Israel’s F-15IA Is the F-15EX With Israeli Tech—Deliveries Start in 2031
In the final days of 2025, the Pentagon announced it would award Boeing a contract to field more than two dozen F-15I fighter jets for Israel. As part of the $8.58 billion arrangement, an option for an additional 25 aircraft was also penned.
When delivered, these Eagle variants will mark the first new F-15s the Jewish state has acquired since 1999. According to reports, the Boeing contract encompasses the design, instrumentation, construction, testing, and delivery of all the fighters, which will be built in St. Louis, Missouri.
The Israeli Ministry of Defense announced that the initial deliveries of the new F-15Is would begin in 2031, noting that “The new F-15IA will be equipped with cutting-edge weapon systems, including state-of-the-art Israeli technologies. The upgraded aircraft will feature enhanced range capabilities, increased payload capacity, and improved performance across various operational scenarios.”
The F-15IA is the Israeli iteration of the F-15EX Eagle II, the newest variant of the McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle. The Eagle II was designed to feature advanced capabilities and to complement the US Air Force’s existing fighters by undertaking roles ranging from air superiority to close-air support.
The F-15EX Eagle II’s Basic Specs
F-15EX Eagle II. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
U.S. Air Force Maj. Aaron Eshkenazi, F-15EX Test Director for the 84th Test and Evaluation Squadron, performs preflight procedures for the F-15EX with Lt. Gen. Michael Koscheski, deputy commander of Air Combat Command, at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, January 29, 2025. During his visit, Koscheski gained valuable insights from the 84th TES and 85th TES to help inform future decisions regarding the platform. The future F-15 fleet will complement 5th generation aircraft, bringing substantial additional capacity for over-sized long-range fires, sensors, and electronic warfare capabilities to defend critical locations in highly contested areas. (U.S. Air Force photo by 1st Lt. Rebecca Abordo)
U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Richard Turner, 40th Flight Test Squadron commander flies 40 FLTS Senior Enlisted Leader, MSgt Tristan McIntire during a test sortie in the F-15EX Eagle II over the Gulf of Mexico on Jun. 14, 2022. Assigned to the 96th Test Wing at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., the F-15EX Eagle II is the Air Force’s newest 4th generation fighter being tested at the 40 FLTS. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. John McRell)
A U.S. Air Force F-15 Eagle II flies during a large show-of-force formation over Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Mar. 6, 2019. CN19 is a long-standing exercise designed to enhance multilateral air operations amongst partner nations and includes humanitarian assistance and disaster relief airlift operations as well as large-force employment. Approximately 2,000 U.S. Airmen, Marines, and Sailors participated alongside approximately 800 RAAF and JASDF members during the exercise. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Senior Airman Xavier Navarro)
Year Introduced: 2021
Number Built: 129+ (ongoing production)
Length: 63.8 ft (19.44 m)
Wingspan: 42.8 ft (13 m)
Weight (MTOW): 81,000 lb (36,740 kg)
Engines: Two General Electric F110-GE-129 afterburning turbofans
Top Speed: 1,650 mph (2,655 km/h) / Mach 2.5
Range: Approx. 2,762 mi (4,445 km)
Service Ceiling: ~60,000 ft (18,300 m)
Loadout: One internally mounted M61A1 20 mm six-barrel cannon with 500 rounds, 23 hardpoints for external fuel and ordnance (29,500 lb payload capacity)
Aircrew: 2 (pilot and weapons systems officer)
More F-15EX Details
While all of the Strike Eagle’s capabilities are considered cutting-edge, the jet’s ordnance power is perhaps its greatest attribute.
In 2024, it was first revealed that the new and improved Eagle iteration would be able to carry up to 12 AMRAAM long-range air-to-air missiles.
Twice the number of its predecessor, this lethality would obviously be a huge bonus for its operators. According to The War Zone, “The latest versions of the F-15 also have a notable ability to carry outsize weapons, including hypersonic missiles, as well as simply larger numbers of legacy weapons.” While a ceasefire between Israel and Iran currently stands, the Jewish state recognizes the importance of possessing air-launched ballistic missiles and other stand-off weapons to counter its number one adversary effectively.
What about the Ra’ams?
Until the new and improved F-15IA fighters arrive in Israel, the IAF will continue to rely on its existing fleet of F-15I “Ra’am” aircraft (in addition to its locally developed F-35 and F-16 fighter variants). The Jewish state acquired its Ra’am fleet in the mid-1990’s to upgrade its aerial fleet.
Unlike the F-15E Strike Eagle from which it is derived, the Ra’am is a dual-role fighter that combines long-range interdiction and air superiority.
The platform may lack stealth, but its speed and range certainly make up for it. The F-15I can fly for nearly 2,800 miles without requiring a mid-air refuel.
In terms of ordnance power, the jet can carry 23,000 pounds of weapons, including both US and Israel-made weapons like the Delilah cruise missile, the Python 4/5 air-to-air missiles, and Spice precision-guided bombs. Coupled with this lethal capability is the Ra’am’s top speed.
The jet can reach speeds in excess of Mach 2.0 (times the speed of sound), powered by a pair of Pratt & Whitney F100-PW series afterburning turbofan engines.
All together, the Ra’am’s range, speed, and armament power have made the platform a critical component of the IAF’s aerial strategy against Iran and its regional proxy affiliates specifically.
While the F-15Is are not going anywhere anytime soon, the addition of the F-15IA will only further serve the IAF’s air dominance.
As explained by The Aviationist, “It is unclear, however, which will be the future composition of the Israeli F-15 fleet and whether the F-15IA procurement will lead to the retirement of the older Baz jets. What is clear is that the F-15 will continue to serve in Israel for decades to come, complementing the F-35 Adir as the main strike platforms.”
About the Author: Maya Carlin
Maya Carlin, national security writer with 19FortyFive, is an analyst with the Center for Security Policy and a former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. She has over 1,000 articles published over the last several years on various defense issues. Carlin has bylines in many publications, including The National Interest, Jerusalem Post, and Times of Israel. You can follow her on Twitter: @MayaCarlin.
