Saudi Arabia Eyes the F-15EX Fighter from Boeing - Aerospace giant Boeing has had a rocky start to 2024. Still, officials from the company are reporting looking to present its F-15EX Eagle II to buyers in the Middle East. The upgraded F-15 variant is being exhibited at the World Defense Show (WDS) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – and the kingdom is among the interested parties.

"World Defense Show is an important event for us to connect with partners and stakeholders, and we are proud to return to this second edition with an increased presence," said Asaad AlJomoai, president of Boeing Saudi Arabia. “The partnership between Boeing and Saudi Arabia spans over nearly eight decades, and we look forward to highlighting Boeing’s strong support to the development of Saudi led-aerospace and defense capabilities in the Kingdom.”

Flight Global first reported that the Royal Saudi Air Force could be looking to update its current F-15SA fleet, while it may seek to acquire upwards of 54 new Eagle IIs. The current fleet could be equipped with new radar and updated electronic warfare equipment.

Saudi Arabia purchased its first F-15C/D-model jet in 1978, and more recently it fielded 84 new-build SA-model fighters, while it is in the process of having 64 older F-15Ss upgraded to an improved SR standard.

Boeing has maintained close ties with the Saudi armed forces. The kingdom operates more than 400 Boeing-built aircraft, backed by training, support, and sustainment services. During WDS 2022, Boeing and SAMI signed a preliminary agreement to form a Saudi Arabia-focused joint venture to provide maintenance, repair and overhaul, and sustainment services for the military rotorcraft platforms operated in the Kingdom.

The aerospace firm's relationship with the Middle East extends back to 1945. Since then, Boeing has established a number of offices across the region including in Riyadh, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, and Kuwait.

"Our commitment to 'Saudiisation,' on working with the [local] industry, was something that we were doing already – we believe in it,” said Torbjorn Sjogren, the company's vice president and general manager of services. He also noted Boeing's long-term involvement via such companies like AECC and Alsalam, according to Flight Global. "Those expectations are more demanding than they have been in the past. We will continue to evolve, and get better."

The F-15EX isn't the only option that Riyadh is considering – at the Eurofighter Typhoon and Dassault Aviation's Rafale are also in the running.

F-15EX: More Than an Upgraded F-15

Boeing has touted the F-15EX's capabilities, describing it as a 21st-century evolution of the proven F-15. The twin-engine, all-weather tactical F-15 has had one of the most successful track records of modern fighters, with more than 100 victories and no losses in aerial combat.

The F-15EX is a two-seat all-weather, multirole fighter that offers enhanced capabilities, including fly-by-wire flight controls, new weapons stations, a new electronic warfare suite, advanced radar and computer, conformal fuel tanks, and a strengthened airframe. The improved F-15EX also features a deep magazine that will allow it to carry a load of advanced weapons – yet with a 28 percent larger payload than the F-15E. At the same time, the fighter will also require only minimal transitional training and little additional manpower from the older versions of the F-15. According to the U.S. Air Force, it has also required little to no infrastructure changes.

It has been estimated that the F-15EX fighter shares about 70 percent of parts with the current F-15Cs and F-15Es that it will be replacing. In addition, the original production lines in St. Louis still in place, while the aircraft's training facilities, maintenance depots, and other infrastructure can be also be readily shifted to F-15EX support.

Saudi Arabia may not be the only Middle Eastern nation interested in the Eagle II. Last year, Israel sent a formal request to the U.S. for 25 of the fighters, with plans to acquire as many as 50 of the aircraft.

Author Experience and Expertise: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].