresia, Ananda (21 November 2022). "Indonesia's planned purchase of F-15 jets in final stages, defense minister says" (in en). https://www.reuters.com/world/indonesias-planned-purchase-f-15-jets-final-stages-defence-minister-2022-11-21/. 
  24. ↑ "Tanggapan Terhadap Pemberitaan di Media Tentang Pengadaan Pesawat Mirage 2000-5" (in Indonesian). 15 June 2023. https://www.kemhan.go.id/2023/06/15/tanggapan-terhadap-pemberitaan-di-media-tentang-pengadaan-pesawat-mirage-2000-5.html. 
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 "Indonesia Announces Commitment to Acquire Boeing F-15EX". Boeing. 21 August 2023. https://boeing.mediaroom.com/news-releases-statements?item=131310. 
  26. ↑ Jennings, Gareth (7 September 2023). "MSPO 2023: Boeing pitches F-15EX Eagle II to Poland". https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/mspo-2023-boeing-pitches-f-15ex-eagle-ii-to-poland. 
  27. ↑ Głowacki, Bartosz (7 September 2023). "Boeing offers F-15EX for Poland, but details are scant". https://breakingdefense.com/2023/09/boeing-offers-f-15ex-for-poland-but-details-are-scant/. 
  28. ↑ "ผบ.ทอ. ประกาศซื้อ F-35 อีกครั้ง พร้อม MUM-T เผยเสนอในปีงบ 66 นี้เลย" (in Thai). 31 December 2021. https://thaiarmedforce.com/2021/12/31/rtaf-cnc-insist-in-buying-f-35-and-mum-t/. 
  29. ↑ Nanuam, Wassana (22 May 2023). "US Pentagon set to rebuff Thailand's bid for F-35s". Bangkok Post. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2575890. 
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 Egozi, Arie (18 February 2020). "Israel Buys Stealth & Lotsa Weapons: 2nd Squadron Of F-35s & F-15s". https://breakingdefense.com/2020/02/israel-buys-stealth-lotsa-weapons-2nd-squadron-of-f-35s-f-15s/. 
  31. ↑ Gordon, Chris (16 March 2023). "The Air Force Changed Its Mind on Some Cuts to the F-15EX Buy—But Won't Go Any Farther, Kendall Says" (in en-US). https://www.airandspaceforces.com/the-air-force-changed-its-mind-on-some-cuts-to-the-f-15ex-buy-but-wont-go-any-farther-kendall-says/. 
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 32.2 Everstine, Brian W. (21 April 2021). "Second F-15EX Eagle II Delivered to Eglin". https://www.airandspaceforces.com/second-f-15ex-eagle-ii-delivered-to-eglin/. 
  33. ↑ Trevithick, Joseph (20 December 2023). "Second Pair Of F-15EX Eagle II Fighters Just Delivered To USAF". https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/second-pair-of-f-15ex-eagle-ii-fighter-just-delivered-to-usaf. 
  34. ↑ Chapman, Khalem (6 March 2023). "USAF reconsidering plan to base F-15EX at Kingsley Field". https://www.key.aero/article/usaf-reconsidering-plan-base-f-15ex-kingsley-field. 
  35. ↑ "F-15EX Eagle II". https://www.airandspaceforces.com/weapons-platforms/f-15ex/. 
  36. ↑ TO 1F-15E-1, Flight Manual: USAF Series F-15E Aircraft. Office of the Secretary of the Air Force. 15 April 1993. 
  37. ↑ "GE's F110 engine: Integrated. Certified. Delivered.". https://www.geaerospace.com/propulsion/military/f110. 
  38. ↑ "F110". https://www.mtu.de/engines/military-aircraft-engines/fighter-aircraft/f110/. Retrieved 11 April 2023. 
  39. ↑ Lednicer, David. "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage". U Iillinois. https://m-selig.ae.illinois.edu/ads/aircraft.html. 
  40. ↑ Tirpak, John A. (5 January 2023). "F-15EX Fires Missiles from New Underwing Stations in Successful Tests". Air and Space Forces Magazine. https://www.airandspaceforces.com/bigger-missile-loadout-new-f-15ex-passes-test/. 
  41. ↑ Johnson, Cassandra (12 February 2022). "Legion Pod reaches IOC". https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2931186/legion-pod-reaches-ioc/. 
  42. ↑ "Legion Pod: Multi-function Sensor System". 28 January 2022. https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/products/legion-pod.html. 
  43. ↑ "Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability System (EPAWSS)". https://www.baesystems.com/en/product/eagle-passive-active-warning-survivability-system-epawss. 

External links



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