US Air Force Orders New F-15EXs

Chicago-based aircraft builder said the Air Force plans to purchase as many as 144 of the F-15EX airplanes in the future.

Rob Mark

Thursday, May 14, 2020 at 02:50 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Kimberly Johnson

The F-15EX is a much-updated version of the original airplane that first flew in 1972. Boeing

Key Takeaways:

The US Air Force has ordered eight new F-15EX fighter jets, an advanced version of the 50-year-old F-15 design, with plans to purchase up to 144 in the future.
The F-15EX features significant upgrades including a powerful mission computer, new cockpit displays, a digital backbone, and an advanced electronic warfare system (EPAWSS).
A key advantage of the F-15EX is its ability to carry a large external payload of up to 22 air-to-air missiles, significantly more than stealth aircraft like the F-35 can carry while maintaining stealth.

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The first McDonnell F-15 fighter jet flew back in July 1972, and yet Boeing reported last week that the US Air Force just ordered eight of the airplanes valued at just over $1.1 billion. The reasoning behind why the Air Force would buy a 50-year-old airplane made more sense once Boeing announced the airplanes were actually the newest version of the company’s fourth-generation plus F-15EX fighters. The Chicago-based aircraft builder said the Air Force plans to purchase as many as 144 of the F-15EX airplanes in the future.

The F-15 has always been a spectacular performer, according to Boeing. According to a story published by Air Force magazine, the new EX will include a “substantially more powerful mission computer, new cockpit displays, a digital backbone, and the Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability System (EPAWSS)—an electronic warfare and threat identification system.”