F-15EX Program Chugging Along with More Airplanes Delivered: With constant reports of the F-47 NGAD, an improved F-22 Super, and perhaps an altogether new proposed fighter called the F-55, the F-15EX is not in the news as much these days. But the Eagle II is chugging along in rapid fashion.
The F-15EX is being produced steadily, and its manufacturer, Boeing, is not wasting time getting the new fighter jet to the warfighters.
F-15EX. Image Credit: U.S. Air Force.
F-15EX – Boeing is Looking to Hit Two Jets a Month Production Target
Boeing has now announced a substantial production level for new F-15EXs. Ninety jets have been ordered and are in the pipeline.
The aviation giant believes it can churn out two F-15EXs a month by late 2026. This is a significant positive development since the U.S. Air Force always holds its breath in case a program endures schedule slips and cost overruns. The F-15EX project appears healthy.
Over the last few years, the Air Force has worked on manufacturing improvements that create efficiencies and economies of scale. Workers are well trained and good at their jobs, so they do not need to conduct costly and time-consuming rework processes.
“Factory performance has been improving in recent months, with rework and traveled work rates decreasing month over month, enhancing workflow productivity and supporting factory stabilization,” said Tom Altamuro, Boeing’s director of F-15EX manufacturing and safety, as noted by Defense-Industry.eu.
The manufacturing center in St. Louis, Missouri, is buzzing with activity. Workers meet regularly to discuss problems and quickly create solutions. These “quality power hour” meetings have enhanced the lean manufacturing principles and kept the production lines moving.
Manufacturing also focuses on reducing the “Cost of Rework and Repetitive Scrap,” which is the nickname for the effort to reduce errors and redundancies among workers. This creates a high level of production performance.
Air National Guard Units Cannot Wait to Fly These Warbirds
The F-15EX is targeted for Air National Guard units around the country that are retiring the older F-15s from their inventory. Boeing has delivered the second production lot to the reservists. This will boost the morale of many pilots and ground crews around the country who have been flying and toiling on older Eagles.
The F-15EX Began Its Procurement Journey in 2019
F-15EX Eagle II. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
F-15EX Eagle II. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
F-15EX Eagle II image provided by Boeing.
The F-15EX successfully completed the defense acquisition process starting in 2019 when Congress approved it in the National Defense Authorization Act. The Oregon Air National Guard placed the first order to replace its F-15 C/D squadron. Boeing had already processed the $1.2 billion contract for the earliest lot of the F-15EXs.
The first General Electric F110-GE-129 engine was delivered to the program in 2020. The F-15EX’s maiden flight was in 2021, and the first F-15EX was sent to the Air Force that year.
More About the F-15EX
While the twin-engine F-15EX is not fully stealthy, it does have radar-evading attributes compared to the older fourth-generation Eagle variants. The F-15EX is a multirole, all-weather, day-and-night fighter. The Eagle II can easily fly with and support the F-35, giving valuable wingmen to Lightning II pilots.
The F-15EX features the new Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability System for early warning and electronic warfare capability.
F-15EX Enters the Hypersonic Weapons Race
The Eagle II can carry 12 air-to-air (AMRAAM) missiles, compared to the eight missile capacity of the earlier F-15s. Another great thing about the F-15EX is that it can launch hypersonic missiles up to 22 feet long. The payload capacity is 29,000 pounds.
“It features an open mission systems (OMS) architecture with advanced battle management systems, enabling the rapid integration of the latest aircraft technologies and ensuring the platform’s relevance for many decades, according to Airforce-Technology.com.
The F-15EX also has fly-by-wire controls and an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar that can identify and track multiple targets in the air or on the ground.
The F-15EX is one of the fastest fighter jets in the world. Its top speed is MACH 2.5, and its range is 1,200 nautical miles.
Boeing will keep the production lines going to deliver this hot rod to Air Force units. Critics attack the airplane for not being fully stealthy, but its speed and performance are selling points, and the production lines did not have to be modified that much to restart the building process. This airplane is perfect for the Air National Guard units forced to fly the outdated F-15 family of fighters.
The F-15EX is liable to surprise people who seem to pay more attention to the sixth-generation F-47 NGAD and the new B-21 Raider stealth bomber that receive more media hype.
F-47 NGAD Fighter. Image Credit: Ideogram.
F-47 Fighter from Boeing. Image Credit: U.S. Air Force Screenshot.
Shown is a graphical artist rendering of the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) Platform. The rendering highlights the Air Force’s sixth generation fighter, the F-47. The NGAD Platform will bring lethal, next-generation technologies to ensure air superiority for the Joint Force in any conflict. (U.S. Air Force graphic)
Shown is a graphical artist rendering of the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) Platform. The rendering highlights the Air Force’s sixth generation fighter, the F-47. The NGAD Platform will bring lethal, next-generation technologies to ensure air superiority for the Joint Force in any conflict. (U.S. Air Force graphic)
The F-15EX is arriving at units, and the program administrators have overseen a successful production run over the last six years.
The F-15EX will play a role in Day 3 or Day 4 of an aerial battle in which the F-47 and B-21s destroy air defenses to clear the path for less stealthy but powerful and fast airplanes like the F-15EX. We’ll keep you updated on the manufacturing status of the F-15EX, but so far, the future looks bright for the Eagle II.
About the Author: Dr. Brent M. Eastwood
Brent M. Eastwood, PhD is the author of Don’t Turn Your Back On the World: a Conservative Foreign Policy and Humans, Machines, and Data: Future Trends in Warfare plus two other books. Brent was the founder and CEO of a tech firm that predicted world events using artificial intelligence. He served as a legislative fellow for U.S. Senator Tim Scott and advised the senator on defense and foreign policy issues. He has taught at American University, George Washington University, and George Mason University. Brent is a former U.S. Army Infantry officer. He can be followed on X @BMEastwood.
