USAF Eagle IIs have doubled at Eglin

On 20 December 2023, a new duo of the newest USAF F-15EX fighters arrived at Eglin AFB (FL). Both F-15EX Eagle IIs, 20-0003/ET and 20-0004/OT, were flown from Boeing's St. Louis (MO) plant straight to Eglin.

At Eglin, the 40th Flight Test Squadron, part of the 96th Test Wing and the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron, part of the 53rd Wing are responsible for testing the aircraft.

The new Eagles bring features and capabilities to be tested that the original two jets, 'EX1' and 'EX2', do not have. The cockpit pressure monitor and warning system is a new addition to 'EX3' and 'EX4', as well as an ultra-high frequency antenna for satellite communications.

Although USAF's F-15EX programme at Eglin ends this year with the arrival of the two new aircraft, the combined test wings have kept the first two available jets in the air for a busy 2023.

In May 2023, those two aircraft flew to Alaska and participated in and supported exercise 'Northern Edge 2023'. In June, the F-15EX executed advanced weapons integration missions to ensure the aircraft and various munitions flew and communicated with each other properly. After that, the Eagle IIs flew to Hill AFB (UT), for 'Combat Hammer', where the aircraft successfully employed advanced air-to-ground weapons for the first time.

While the combined test wings at Eglin are scheduled to receive two more F-15EX aircraft in the near future, 2024 will likely bring even more for Boeing and its new Eagles.

With the recently held Dubai Air Show, where an F-15QA from the Qatari Emiri Air Force (QEAF) performed unlikely manoeuvres, and the interest from the Polish Air Force, among others, the Eagle is certainly on the rise. On 12 September 2023, Scramble Magazine wrote about the rise of the new Eagle.

Credit photos: USAF