F-15EX takes to the skies

The F-15EX multi-role fighter completed its first 90min flight on 2 February, ahead of scheduled delivery of the first pair of aircraft to the USAF later in Q1 2021.

This will be less than nine months after the initial October 2020 contract for Boeing to provide eight F-15EXs (six test aircraft and two fully operational platforms).

For the maiden flight (pictured) from St Louis Lambert International Airport, Boeing F-15 chief test pilot Matt Giese checked the avionics, advanced systems and software.

‘A test team monitoring the data collected during the flight in real time confirmed that the aircraft performed as planned,’ Boeing noted in a statement.

Shephard Defence Insight notes that the F-15EX will be based on the Qatari twin-seat F-15QA configuration upgraded with USAF-specific capabilities, including the Eagle Passive Active Warning and Survivability System and Suite 9.1 Operational Flight Program software.

F-15EX logistics, maintenance, and training will heavily leverage existing F-15 infrastructure.

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Related Programmes in Defence Insight

F-15EX - USAF (Contracted)

F-15EX - USAF (Announced)