F-15EX is a powerful 4.5-generation fighter when converging many factors such as: large weapon load, fast speed and very manoeuvrability… this is considered a “piece of the puzzle”. perfect for the US Air Force besides the F-22 and F-35. This fighter is considered to be invincible on the asymmetrical battlefield.
The F-15EX is the latest and most powerful variant of the legendary American F-15 Eagle fighter. It can be said that this new variant is the synthesis of all the quintessence of the American fighter of the 4.5th generation.
Developed based on the F-15QA multirol fighter, this is an upgraded version from the US F-15E Strike Eagle series sold to Qatar, so the F-15EX has taken full advantage of the advantages of the line. this very successful heavy fighter.
Boeing said that although the F-15EX was developed on the F-15QA version, they were actually developing them silently between 2010-2020.
The F-15EX had a successful test flight on April 14, 2020, shortly after the purchase contract from the US Air Force took place on July 13, 2020 after a thorough inspection by the air force generals. this version.
Specifically, the US Air Force has ordered the first batch of 8 F-15EXS with a total value of $ 1.2 billion. They then approved a plan to purchase another 136 units in the following fiscal years.
The first F-15EX fighters of the batch of & were successfully flown on February 2, 2021, and delivered the first to the US Air Force on March 11, 2021.
On April 7, 2021, the F-15EX was officially named Eagle II.
The US Air Force intends that the F-15EX Eagle II will replace the fleet of F-15C Eagle (air superiority fighter) and F-15E Strike Eagle (multipurpose fighter).
It is easy to see that the cockpit of the 15EX version has been refreshed, applying many achievements from the 5th generation fighter, the F-35.
The F-15EX is also equipped with an active phased array radar (AESA) with extremely high sensitivity to help them easily detect and lock on to the target.
The electronic warfare system on the F 15EX is expected to defeat new types of anti-aircraft missiles and interact well with other US military sensor systems to maximize survivability.
Another outstanding feature of the F 15EX is the weapon payload. While most fighters only carry weapons ranging from 6.5 to 8 tons, the F-15EX can carry up to 14 tons of weapons.
This new version can carry up to 24 missiles, twice as many as the Russian aircraft. Until now, there has not been any fighter capable of carrying so many missiles.
This fighter can carry many missiles due to the special rack type split, this is a new invention of the Boeing, USA weapons manufacturer.
These split-stage launchers allow the 15EX to carry a huge number of missiles while not compromising the aerodynamics of the aircraft too much.
In terms of maneuverability, the F-15EX still maintains a speed of Mach 2.54 thanks to the “modification” of the F100 229 F135 engine, which increases the thrust significantly.
The aircraft’s climbing speed reaches 250m/s, the ceiling is 18.5km while the flight range reaches 3900km.
The M-61A Vulcan cannon is still retained in the wing cavity to help short-range aerial combat, or fight when all missiles are fired.
Boeing said it also applied a special paint that significantly reduced the radar response on the F-15EX.
So although the size of the F-15EX Eagle Il is quite large, the radar exposure is only equivalent to that of a single-engine light fighter.
US military officials confidently said that the F-15EX Eagle Il fighter is the best 4.5 generation fighter in the world.
It can be said that the F-15EX Eagle Il is the perfect piece of the US Air Force next to the F-22 and F-35.
Although it has entered the era of the 5th generation fighter that prioritizes stealth, the disadvantages of this generation of fighters are low weapon load, low mobility and speed. In addition, operating costs are expensive.
On the other hand, with participating in many different battlefields, the US will need a fighter with a large payload, high mobility, and the ability to operate effectively at low cost for non-confrontational battlefields.