I think you’re wrong there. Especially given they should add variants of the F-15C and F-15E with AESA, AIM-9X and 120Cs at minimum, but even those are compatible with 120Ds and 260s
AIM-120D and 260 have no-escape ranges for non-stealth aircraft.
So it’ll be better to add them with stealth aircraft that never face non-stealth aircraft. AKA later F-35.
As far as i know the AIM-260’s production rate should be larger than the AIM-120’s by 2028 or smth like that. I think it will be standardized for all new platforms but you might be right. It depends
Wrong, 12 misiles no, up to 20 misiles according to this pictures of the F-15EX.
So F-15EX is an actual misile mothership.
Up to 20 AIM-120s.
Up to 8 AIM-9Xs.
I don’t SEE any pictures of it carryng AIM-9X on the extra pylons.
But still this monster Will be the perfect count when the EF Typhoon gets added with it’s MBDA METEORs, wich btw has 2xtimes the range of the AIM-120D.
Not that I am doubting you on this fact, but do you have sources to back this one? Apart from that photo of an F-15C with mockup dual rack pylons and quad rack pylons for the AARAAMs, the number of 12 missiles is official as far as I can see.
Only the F-22 and F/A-18E/F use the lighter M61A2 in US military service. The F-15EX still has the M61A1 passed down from the F-15E. I don’t think I have heard of an F-15E or F-15EX being fitted with the M61A2 via field modification.
I must admit that a battle between the F-15ES Silent Eagle and the F-15EX Eagle II would be interesting, on one hand you have very good semi-stealth (like what the Su 57 has worse stealth capabilities than the F-15ES) and on the other you have 16 Fox 3s and maybe a slightly better radar