US Air Force Orders Additional F-15EX Jets Amid Production Disruptions
The US Air Force has awarded Boeing a $2.38 billion contract to manufacture 22 more F-15EX Eagle II fighters, expanding its procurement of aircraft intended to replace aging F-15C and F-15D jets.
The Lot 7 agreement was announced on September 29, ahead of the fiscal year deadline. Despite production disruptions and rising defense industry costs, the Air Force managed to keep all 22 aircraft within available funding using congressionally provided reconciliation funding.
The F-15 Program Office and Boeing reached an agreement that preserved the planned quantity while staying within the available resources, according to Brig. Gen. Timothy Helfrich, portfolio acquisition executive for the Fighters and Advanced Aircraft Directorate.
The award supports near-term manufacturing while the service continues to evaluate its future fighter requirements and acquisition plans. The F-15EX builds on the established F-15 design, introducing updated systems to support the Air Force's fleet modernization.