Key Points and Summary on F-15EX – The U.S. Air Force has officially retired its last F-15C/D Eagle fighters from Kadena Air Base in Japan, marking the end of an era for the venerable Cold War air superiority workhorse.
-The aging jets are being replaced by the new, more advanced F-15EX Eagle II.
-While the F-15EX is not a stealth aircraft, it features significant upgrades, including a digital cockpit, advanced electronic warfare systems (EPAWSS), and the ability to carry hypersonic weapons.
-Pilots from Kadena have already begun training on the new multi-role platform, which is expected to begin arriving at the key Pacific base in the spring or summer of 2026.
The F-15EX Eagle II Is Watching China
The last of the United States Air Force F-15Cs made its final flight from Kadena Air Base in Japan earlier this year, marking the end of an era for one of the United States’ most important Cold War-era fighters.
Although the F-15, in all its variants, lacks the features typical of stealth aircraft and is therefore considered a fourth-generation aircraft, the newest F-15EX does incorporate modern avionics and has the ability to network with other aircraft. Its range and payload capacity are also significantly expanded when compared to the base F-15 model.
While the United States Air Force previously indicated that it would like to purchase nearly 150 of the jets, the service may ultimately acquire fewer than 100 of them.
Boeing, the manufacturer of the F-15EX, explains that the newer fighter jet is significantly more advanced than its predecessor F-15 variants. “Building upon a legacy of air dominance, the F-15EX provides digital fly-by-wire flight controls, an all-glass digital cockpit, the latest mission systems and software capabilities, the ability to carry hypersonic weapons, and can leverage existing and future technologies to meet warfighter needs and defeat future threats – head on.”
Although the company acknowledged that jet lacks the stealth features of today’s fifth and sixth-generation aircraft, Boeing says that the F-15EX can operate in highly contested airspace thanks to “advanced radar systems and state-of-the-art avionics, including the Eagle Passive/Active Warning and Survivability System (EPAWSS), [and] a new advanced electronic warfare suite.”
Last summer, the U.S. Air Force announced that the 48 F-15C/Ds that have been stationed at Kadena Air Base would be replaced with the much newer and more advanced F-15EXs, but it did not elaborate on when the first of the new F-15s would be stationed at the base.
However, the 18th Wing’s commander, Brigadier General Nicholas Evans, had previously stated that their rollout would occur sometime in the spring or summer of next year.
“As soon as the first EX arrives here, we’ll bring out the mayors and the city councils and let them see the aircraft firsthand,” the general said. “As we get closer to the timeline, I expect we’ll get more fidelity on exactly when the first couple aircraft will show up,” General Evans added.
No More F-15C?
What will happen to the older fighters, built between 1979 and 1985? “Some of the fighters being retired went to the “Boneyard” at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., while others were sent to other Air Force units, according to the 18th Wing. Kadena also kept a few jets to train weapons loaders and maintainers,” Air & Space Forces, a magazine, explained.
“Additionally, some of the 18th Wing’s Airmen went to Portland Air National Guard Base, Ore., early this year for 60 days of training on both the F-15 and the F-15EX. The training focused on adapting from “an air-to-air exclusive mission to a multirole mission,” to incorporate air-to-ground tactics and advanced weapon systems, the wing said in a release. Given the similarities between the Eagles and the Eagle II, squadrons should be able to switch from the F-15s to F-15EX aircraft with fairly minimal training.”
About the Author: Caleb Larson
Caleb Larson is an American multiformat journalist based in Berlin, Germany. His work covers the intersection of conflict and society, focusing on American foreign policy and European security. He has reported from Germany, Russia, and the United States. Most recently, he covered the war in Ukraine, reporting extensively on the war’s shifting battle lines from Donbas and writing on the war’s civilian and humanitarian toll. Previously, he worked as a Defense Reporter for POLITICO Europe. You can follow his latest work on X.
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