Boeing F-15EX / F-15QA and related variants

[martinbayer]

With no rudders or canopy?

It's the cabrio version with the late 1950s reduced tailfins...

 

[Training_Dummy]

Why not just stuff them in the CFTs?

It’s not that easy. Think about how difficult and costly it was to deliver the NGJ-MB. Now we have to redesign and split up the arrays and somehow integrate a functional RAT, power generation and cooling into a conformal OML. I’m not going to bet against the ingenuity of the US defense base but such a thing would in all likelihood be eye wateringly expensive vs adapting NGJ-MB itself or building a derivative but still podded version.

 

[trang]

But that would mean admitting that the USAF needed a new F-15 in the age of the F-35 . An EX sounds like an upgrade--much less threatening PR-wise.

EX sounds like an over-the-counter medication. Embarrassing.

 

[NMaude]

EX sounds like an over-the-counter medication. Embarrassing.

Like, oh, Ex-Lax for example? Or, say, EX-con, EX-spouse or EX-(Insert term).

That's why I refer to it as the F-15F (Which logically should've been designated).

 

[fightingirish]

The F-15EX Eagle II #009 has been rolled out of the paint shop and will be soon delivered to the 142nd Wing, home to Oregon Air National Guard's Redhawks.
Source (X fka twitter):

https://twitter.com/x/status/1904216695855538535

View: https://x.com/BoeingDefense/status/1904216695855538535?t=klmfdqESdG49cj1-1_kOlQ&s=19

 

[Forest Green]

Meink: Air Force 'Probably' Too Small, F-15Es Still Have Value

Air Force Secretary nominee Troy Meink said he wants to study how long fourth-generation fighters like the F-15E can continue to add value.

www.airandspaceforces.com

 

[Scott Kenny]

Meink: Air Force 'Probably' Too Small, F-15Es Still Have Value

Air Force Secretary nominee Troy Meink said he wants to study how long fourth-generation fighters like the F-15E can continue to add value.

www.airandspaceforces.com

For air policing over the USA, they'll serve till the life of the airframe. 2040-ish.
For interception over Europe, likewise.

For deep interdiction:
Over a country without a functional IADS, till the life of the airframe.
Over a country with a semi-functional IADS, they're done.
Over a country with an actual IADS, they were obsolete 10-15 years ago.