Boeing gets the first order of the F-15EX

WASHINGTON – The Air Force has placed an official order for its first batch of F-15EX, awarding Boeing a contract Monday that sets a maximum value for the entire program of about $ 23 billion.

The first order for delivery, which is not to exceed $ 1.2 billion in value, covers the first batch of eight F-15EX fighter jets, as well as one-time engineering support and upfront costs.

The award of the contract is a great victory for Boeing and gives a second life to the F-15 production line in St. Louis, Missouri. After years of urging the Air Force to consider an advanced version of the F-15 as a supplemental capability to Lockheed Martin’s F-35, Boeing found an ally in the Defense Department’s Office of Cost Evaluation and Program Evaluation, which in 2019 forced the service to buy F-15EX aircraft to build capacity.

Although Air Force leaders at the time said the service would have preferred funds to buy additional fifth-generation aircraft like the F-35, officials now say that buying new F-15s is the fastest way to replace the old F -15C Air National Guard / Ds that are nearing the end of their useful lives.

“The F-15EX is the most economical and immediate way to upgrade capacity and upgrade capabilities provided by our former F-15C / D fleets,” Gen. Mike Holmes, commander of the Air Combat Command, said in a statement. “The F-15EX is ready to fight as soon as it gets off the line.”

The first two F-15EX aircraft are already being manufactured and will leave the production line early next year, the company said in a press release. They will initially be based at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, for testing, and the remaining six aircraft will be delivered to the base in fiscal year 2023, the Air Force said.

Along with the first eight F-15EXs, which were approved in the fiscal year 2020 budget, the Air Force has requested 12 F-15EXs in fiscal year 21 and plans to request 64 aircraft from fiscal year 22 to fiscal year 25. The The service could buy up to 144 planes, according to Boeing.

The Air Force has not decided which bases will be the first to receive F-15EX aircraft, and the service added in its press release that “the Strategic Base Process is underway to determine field locations for subsequent aircraft batches.” .

The F-15EX will be a two-seat jet with wired flight controls, the new Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability System, an advanced cockpit and new mission systems. But according to the Air Force, the most important update comes in the form of an open mission systems architecture that will allow the service to update F-15 software more quickly.

Another important advantage of buying additional F-15s is the aircraft’s payload capacity, which will allow it to transport and launch hypersonic missiles at long distances.

“The F-15EX is the most advanced version of the F-15 ever built, due in large part to its digital backbone,” said Lori Schneider, Boeing F-15EX program manager. “Its unmatched range, price, and best-in-class cargo capacity make the F-15EX an attractive choice for the United States Air Force.”

Monday’s announcement follows a firm, fixed-price contract worth up to $ 101 million that was awarded to General Electric in late June for the first batch of F-15EX engines. Under the contract, GE will provide “F110-GE-129 engines, which include facilities and spare parts, and modernized computers for the engine monitoring system,” the department said.