US Air Force receives first F-15EX fighter jet

The US Air Force officially accepted the first Boeing F-15EX last week, Boeing said Sunday in a press release.The fighter jet is a two-seat aircraft that is operable by a single pilot. It has fly-by-wire flight controls, digital cockpit displays and advanced avionics systems, including the Eagle Passive/Active Warning and Survivability System, an electronic warfare upgrade that is also being fielded on F-15E models.“This is a big moment for the Air Force,” said Col. Sean Dorey, F-15EX program manager with the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s Fighters and Advanced Aircraft Directorate, responsible for the acquisition, modernization and sustainment of the aircraft.“With its large weapons capacity, digital backbone and open architecture, the F-15EX will be a key element of our tactical fighter fleet and complement 5th-generation assets,” he said. “In addition, it’s capable of carrying hypersonic weapons, giving it a niche role in future near-peer conflicts.”This progress in the F-15EX program also has an effect on the Israel Air Force.Previous reports said the IAF was interested in this specific fighter jet, and this move will allow officials to observe its performance closely.The US Air Force plans to acquire 144 F-15EXs from the company to replace F-15C/D models and refresh the F-15 fleet, Boeing said.

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