Today, the U.S. Air Force, with the change of its security landscape in a quite rapid manner, is reviewing the ways it can still keep control of the skies. The F-15EX Eagle II is leading this overhaul – the new fighter is just made to be the gap between the past and the present requirements of high-intensity, modern combat.
The Eagle II is much more than an upgraded aircraft. Based on the rugged F-15E Strike Eagle airframe, it delivers extensive improvements in range, payload, durability, and battlefield awareness. It has an airframe rated for 20,000 flight hours, combined with advanced digital flight controls and a fully glass cockpit that provides pilots with unparalleled situational awareness.
Central to its survivability is the EPAWSS system—Eagle Passive/Active Warning and Survivability System—that assists the pilots in safe navigation even over highly contested airspace.
Among the most significant upgrades is its increased weapons capacity. With 12 air-to-air missile stations, four more than earlier F-15 models, the Eagle II can carry a heavier and more varied load, a formidable threat in dogfighting.
The jet is also capable of accommodating the latest long-range and high-speed weaponry, including hypersonic missiles, JASSM cruise missiles, and LRASM anti-ship missiles. During tests over the Gulf of Mexico, the F-15EX successfully fired AIM-120 AMRAAM and AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles from its new outer wing pylons, demonstrating it was combat-ready right out of the gate. The Air Force is phasing out its older F-15C/D fighters over the next few years, replacing them with 144 F-15EXs.
It’s not just about maintaining squadron numbers—this is about deploying a platform well-suited to today’s mission set and prepared for tomorrow’s challenges. The Oregon Air National Guard is one of the first to convert, with Kingsley Field assuming training duties and Portland as the nation’s first operational F-15EX base. It puts the Guard ahead in air defense for the long haul.
The Eagle II is also leaving its mark around the world. At Kadena Air Base in Japan, 36 F-15EXs will replace 48 aging aircraft under a $10 billion modernization program, intended to enhance forward-deployed U.S. air power.
As tensions in the region increase, the F-15EX offers both firepower and networking sophistication, enabling it to act as a “battle manager” in contested airspace—coordinating missions and supporting operations with precision.
Its adaptability is also a defining characteristic. With two seats, next-generation crew stations, and open mission systems architecture, the Eagle II can function as something other than a fighter—it can be an airborne command center, directing both manned and unmanned aircraft in future “loyal wingman” operations. Its capability to process and react rapidly to battlefield data makes it a key part of the Air Force’s move toward joint, multi-domain operations.
Instead of directly competing with stealth planes such as the F-35, the Eagle II pairs with them. Whereas the F-35 is superior for stealth and cutting-edge sensors, the F-15EX offers unparalleled payload, range, and flexibility. With both types of aircraft, commanders have flexible options for both covert strikes and overt displays of force.
The F-15EX Eagle II is more than a new fighter—it’s a glimpse of the Air Force vision for how it will continue to maintain air dominance in an age of rapidly changing threats. By marrying an established combat track record with the latest innovation, the Eagle II is set to reign supreme in the skies for many years to come.