US Air Force F-15EX Eagle II Reaches Initial Operational Capability

Boeing’s F-15EX Eagle II fighter jet has achieved initial operational capability (IOC) with the US Air Force (USAF).

Air Combat Command’s chief. Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach announced the milestone at a Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies webinar last week.

The milestone was reached a year later than planned due to production delays. A buffer of one year was later planned for the IOC, which completes next month.

Delivered Aircraft 

The IOC followed the fulfillment of the criteria for delivering the Lot 1B: eight aircraft.

A total of six aircraft have been delivered to Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, for developmental and operational testing while the Oregon Air National Guard recently received two operational F-15EXs.

The Portland Air National Guard Base, Oregon, is expecting 18 Eagle IIs as replacements for the F-15Cs of the 123rd Fighter Squadron.

A total of 90 F-15EXs are expected to be procured by the USAF to replace its aging fleet of F-15C/Ds. In addition, Israel is planning to acquire 50 Eagle IIs.

Upgrades

The F-15EX features many upgrades over its previous iterations, such as a new electronic warfare suite — the BAE Systems Eagle Passive Attack Warning Survivability System.

It also features a fly-by-wire flight control system, a large area display glass-cockpit, and an APG-82 AESA radar.

Additionally, it boasts enhanced weapons carriage, computing power, maneuverability, acceleration, and durability.

“That’s going to be a tremendous platform for us because of its 4th-gen-plus capability and external weapons carriage,” Aviation Week quoted Wilsbach as saying.

“The F-15EX can carry some immense weapons that can go a long way. And so that F-15EX and that F-15E will continue to be important platforms.”