The F-15EX Eagle II, A Huge ‘Missile Truck’, Operates With F-22s And F-35s
Key Points and Summary
-The F-15EX Eagle II is a two-seat, twin-engine, multi-role fighter aircraft.
-It is a derivative of the Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle. The F-15EX incorporates modern advancements, including “fly-by-wire” flight controls, dual Digital Helmet Mounted Cueing Systems, a large touchscreen display, and additional enhancements, such as the AN/ALQ-250(V)1 Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability System for electronic warfare.
-The F-15 has been a fantastic aircraft for decades.
Master Sgt. Tristan McIntire, 40th Flight Test Squadron, marshals the F-15EX, the Air Force’s newest fighter aircraft, to a stop at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. March 11, 2021. The F-15EX will be the first Air Force aircraft to be tested and fielded from beginning to end through combined developmental and operational tests. (U.S. Air Force photo by Samuel King Jr.)
-Although non-stealthy, the F-15EX retains the dogfighting capabilities to engage fifth-generation fighters.
-But there are questions about whether it could survive against long-range missiles.
Will The F-15EX Retain An Air Superiority Role?
The Office of the Director, Operational Test & Evaluation (DOT&E) gave very high grades to the F-15EX Eagle II in its annual report.
The report noted: “The F-15EX is operationally effective in all its air superiority roles, including defensive and offensive counter-air against surrogate fifth-generation adversary aircraft, as well as basic air-to-ground capability against the tested threats.
“The F-15EX was able to detect and track all threats at advantageous ranges, use onboard and off-board systems to identify them, and deliver weapons while surviving.”
Interestingly, the Air Force retains the Air Superiority role over all others, but the multi-role aircraft is also viable. The fact that it can defeat fifth-generation aircraft speaks volumes about how advanced the F-15 was when it first flew in 1972, some 50+ years later.
Despite not being stealthy, the F-15EX Eagle II is valuable for air superiority missions. It possesses maneuverability and firepower to engage enemy aircraft, particularly in situations where stealth is not a primary concern.
Lt. Col. Richard Turner, 40th Flight Test Squadron commander, pilots the F-15EX, the Air Force’s newest fighter aircraft, to its new home at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida March 11. The aircraft will be the first Air Force aircraft to be tested and fielded from beginning to end through combined developmental and operational tests. The 40th FLTS and the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron personnel are responsible for testing the aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)
Long-Range Missile Threat Is Real
The report did say that some future threats were not addressed. “The mission-level testing did not include some advanced, longer-range threat weapons becoming operational at the time of F-15EX fielding.”
That points to the upgraded Chinese HQ-9 air defenses, which can now hit ranges of 239km. The Chinese are also working on the large PL-17, a long-range air-to-air missile believed to be designed to target tankers or early warning and control (EW&C) aircraft. The PL-17 has an estimated range between 250 and 310 miles. The PL-16 long-range anti-air missile has a range of 190 miles.
My friend Alex Hollings has a couple of intriguing scenarios where the F-15EX could thrive in a modern battlespace against potential Chinese air defenses.
Hollings believes that the F-15EX Eagle II could replace the EA-18 Growler aircraft, as the Navy is ceasing production of the Growler in 2027.
“The U.S. Navy’s EA-18G Growler has nine total hardpoints for weapons, fuel tanks, and jamming equipment with the ability to fly with as much as 17,750 pounds of weapons and gear slung beneath it,” Hollings wrote.
An F-15EX Eagle II, assigned to the 142nd Wing, taxis on the flightline before take-off during the official Unveiling Ceremony for the new fighter jet at the Portland Air National Guard Base, Oregon on July 12, 2024. The 142nd Wing will be replacing the F-15 C/D model Eagles with the new F-15EX Eagle II models. (National Guard photo by John Hughel, Oregon Military Department Public Affairs)
“The Eagle II has 12 hardpoints that it could potentially be used for these sorts of systems (though it can be expanded to a whopping 23 for other weapons) and is capable of taking to the sky with a mind-boggling 29,500 pounds of ordnance and gear onboard,” he added.
