The annual unfunded lists typically provide Capitol Hill with ammo for boosting the defense budget particularly to buy weapons made in the districts of lawmakers on the defense committees.
The first four lots of jets almost half the total expected buy will not come with conformal fuel tanks, a key part of the operational profile for what the service hopes will be its missile truck going forward.
“Ideally, I'd like to get to higher [fighter procurement rates],” Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown said. “If I had a big blank check, I'd actually take care of it all.”
U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. John McRell/DVIDS
The U.S. Air Force formally took possession of its first new F-15 Eagle fighter jet in nearly 20 years.
The F-15EX will serve as a test and evaluation aircraft as the Air Force continues to take ownership of even more jets.
The Air Force wants at least 200 F-15EX fighters to replace older F-15s.
The U.S. Air Force has finally received its first all-new F-15 Eagle fighter jet in 17 years. On March 11, the F-15EX flew from Boeing’s facility in St. Louis to Eglin Air Force Base in Florida alongside its two older siblings, the F-15C Eagle and F-15E Strike Eagle fighters. The new warplane will join a testing and evaluation squadron at Eglin.
Everything You Need To Know About The Delivery Of The First F-15EX To The U.S. Air Force Last Week
Everything You Need To Know About The Delivery Of The First F-15EX To The U.S. Air Force Last Week
The F-15EX, the Air Force’s newest fighter aircraft, arrives to Eglin Air Force Base, Florida March 11. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)
About a month after its first flight, the F-15EX arrived at Eglin Air Force Base escorted by its older siblings F-15C and F-15E.
The first F-15EX arrived at Eglin Air Force Base (Florida), escorted by its two older siblings, the F-15C Eagle and the F-15E Strike Eagle, on March 11, 2021, a day after the U.S. Air Force officially accepted the aircraft at Boeing’s St. Louis facility. The F-15EX is the first Eagle to be delivered to the Air Force in 17 years after being assessed as a cost-effective and expedient solution to refresh the F‑15C/D fleet and to augment the F-15E fleet.