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Hello everybody. I’d like to re-introduce and suggest the Boeing F-15EX Eagle II for the US Aviation tech tree. It is a next-generation air superiority fighter derived from the McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle. It is a planned replacement for the United States Air Force F-15C/Ds and retains the F-15E’s strike capabilities.
Key Characteristics
- Air Superiority Fighter / Multirole Strike Fighter
- Derived variant of F-15E Strike Eagle for a dedicated Air Superiority Fighter role
- AN/APG-82(V)1 AESA radar
- Two General Electric F110-GE-129 afterburning turbofans
- Largest air-to-air payload capacity
History
DevelopmentIn the 2010s, the United States Air Force was troubled with inadequate numbers of F-22A Raptors to replace the aging fighter fleet of F-15C/D Eagles due to larger budget cuts since the end of the Cold War in 1991. 381 F-22As was planned to produce and replace the fighter fleet but got cut to 187 in 2009, as the Department of Defense transitioned the military doctrine to focus on asymmetric counterinsurgency warfare during the War on Terror. It was not politically possible to restart the F-22A production, given the overwhelmingly expensive startup costs of rebuilding the production line and sourcing replacement parts. The F-35 JSF program faced delays, unable to completely replace the fighter fleet on time. These shortbacks prompted the USAF to establish the new objective of modernizing and retaining adequate numbers of air superiority fighters. Such as F-15C/Ds. It outlined these fighters would have to extend their service to the 2030s, beyond their planned retirement date. The upgrades required include new AESA radar, IRST, and the Eagle Passive/Active Warning Survivability System (EPAWSS). These parts can be found on the existing F-15E Strike Eagles.
Since McDonnell Douglas was merged with Boeing, Boeing has been developing upgrades for the F-15E for foreign export customers, such as the F-15SA and F-15QA. The USAF approached and began discussing with Boeing for the F-15X or Advanced F-15 project, a proposed single-seat variant based on the F-15QA to replace the USAF F-15C/Ds. In addition, Boeing also proposed both single- and two-seat variants: F-15CX and F-15EX. Both shared identical capabilities based on the F-15E and served as the replacement for the F-15C/Ds. Ultimately, the USAF decided to put the F-15EX as the preferred aircraft since the only two-seat F-15E models were in production to save the resources from non-recurring startup costs and to quickly bring additional fighters out of the assembly line into service. Boeing was awarded the contract to develop the F-15EX. Its planned upgrades were expanded to include the revised structure with a service life of 20,000 hours, new cockpit and flight controls, and a new carriage system of up to 22 air-to-air missiles.
DesignThe F-15EX fighter jet retains two seats and incorporates highly digital avionics and protective countermeasures, such as a Large Area Display glass-cockpit, Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System, and modern sensors and software capabilities, including an open systems architecture to facilitate potential future upgrades. It also retains the AN/ALQ-250 EPAWSS that integrates an all-aspect radar warning receiver, threat geolocation, and AN/ALE-47 chaff and flare countermeasures dispenser system. The F-15EX is installed with new APG-82(V)1 AESA radar, allowing the aircraft to multi-target track in an extended longer range. It integrates with an IRST21 sensor that passively threat-detects against low-observable or stealthy threats in the radio-frequency spectrum. These features greatly assist the pilot’s situational awareness and increase survivability, and the WSO can offload the works and support the pilot during complex air superiority missions.
The F-15EX is installed with digital fly-by-wire flight controls and powered by two F110-GE-129 engines, capable of generating a thrust of 29,500 pounds force each, giving improved maneuverability and handling characteristics and a top speed of Mach 2.5 at certain altitudes.
The F-15EX’s large payload capacity enables a variety of configurations and can potentially be sixteen AIM-120 AMRAAMs and four AIM-9 sidewinders. The F-15EX can mount the LANTIRN and Sniper XR pods, like its F-15E precursor, alongside JDAMs, AGM-88 HARMs, and others to perform ground attacks. With all new changes, including reinforced structure, the F-15EX Eagle is reported as the heaviest variant than the earlier F-15 variants.
Production and United States Air Force ServiceIn July 2020, the Department of Defense ordered the first eight new F-15EXs over three years, and the first F-15EX was built and made its maiden flight on February 2, 2021, at St. Louis Lambert International Airport in secret. In March 2021, the F-15EX flew to Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, and on April 7, 2021, Eagle II was announced and designated as the F-15EX’s official name.
The first two F-15EXs were in the USAF inventory and subjected to conduct weapons separation tests and participate in Northern Edge and Combat Hammer in May and August 2023. The third F-15EX was built and equipped with additional communications equipment and a redesigned forward fuselage specifically for USAF requirements, and it was the first F-15EX to be mounted with the EPAWSS. The F-15EX test program does not cost much time and money, as the F-15EX’s systems were already tested on the previous F-15SA and F-15QA from Saudi Arabia and Qatar. The F-15EX completed weapons trials and mission systems testing in August 2023. The F-15EX will follow and conduct an operational test and evaluation in the planned future schedule.
