USAF's F-15EX named Eagle II
On 7 April 2021, the US Air Force’s newest fighter, the F-15EX Eagle II, was revealed and named during a ceremony at Eglin AFB (FL).
The Eagle II will be the first USAF aircraft to be tested and fielded from beginning to end, through combined developmental and operational tests. On 12 March 2021, Scramble Magazine reported on the arrival of the new fighter aircraft at Eglin.
The official role of the F-15EX is to meet capacity requirements while bringing diverse technology ensuring the platform's relevance for decades to come. The 96th Test Wing and the 53rd Wing are set to begin test and evaluation efforts. The 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron will work closely with the 40th Flight Test Squadron to integrate testing, start to finish.
It is expected that the USAF will procure up to 144 F-15EXs from Boeing, to replace F-15C/D models. The goal is to increase the F-15 fleet fighter readiness. The 173rd Fighter Wing at Kingsley Field Air National Guard Base (OR) is in line to be the first F-15EX formal training unit in 2024. The first operational F-15EX squadron will function in the Oregon Air National Guard for critical homeland defense alert missions.
Photo: USAF