Advanced American multirole fighter derived from the F-15 Advanced Eagle export lineage, featuring a digital fly-by-wire system, AESA radar, and a 12-missile air-to-air capacity — replacing the F-15C/D in USAF service from 2024. Key figures: top speed 2,655 km/h, range 3,889 km, service ceiling 18,000 m, max takeoff weight 36,741 kg, unit price $150M, built 17. In service with 3 air forces as of 2026 — Saudi Arabia (84), Qatar (46), United States (8).
| Crew | 1–2 (pilot, WSO) |
| Length | 19.4 m (63.7 ft) |
| Wingspan | 13.1 m (42.8 ft) |
| Height | 5.7 m (18.7 ft) |
| Wing area | 56.5 m² (608.2 sqft) |
| Empty weight | 16,103 kg (35,501 lbs) |
| Max. takeoff weight | 36,741 kg (81,000 lbs) |
| Powerplant | 2 × General Electric F110-GE-129 129 kN each |
| Ejection seat | McDonnell Douglas ACES II |
| Maximum speed | 2655 km/h (Mach 2.65) |
| Operational range | 3,889 km (2,417 mi) |
| Service ceiling | 18,000 m (59,055 ft) |
| Climb rate | 250.0 m/s (820.2 ft/s) |
The Boeing F-15EX Eagle II is the most advanced variant of the F-15 family and a 4.5-generation multirole fighter designed to replace the F-15C/D fleet in USAF service. Rather than a simple upgrade of the original Eagle, it is derived from the F-15 Advanced Eagle — a redesigned export lineage that began with the Saudi F-15SA (first flight 2013) and Qatari F-15QA (2020) — and brings those improvements into U.S. service. Its role is to perform homeland air defense missions and to serve as an affordable, high-payload platform that complements the F-22 and F-35 in contested environments.
Compared to the F-15C/D it replaces, the F-15EX introduces several structural and systemic changes. The airframe is rebuilt for a 20,000-hour service life, roughly double that of the F-15C. The legacy fly-by-wire system is replaced by a fully digital flight control system, which both improves handling and enables activation of two previously dormant outboard wing stations (stations 1 and 9) that were suppressed on older variants for aerodynamic stability reasons. This increases the standard air-to-air loadout from 8 to 12 missiles, with a proposed Advanced Missile and Bomb Ejector Rack (AMBER) system potentially raising capacity to 22. Compared to the F-15E Strike Eagle from which it is derived, the EX brings a more capable AESA radar, a new-generation electronic warfare suite, and an open mission systems architecture that the F-15E's legacy avionics lacked.
The avionics suite is built on an open systems architecture centered on the Advanced Display Core Processor II (ADCP II) mission computer, enabling faster upgrade cycles than the proprietary systems of legacy Eagles. The cockpit features a large area display (10 in × 19 in LAD) for both crew members, replacing the older multi-function displays. Primary sensor is the Raytheon AN/APG-82(V)1 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, a significant step up from the mechanically scanned AN/APG-63(V)1 of the F-15C or the AN/APG-70 of the F-15E. Infrared detection is provided by the Lockheed Martin Legion Pod carrying the AN/ASG-34(V)1 IRST21 infrared search and track sensor.
Electronic warfare is handled by the BAE Systems AN/ALQ-250 Eagle Passive/Active Warning Survivability System (EPAWSS), replacing the older AN/ALQ-135/128 found on previous Eagles. EPAWSS integrates radar warning, threat geolocation, and the AN/ALE-47 countermeasures dispenser into a single coherent system. The aircraft has 25 hardpoints and a maximum payload of 29,500 lb. Internal armament is a 20 mm M61A1 Vulcan cannon. Standard air-to-air weapons include AIM-120 AMRAAM and AIM-9X Sidewinder; air-to-surface options include the AGM-158 JASSM, GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb, and AGM-88 HARM. Propulsion comes from two General Electric F110-GE-129 afterburning turbofans.
The USAF declared initial operational capability on 10 July 2024, with the 142nd Wing in Oregon among the first units to receive the type. The USAF originally planned to procure 144 aircraft; budget projections as of FY2026 estimate a total of 129. Internationally, Israel signed a contract for 25 F-15IA fighters in December 2025. Egypt has entered talks for up to 46 aircraft, and Boeing has proposed 54 units to Saudi Arabia.
The US State Department approved a possible $1.96 billion sale of up to 20,000 APKWS II laser-guidance kits to Saudi Arabia on July 15, split evenly between air-to-air and air-to-ground versions, as Riyadh seeks a low-cost defense against Iranian and Houthi drones.
