Key Points and Summary – It might seem strange in the stealth era of fighter jets, but the U.S. Air Force is increasing its planned fleet of F-15EX Eagle II fighter jets from 98 to 129, a decision confirmed in the Fiscal Year 2026 defense budget proposal.
-The budget requests $3 billion for 21 new aircraft, with funding for an additional 10 jets included in a draft Reconciliation bill.
-This boost for the fourth-generation “missile truck” comes as the Pentagon is cutting its F-35 procurement request in half to prioritize next-generation programs.
-The new F-15EXs will help equip several Air National Guard units, including the 127th Wing in Michigan, which is retiring its A-10 Warthogs.
Why Buy the F-15EX Eagle II in the Stealth Era?
As part of the Trump administration’s newly released Fiscal Year 2026 defense budget proposal, the United States Air Force will see its fleet of fourth-generation F-15EX Eager II fighter jets grow substantially from 98 to 129 aircraft.
A $3 billion founding allocation announcement was made during a press conference on Thursday, June 26, during which a senior Air Force official confirmed that the F-15EX program would be a major beneficiary of ongoing procurement strategy adjustments.
The news was somewhat surprising given the recent announcement that the Pentagon would reduce its purchases of F-35 fifth-generation fighter jets, slashing procurement from 74 to 47.
Officials confirmed that, as a result of the new procurement strategy, 21 F-15EX jets would be sent to the Michigan Air National Guard’s 127th Wing at Selfridge Air National Guard Base. The planes will replace aging A-10 Warthogs.
The numbers, however, have caused some confusion. As reported by TWZ, 21 additional jets and 98 existing jets totals 119, not 129. The outlet asked the U.S. Air Force for clarification on the matter, and was told the following in response:
“The FY26 PB requests 21 F-15EX aircraft. The currently planned total for F-15EX is 129 aircraft. The total includes F-15EX funding within the draft Reconciliation bill.“
The comment appears to suggest that the actual number of new F-15EX jets being purchased by the United States Air Force is 31, not 21. The outlet offered a prediction for how the jets will be dispersed across other units, too.
“As it sits now, Portland, Fresno, New Orleans, and two squadrons at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa in Japan, are slated to get the F-15EX. This would equate to 90 jets. That left eight for test and evaluation, as well as training, out of the 98 total aircraft inventory,” TWZ reports.
The outlet also noted that if all squadrons were expanded to 21 jets, it would mean a total of 126 aircraft deployed across all units, with Michigan receiving more than the others. That, they said, would leave three jets for testing, evaluation, and training.
Exactly how the planes will be distributed, however, is yet to be confirmed.
Why the F-15EX?
The decision to purchase more fourth-generation fighter jets while reducing procurement of more advanced F-35 jets may seem surprising, but there are benefits.
The F-15EX may not be a stealth fighter, but it is a workhorse built on a trusted platform and fitted with completely modern upgrades.
The F-15EX features the AN/APG-82 AESA radar, the EPAWSS electronic warfare suite, and a digital cockpit.
It can carry up to 29,500 pounds of munitions, including hypersonic weapons, and can launch as many as 22 air-to-air missiles – more than any other U.S. fighter. Lower operational costs also make the F-15EX more attractive.
It is fast, powerful, flexible, and proven – and serves as a cost-effective stopgap as the United States military continues work on its sixth-generation platforms.
F-15EX Eagle II – A Story in Pictures
The F-15EX, the Air Force’s newest fighter aircraft, arrives to 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 Flight Test Squadron and the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron personnel are responsible for testing the aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo/1st Lt. Karissa Rodriguez)
A F-15EX assigned to the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, flies behind a KC-135 assigned to the 465th Air Refueling Squadron, Tinker AFB, Oklahoma, Oct. 15, 2021. In-air refueling allows fighter aircraft to stay airborne for longer periods of time without having to land to refuel. (U.S. Air Force photo by 2nd Lt. Mary Begy)
Image Credit: US Air Force.
F-15EX Eagle II. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
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)
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)
About the Author:
Jack Buckby is a British author, counter-extremism researcher, and journalist based in New York. Reporting on the U.K., Europe, and the U.S., he works to analyze and understand left-wing and right-wing radicalization, and reports on Western governments’ approaches to the pressing issues of today. His books and research papers explore these themes and propose pragmatic solutions to our increasingly polarized society. His latest book is The Truth Teller: RFK Jr. and the Case for a Post-Partisan Presidency.
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