USAF Conducts First F-15EX Live Fire Missile Test

Wednesday, February 02, 2022 at 03:49 PM ET

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The 40th Flight Test Squadron’s Majors Benjamin Naumann and Mark Smith fly the F-15EX Eagle II preparing to fire an AIM-120D missile during a Weapons System Evaluation Program mission near Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla, Jan. 25, 2022. This was the first live fire performed from the Air Force’s newest aircraft. [Courtesy: U.S. Air Force]

Key Takeaways:

The U.S. Air Force's new F-15EX Eagle II fighter successfully conducted its first live missile test, firing an AIM-120D against an aerial target drone.
This test served as an "end-to-end verification" of the aircraft's entire weapons system, crucial for paving the way for future complex missile shots and operational deployment.
The F-15EX is designed to replace the aging F-15 C/D fleet, featuring upgrades like increased payload, advanced avionics, and electronic flight controls.
The aircraft is undergoing a fast-tracked, combined developmental and operational testing strategy to identify issues early and expedite its readiness for combat units.

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The U.S. Air Force’s newest fighter, the F-15EX Eagle II, successfully conducted a missile test, marking the first time a weapon was live fired from the aircraft, according to the service.

During the January 25 test over the Gulf of Mexico, the fighter’s onboard sensors detected a BQM-167 aerial target drone used in air-to-air weapons system evaluations, and acquired a track. A 335-pound AIM-120D missile was launched, and as it made its way toward the drone, “the shot was determined a [weapons system evaluation program] success, at which point the missile flight was terminated,” the Air Force said.