The F-15EX Eagle II, the newest fighter in the Air Force, received its official name and role on April 7, 2021
The name and official role of the F-15EX Eagle II, the newest fighter in the Air Force, were revealed on April 7, 2021. Lt. Gen. Duke Richardson, the Air Force’s military deputy for acquisition, technology, and logistics, presented the F-15EX at a naming and unveiling ceremony at Eglin Air Force Base (AFB).
“Undefeated in aerial combat, the F-15 Eagle epitomized air superiority in the minds of our enemies, allies, and the American people for over 45 years, but it was not meant to fly forever. We heard the demand signal from our warfighters,” Richardson said in 1st Lt. Karissa Rodriguez’s article F-15EX Eagle II unveiled as the newest fighter. “I’m pleased to say we’ve responded boldly and decisively, with a proven platform that’s modernized and optimized to maintain air superiority now and into the future.”
The celebration commemorated the revolutionary new fighter aircraft’s momentous arrival. As part of the Air Force’s overall endeavor to provide the best response capability, this procedure started several years ago.
Brig. Gen. Scott Cain, 96th Test Wing commander, said that “Team Eglin and the 96th Test Wing are proud to be a part of the rich history of this legendary aircraft.”
The F-15EX presented a special opportunity for the testing community since it was the first US Air Force (USAF) aircraft that underwent comprehensive testing and fielding through combined developmental and operational test operations.
The EX’s primary responsibility was to meet capacity needs while offering a variety of technology to keep the platform current for many years to come. The 40th Flight Test Squadron and the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron collaborated closely to integrate testing from beginning to end.
To replace F-15C/D variants, the USAF purchased up to 144 F-15EX aircraft from Boeing increasing the F-15 fleet fighter’s readiness. In 2024, the 173rd Fighter Wing at Kingsley Field Air National Guard Base in Oregon will start serving as the official first F-15EX training unit. For vital homeland defense alert missions, the Oregon ANG will host the first operational F-15EX squadron.
“Since 1985 the F-15 has had a home in the Guard and Guard Airmen have flown these amazing aircraft both in the defense of the homeland and in every major international conflict since the first Gulf War in 1991,” said Lt. Gen. Michael Loh, ANG director.
The F-15EX is the most recent version of the combat-tested F-15, a twin-engine, high-performance, all-weather air superiority fighter renowned for its amazing acceleration and maneuverability.
James S. McDonnell, the company’s founder, christened the F-15 “Eagle” on June 26, 1972. At California’s Edwards AFB, test pilot Irv Burrows launched the first F-15 Eagle into the air on July 27, 1972. The Eagle was given full-rate manufacturing approval by the Air Force six months later.
The F-15 has been made in two-seat B and D and single-seat A and C configurations. The dual-role, two-seat F-15E Strike Eagle fighter can engage both ground and air targets.
In 1991, the F-15C, -D, and -E versions took part in Operation Desert Storm. F-15s attacked Iraqi ground targets while downing 32 of 36 USAF air-to-air victories. During Operation Allied Force in 1999, F-15s downed three Serbian MiG-29 planes while serving in Bosnia in 1994. In the 1990s, they imposed no-fly zones over Iraq. In Operation Enduring Freedom, Eagles also made direct hits on Afghan targets, and in Operation Iraqi Freedom, the F-15E variant flew air-to-ground missions.
With the help of cutting-edge technology, Boeing has continued to develop the F-15, which has racked up 101 aerial victories and 0 defeats in air-to-air combat. Today, in addition to the F-15EX, sophisticated aircraft are also still being produced for a number of international customers.
Photo by U.S. Air Force via This Day in Aviation and Samuel King Jr. / U.S. Air Force