Boeing's F-15EX Is Ready For Production

#F15EX completes structural and vibration testing - literally shaking up the aircraft - to simulate flight conditions and verify that the airframe and its systems will respond appropriately. Next up ➡️ flight tests. pic.twitter.com/PjEgzrGFFt

— Boeing Defense (@BoeingDefense) October 26, 2023

The Aviationist: Boeing Flies Third F-15EX Eagle II, The First Built In Final Operational Configuration  

The F-15EX, designated EX3, is expected to be delivered soon, ahead of the decision for the full rate production. 

After more than two years after the type’s first flight, Boeing flew for the first time the third F-15EX Eagle II, which is also the first to be built in the final operational configuration. 

The aircraft flew only with its primer paint and a small serial number (20-0003) on its twin tails, and will receive its final colors and insignias before the delivery to the U.S. Air Force. 

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Update: Boeing 'launched' the first F-15EX built in final configuration (Bulgarian Military)  

WNU Editor: The price for this version of the F-15EX is $90 million .... Newest F-35, F-15EX contracts are set. Here’s how much they cost. (EXCLUSIVE) (Breaking Defense). More here .... The Newest Air Force F-15EX Fighter Jets Have A $90M Price Tag Each: Report (The Messenger).

If The US Air Force's New F-15ESs Based In Okinawa And Armed With Hypersonic Missiles They Will Be A Huge Threat To Any Chinese Invasion Of Taiwan

An F-15 Eagle takes off during an Aviation Training Relocation at Misawa Air Base in Japan on Dec. 15, 2015. U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Jordyn Fetter

Forbes: U.S. Air Force F-15EXs Flying From Okinawa Could Fire Hypersonic Missiles At Targets 2,000 Miles Away

We don’t know where the U.S. Air Force plans to base its new F-15EX Eagle fighters. But we know where the flying branch should put at least some of the upgraded F-15s.

Kadena Air Force Base in Okinawa. Armed with the new AGM-183 hypersonic missile, the new F-15s could be the most powerful strike aircraft in the Asia-Pacific region—and a huge threat to any Chinese attempt to invade Taiwan.

The Air Force in 2019 surprised observers when it announced it would acquire F-15EXs from Boeing BA -1.7% in order to replace 1980s-vintage F-15C/Ds. The service last bought F-15s—E-models—back in 2001.

The U.S. government in July signed a $23 billion deal that could include as many as 200 F-15EXs. The first planes should enter service in mid-2021.

The Air Force justified the F-15EX deal on the grounds that the nine existing F-15 squadrons—three in the active Air Force and six in the Air National Guard—could re-equip with the new planes in months. Transitioning to F-35 stealth fighters would take years, service officials said.

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WNU Editor: The Air Force is going to have 200 of them. I am sure they will be basing a few in Okinawa.

Picture Of The U.S. Air Force's New F-15EX Eagle Fighter Has Been Posted

We’ve already begun construction of the first two #F15EX jets to deliver to the @USAirForce next year!

Learn more about F-15EX here: https://t.co/DhCxIh7Sib pic.twitter.com/yRreV3d7AU

— Boeing Defense (@BoeingDefense) July 13, 2020

Warzone/The Drive: Here Is Our First Look At One Of Boeing's New F-15EX Eagle Fighter Jets For The Air Force

Air Force just awarded Boeing a contract worth nearly $23 billion related to these aircraft, which includes the purchase of the first lot.

The Air Force has released the first picture of one of its new Boeing F-15EX Eagle fighter jets now under construction. This coincides with the service awarding the Chicago-headquartered plane maker a contract worth nearly $23 billion for work on these jets, $1.2 billion of which will go to the delivery of the first lot of eight aircraft.

The Air Force announced the deal on July 13, 2020. Additional information about the contract was also included in the Pentagon's daily contracting notice.

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Update #1: Boeing lands the first order of the F-15EX (Defense News)
Update #2: DAF awards contract for first lot of F-15EX fighter aircraft (US Air Force)

WNU Editor: It will complement the F-35.

A Look At What The US Air Force Is Getting With Its New F-15EX Fighter

Business Insider/Military.com: What the Air Force is getting with its new F-15EX fighter

* The Pentagon is spending $1.1 billion for eight new F-15EX fighter jets.
* The F-15EX is a fourth-generation-plus aircraft, meaning it's more advanced than previous F-15s but doesn't have the same features as fifth-generation aircraft like the F-35.

The Pentagon is set to buy the first of Boeing's new fourth-gen plus F-15EX fighters. The new purchase will cost the government $1.1 billion for eight of the new aircraft, with more buys to come in later years.

For those wondering why the Air Force would opt to buy an upgraded version of an older fighter instead of more modern, stealth fighters like the F-35, you aren't alone. Even the Air Force was surprised to find out it was getting the F-15EX, let alone 144 of them. Eventually, the F-15EX will replace the aging F-15C/D, and those aircraft will be decommissioned.

The Air Force currently flies 235 aging F-15C/Ds that were in line to either be decommissioned or upgraded. Instead of spending money on those, the Air Force will simply buy newer models.

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WNU Editor: The F-15 has always been an impressive fighter jet. And it looks like the Pentagon wants to continue the program