F-15EX Eagle II
The F-15EX Eagle II is a 4.5-generation heavyweight twin-engine fighter derived from the Strike Eagle / QA, built to haul extreme payloads of air-to-air and standoff munitions, and to serve as the USAF’s new homeland-defense and high-end missile truck.
Boeing’s 4.5-generation twin-engine heavyweight — a direct descendant of the Strike Eagle and the Qatari F-15QA, fielded by the U.S. Air Force as a high-payload standoff missile carrier and homeland-defense interceptor.
Overview
The F-15EX Eagle II is the newest production member of the F-15 family, a twin-engine, two-seat multirole fighter that combines the airframe of the advanced F-15QA with American-specific mission systems. It is optimised to carry an unprecedented air-to-air load — up to 22 medium-range missiles in some configurations — while also hauling large stand-off strike munitions. The USAF acquired the EX to replace ageing F-15C/D Eagles in the air-defense and homeland-defense role and to complement the stealth F-35 during high-intensity operations, where a “missile truck” that can offload large salvos from stand-off ranges is increasingly valued. Poland became the first export customer for the F-15EX “Advanced Eagle” configuration.
Development
Boeing developed the F-15EX by building on the F-15QA, which was originally built for the Qatar Emiri Air Force and first flew in 2019. The U.S. Air Force selected the F-15EX in 2020 as the most cost-effective way to recapitalise the F-15C/D fleet, leveraging the hot production line in St. Louis. The first jet was delivered in 2021, and the type achieved initial operational capability (IOC) in July 2024.[^1] To power the aircraft, the Air Force awarded a $1.6 billion sole-source contract to General Electric for F110-GE-129 engines, which offer commonality with other USAF F-15 and F-16 fleets, as reported by Breaking Defense. The programme of record envisions 98–104 jets for the USAF and the Air National Guard, with full operational capability targeted for 2027.
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