Since 2020, USAF has announced its plans to replace the F-15Cs of Air National Guards units with the F-15EXs. The 142nd Wing of Oregon became the first to receive its combat-ready operational F-15EX landing at Portland Air National Guard Base on June 5, 2024, reaching the Initial Operational Capability confirmed by the USAF on July 10. It is the first of eighteen F-15EXs to be completed at the St. Louis factory for the Air National Guard’s 142nd Wing in Portland.
Boeing had previously delivered six test F-15EXs to Eglin AFB, starting in 2021, and it had said it plans to pick up the pace to produce two F-15EX per month beginning in 2025 and replace the F-15C units. Nearly 100 operational F-15EXs will be delivered to the USAF by the 2030s. It needs to address the hefty price of the F-15EX, as it has been increasing because of inflation, workforce, and economic conditions.
Although the F-15EX is not survivable against the fifth-generation fighters and advanced threats, the USAF can still supplement and support the F-35A fleet with F-15EXs to serve as homeland defenses, enforcing no-fly zones and delivering standoff weapons in support of allied stealth fighters at the frontline.
Specifications
Boeing F-15EX Eagle IIGeneral Characteristics
- Crew: 2 (Pilot and Weapon Systems Officer)
- Length: 63 ft and 9.6 in (19.45 m)
- Height: 18 ft and 6 in (5.64 m)
- Wingspan: 42 ft and 9.6 in (13.05 m)
- Wing Area: 608 sq ft (56.5 sq m)
- Powerplant: 2 x Pratt & Whitney F110-GE-229 afterburning turbofan jet engines
→ 59,000 lbf (262 kN) thrust A/B
→ 34,150 lbs (152 kN) thrust dry- Internal Fuel: 12,915 lb (5,858 kg)
- Conformal Fuel: 22,267 lb (10,100 kg)
- Empty Weight: 34,600 lbs (15,694 kg)
- Max.Takeoff Weight: 81,000 lbs (36,741 kg)
Performance
- Thrust-to-Weight Ratio: 0.93 @ gross weight
- Sea Level Speed: Mach 1.2 (921 mph / 1,482 km/h)
- Critical Altitude Speed: Mach 2.5 (1,650 mph / 2,655 km/h)
- Wing Loading: 113 lb/sq ft (552 kg/sq m)
- Rate of Climb: 50,000 fpm (250 m/s)
- Service Ceiling: 60,000 ft (18,000 m)
- Combat Range: 791 miles (1,272 km)
- Max. Range: 2,400 miles (3,900 km)
Weapons System
- Avionics:
- AN/APG-82(V1) AESA Radar
- AN/ASG-34(V)1 IRST21
- AN/ALQ-250 Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability System
- Guns:
- 20mm M61A1 Vulcan (500 rounds)
- Hardpoints:
- 23 as a total; 12 reserved for A-2-A Missiles in a normal configuration
- Air-to-Air Missiles:
- AIM-9X Sidewinders (Up to 8)
- AIM-120D AARAAMs (Up to 12)
- AIM-260 JATMs (Up to 12; planned to be integrated)
- Air-to-Ground Bombs:
- GBU-31/38 Joint Direct Attack Munitions
- GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb
- Air-to-Ground Missiles:
- AGM-88 HARMs
- AGM-158 JASSMs
- Other:
- AN/AAQ-14 LANTIRN Targeting System pod
- AN/AAQ-33 Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod
- AN/ALE-47 Airborne Countermeasures Dispenser System
See Also
Conclusion | Why it should be in the game
With fourth-generation fighter aircraft in development and introduced to the game, the F-15EX Eagle II would be a significant and potential addition to remain competitive against advanced 4.0 and 4.5 generation fighters. It would carry more air-to-air payload compared to F-22A and F-35A and serve as a potent backup support weapon for the 5th-generation fighters to assist in neutralizing the enemy 5th-generation fighters. Therefore, it would be a potential endgame top-tier asset in its line for the US aviation tech tree until the development and production of the sixth-generation fighter makes an appearance.
- Air National Guard gets service’s first combat-ready F-15EX
- Gov. Kotek attends unveiling of first F-15EX Eagle II advanced fighter jet at 142nd Wing of Oregon Air National Guard - KTVZ
- F-15EX Eagle II Reaches Initial Operational Capability - The Aviationist
- F-15 EX Eagle II Is One Dynamite Fighter (But There Is One Unfixable Problem) | The National Interest
- F-15EX Eagle II: The Fighter Jet the U.S. Air Force Needs - NationalSecurityJournal
- https://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/f-15ex-fighter-jet/?cf-view
- F-15EX Eagle II fires an AIM-120D AMRAAM Air-to-Air Missile for the First Time - The Aviation Geek Club
- F-15EX
- F-15EX Eagle II Archives | Air & Space Forces Magazine
Thank you for taking the time to read my suggestion! 😃
