What You Need to Know: Due to escalating global threats, the U.S. Air Force is pushing for faster production of the F-15EX Eagle II fighter jet. The F-15EX, a highly capable 4.5th-generation fighter, is being prioritized for homeland defense but could also serve in offensive roles, particularly in the Indo-Pacific.

The Amazing That Is the F-15EX: Known for its speed (Mach 2.5), range (2,000 miles), and heavy payload capacity (30,000 lbs of munitions), the F-15EX is critical for modern air superiority. Boeing is under pressure from both the U.S. and Israeli air forces to expedite production, with Israel recently ordering 50 units in a $20 billion deal.

The U.S. Air Force wants its F-15EX Eagle II fighter jets -- and it wants them now. The Pentagon has been pushing Boeing, the manufacturer, for a faster production process as global threats escalate.

Fast-Tracked Production for F-15EX Eagle II 

The F-15EX Eagle II is the latest version of the F-15 fighter jet. Developed mainly due to funding from third countries, the F-15EX is now part of the U.S. Air Force’s fleet, with the first aircraft arriving in operational units during the summer.

In total, the Air Force plans to buy more than 100 F-15EXs. However, the final number is yet to be determined as there has been regular pushback from Congress every time the Air Force has tried to cut down the number of F-15EXsto save money for other programs.

But it isn’t just the U.S. Air Force that has been pushing for quicker deliveries of F-15EX Eagle IIs. The Israeli Air Force ordered 50 aircraft in August. The contract, valued at almost $20 billion, included the upgrade of Tel Aviv’s 25 F-15I fighter jets to the “EX” version. The Israelis need the aircraft as soon as possible to support their military operations in the Middle East.

Boeing has been pushing out aircraft at a good pace thus far.

The F-15EX Eagle II, Explained 

The F-15EX Eagle II is the newest fighter jet in the Air Force’s fleet. Be careful. It isn’t the most advanced, simply the newest. But that doesn’t mean that the latest version of the venerable F-15—the deadliest air superiority fighter jet in modern history—isn’t an extremely capable aircraft.

The Air Force has bookmarked the F-15EX Eagle II for homeland defense missions, giving the aircraft to Air National Guard squadrons. But Air Force planners have left the door open for the latest version of the F-15 to assume more offensive roles. For example, almost 40 F-15EX Eagle IIs are going to be assigned to Kadena Air Base, in Okinawa, which is one of the first lines of defense against Chinese aggression in Taiwan and the wider Indo-Pacific area of operations.

A 4.5th generation fighter jet, the F-15EX Eagle II is a beast of an aircraft with excellent performance and combat capabilities. For example, Boeing’s latest fighter jet can hit speeds of up to Mach 2.5 (or almost 2,000 miles per hour) and has an operational range of around 2,000 miles (a combat radius of 800 miles). These are great numbers for a fighter jet because it means that it can reach targets far away but also remain on the battlefield for a long period of time.

But where the F-15EX Eagle II really shines is in its combat capabilities. The aircraft is simply a beast. It can carry up to 30,000 lbs of air-to-air and air-to-ground munitions. For the sake of comparison, the B-52 Stratofortress, a gigantic strategic bomber, can carry up to 70,000 lbs of munitions, or slightly more than two F-15EX Eagle IIs. In terms of weaponry, the F-15EX can carry a wide range of weapon systems, including some of the newest available in the Air Force’s arsenal.

About the Author: 

Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist specializing in special operations and a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ). He holds a BA from Johns Hopkins University and an MA from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP.

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