Boeing said in June of last year that they were considering integrating the Growler’s new Next Generation Jammer Pods into the Eagle II to convert the fighter into an electronic attack platform capable of not just penetrating contested airspace but increasing the survivability of other 4th and 5th-generation aircraft along the way.
The F-15EX Eagle II Also Has Long-Range Weapons
China isn’t the only one with plans for long-range missiles to fire from aircraft. The US stealthy AGM-158C Long-Range Anti-Ship Missiles (LRASMs) are an intriguing choice for a long-range weapon. F-15Es and EXs armed with LRASMs would significantly boost the Air Force’s ability to engage enemy warships, which could be particularly valuable in any potential future combat in the Indo-Pacific against China.
The AGM-158C-1 is a variant of the LRASM and has a range of 250-300 miles. Lockheed Martin is also working on a C-3 variant that will double the range to 600 miles. These will be fitted on F-15EX Eagle II fighters.
In April of last year, the U.S. Navy, in partnership with Lockheed Martin, successfully conducted a historic Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) flight test with four missiles simultaneously in flight.
F-15EX Eagle II’s from the 40th Flight Test Squadron, 96th Test Wing, and the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron, 53rd Wing, both out of Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, fly in formation during aerial refueling operations with a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 370th Flight Test Squadron out of Edwards Air Force Base, California, May 14. The Eagle II’s participated in the Northern Edge 21 exercise in Alaska earlier in May. (Air Force photo by Ethan Wagner)
During the 12th Integrated Test Event (ITE-12), the U.S. Navy conducted a test in which four LRASMs flew simultaneously, marking a first and demonstrating how the services envision the missiles being used in combat.
Other Armaments Make The Eagle II A Formidable Foe
The F-15EX Eagle II is far more than just an upgraded version of the F-15 that came before it. The aircraft has been equipped with additional missile systems, canons, and other munitions to ensure it is among the most potent fighters ever to take to the skies.
The F-15EX can carry twelve AMRAAM long-range air-to-air missiles. As reported by the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance.
The aircraft can carry up to 22 missiles in total, including the versatile short-range AIM-9X Sidewinder. They can also be fitted with a 20 mm M61 Vulcan Gatling cannon, loaded with 500 rounds of ammunition..
The F-15EX Eagle IIs already have an extended combat range due to having conformal fuel tanks under each wing. In the event of a war with China, the F-15EX Eagle II will pack more than enough power to handle itself.
Although it is not a stealth aircraft, operating alongside F-22s and F-35s, it will be capable of engaging targets at much greater ranges than before, giving US pilots an edge in air-to-air scenarios, as well as targeting ground installations or ships.
About the Author: Steve Balestrieri
Steve Balestrieri is a National Security Columnist. He served as a US Army Special Forces NCO and Warrant Officer. In addition to writing on defense, he covers the NFL for PatsFans.com and is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA). His work was regularly featured in many military publications.
More Military
The U.S. Navy Has a ‘Battleship’ Problem: Enter the Zumwalt-Class
The U.S. Army’s AbramsX Question No One Asks
Russia’s New T-14 Armata Tank Is a Joke
Lkk
September 4, 2025 at 12:49 pm
I think the capabilities of the F-15EX could be perfectly suited to operate in conjunction with stealth aircraft, Link-16 and system of networked sensors. The sensor network could fuse parametric data from multiple sensors to develop highly precise target data. Link-16 then distributes this information over a jam resistant data link to the stealth aircraft for sensor queuing and tracking via its own passive sensors. Link-16 could also be used to coordinate the launching of a long range AAM like AIM-174B (airborne version of the SM-6) from the F-15EX with a handover to the stealth aircraft or any other platform with eyes on the target for midcourse guidance.
This same system of systems could also protect the F15EX from long range AAMs. The networked sensors and the jam resistant Link-16 could provide early warning of a launch of a long range AAM and provide minutes of warning during which it could launch its own AAMs to intercept the launching aircraft as well as the incoming AAM before executing evasion maneuvers.
The F-15EX may be a capable dog fighter but when operated in conjunction with other modern capabilities, it becomes an even more devastating weapon.