Behold The Air Force’s Updated F-15 Eagle Family Portrait Including The New F-15EX
The Air Force just took delivery of its first F-15 in 17 years, and that’s a very exciting thing.
The F-15EX advanced Eagle has officially arrived. The first of its kind was accepted by the Air Force yesterday and was subsequently ferried from Boeing's historic St. Louis plant to Eglin Air Force Base in Florida where it will undergo testing. The gravity of the moment cannot be understated. This is the first F-15 to be delivered to the Air Force in 17 years and marks a major shift in fighter procurement that some of us had been begging for, seemingly on deaf ears when it came to the Department of Defense, for many years.
The War Zone broke the F-15X story two and a half years ago. While many couldn't believe it, that original piece, which was very in-depth, remains totally accurate to this day, minus a designation change—the aircraft is now called the F-15EX. You can read all our exhaustive coverage on the program and its aircraft's looming role within the USAF's ranks by clicking here and here. We just reported on it today, in fact.
There really isn't much more to say that hasn't already been said, but the pictures that the USAF has just released are well worth a look. It is truly a back-to-the-future moment for the service's Air Combat Command and it is the first time we have seen examples of all three current USAF Eagle types, the F-15C/D, F-15E, and F-15EX, side-by-side.
Beyond being far more capable than its predecessors, this latest iteration of the Eagle has a 20,000-hour airframe and is likely to be in the inventory for half a century to come—or even longer. The Air Force is focusing on ordering at least 144 to replace the aging F-15C/D fleet, but that could grow. In fact, I bet it will.
Now let's get to the photos:
Contact the author: Tyler@thedrive.com
MORE TO READ
Related
F-15EX’s Future Role As A Hypersonic Missile Truck Touted Officially By The Air Force
The formal delivery of the Air Force’s first new F-15 in years comes as the service is looking at making major changes to its force structure plans.
Related
The Air Force’s New F-15EX Eagle Just Took To The Sky For The First Time (Updated)
The flight comes nearly 50 years after the F-15A first flew. This latest Eagle iteration is set to replace the USAF’s F-15C/D fleet, and maybe more.
Related
Portland Air National Guard Base Will Be Home To The First Operational F-15EX Eagle Unit
The 142nd Fighter Wing will transition to the F-15EX after the schoolhouse in Klamath Falls receives the type.
Related
Let’s Talk About The Air Force Potentially Replacing The F-15E With The F-15EX
It seems like a straightforward idea, but it would be controversial and it points to a bigger role for the F-15 in the U.S. Air Force of the future.
Related