The U.S. Air Force (USAF) plans to more than double its future fleet of Boeing F-15EX Eagle II jets, increasing the planned purchase from 129 aircraft to 267, according to reports by Breaking Defense and Air & Space Forces Magazine.
The revised target includes 24 additional aircraft requested in fiscal year 2027 and would significantly expand the role of the fighter within the Air Force’s future combat fleet.
An Air Force spokesperson said that the larger order will complete the build-up of existing F-15EX units before beginning the replacement of aging McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft.
The Air Force currently operates about 25 F-15EX jets and has already signed contracts with Boeing for more than 100 aircraft.
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The Boeing F-15EX Eagle II is the latest evolution of the F-15 family, which entered service in the 1970s as an air superiority fighter. Despite the growing emphasis on stealth aircraft such as the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II and the future Boeing F-47, the Air Force has continued investing in the updated platform because of its payload capacity, range and flexibility across multiple missions.
Unlike stealth fighters designed to penetrate heavily defended airspace, the F-15EX can carry a significantly larger number of missiles and other weapons, making it attractive for homeland defense missions and operations in the Pacific, where long distances remain a major operational challenge.
The aircraft features fly-by-wire flight controls, upgraded avionics and improved electronic warfare systems compared with earlier F-15 variants.
The expanded purchase could also help the Air Force maintain its target of acquiring at least 72 fighters per year as it attempts to reverse decades of fleet reductions and retire older aircraft faster.
