Boeing F-15EX / F-15QA and related variants

[Forest Green]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1944007010330009682

View: https://x.com/AirPowerNEW1/status/1944007010330009682

 

[Josh_TN]

Is anyone else familiar with the “LRKCW”? First I’d ever heard of it. Kinda long winded name; makes wonder why they didn’t just throw in “for the warfighter” at the end.

 

[Grey Havoc]

Slightly off-topic, but Japan is cleared to transform 98 of its F-15J Eagles into "Japanese Super Interceptors".
Link: https://www.dsca.mil/major-arms-sales/japan-f-15j-modernization

Unfortunately in the present day:

Tokyo to reduce number of F-15Js to be upgraded

Japan remains committed to an ambitious upgrade programme for its Boeing F-15J fighters but has reduced the number of aircraft involved.

www.flightglobal.com

Japan remains committed to an ambitious upgrade programme for its Boeing F-15J fighters but has reduced the number of aircraft involved.

In its 2025 Defense of Japan white paper, the Japan Ministry of Defense (JMOD) states that 54 examples will be upgraded. Previously, Japanese officials had suggested the upgrade would affect approximately 70 aircraft.

 

[Training_Dummy]

Might be because some of the airframes aren’t worth the cost of upgrading. Article mentions an average airframe life of 37 years for the Japanese F-15s.

 

[Scott Kenny]

Might be because some of the airframes aren’t worth the cost of upgrading. Article mentions an average airframe life of 37 years for the Japanese F-15s.

Any bids for the Japanese wanting some F-15EXJs?

 

[Ozair]

Any bids for the Japanese wanting some F-15EXJs?

Seems unlikely when they have 147 F-35s on order and keen to see GCAP progress.

 

[Scott Kenny]

Seems unlikely when they have 147 F-35s on order and keen to see GCAP progress.

Not disagreeing, but they might be able to get EXJs faster than GCAP.

This is assuming that the F-15Js are running out of life hours, of course.

 

[Ainen]

Not disagreeing, but they might be able to get EXJs faster than GCAP.

This is assuming that the F-15Js are running out of life hours, of course.

Well, JSIs are already going to be a significant part of the overall force, even after reduction. JASDF just isn't that big.

 

[Training_Dummy]

F-15 line is maxed out. EX is a true 4.5 gen airframe but at least half is artisinal and hand built. Who knows though, maybe the Rhino people can lend a hand.

 

[Scott Kenny]

F-15 line is maxed out. EX is a true 4.5 gen airframe but at least half is artisinal and hand built. Who knows though, maybe the Rhino people can lend a hand.

They'd be available at the end of this year, anyways.

 

[BlackBat242]

The last F/A-18E/F - EA-18G is to leave the line in 2027.

But the "number per month" is much lower than it used to be.

 

[Grey Havoc]

Now might be a good time for Boeing to revive the F-15U in partnership with MHI for a F-15J refresh proposal.

https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/mcdonnell-douglas-f-15-projects.2/post-766612

(h/t Deino and fightingirish)

Though I am more of a fan of the F-15 MANX myself:

 

[BlackBat242]

Now might be a good time for Boeing to revive the F-15U in partnership with MHI for a F-15J refresh proposal.


Though I am more of a fan of the F-15 MANX myself:

You mean a new aircraft with a vaguely F-15-like planform?

I see an aircraft with a completely new and different fuselage, and a main wing heavily modified (if not also completely new)... not to mention the tail surfaces.

 

[Scott Kenny]

The last F/A-18E/F - EA-18G is to leave the line in 2027.

But the "number per month" is much lower than it used to be.

I thought the last Super Bugs were supposed to complete assembly this year, with final delivery in 2027?

 

[bring_it_on]

F-15 EX production is going from about 12-18 ish a year to 24 aircraft a year by end of next year. That will likely be sufficient to sustain production through the rest of the decade / into next decade factoring in booked USAF orders and Israel's need for between 25 and 50 EX aircraft. Boeing could possible expand production to beyond 24 if they pick up additional firm orders..EX is now the sole aircraft in the production process I believe.

 

[VTOLicious]

You mean a new aircraft with a vaguely F-15-like planform?
I see an aircraft with a completely new and different fuselage, and a main wing heavily modified (if not also completely new)... not to mention the tail surfaces.

Something in the likes of KAAN might be the better option.

 

[EmoBirb]

Now might be a good time for Boeing to revive the F-15U in partnership with MHI for a F-15J refresh proposal.

https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/mcdonnell-douglas-f-15-projects.2/post-766612

(h/t Deino and fightingirish)

Though I am more of a fan of the F-15 MANX myself:

Both are significant modifications of the current F-15. Nobody would pay the huge sums required to get this into production.

 

[Grey Havoc]

The F-15U though was specifically designed so that older F-15s could be rebuilt into the new design relatively easy, including zeroing out the airframe hours if I'm not mistaken.

 

[JetBrain]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1947601865924825208

View: https://x.com/AirPowerNEW1/status/1947601865924825208

By late 2026, Lockheed would have upped the F-16 block 70 production rate to 48, and Boeing will achieve an F-15EX capacity of 24.

 

[Grey Havoc]

Thousands of Boeing defense workers go on strike, impacting fighter, weapons production - Breaking Defense

The strike is the first for Boeing's workforce in St. Louis, Mo., since 1996.

breakingdefense.com

 

[Sferrin]

Thousands of Boeing defense workers go on strike, impacting fighter, weapons production - Breaking Defense

The strike is the first for Boeing's workforce in St. Louis, Mo., since 1996.

breakingdefense.com

View attachment 780468

Boeing strikes more than any other company I've ever heard of.

 

[Scott Kenny]

Boeing strikes more than any other company I've ever heard of.

Because a strike comes under "act of god" and allows Boeing to renegotiate delivery timelines.

 

[Training_Dummy]

as a fighter and transport focused company, Boeing seems to have weird interpretation of “strike” aircraft….


I’ll see myself out.

 

[NMaude]

Boeing seems to have weird interpretation of “strike” aircraft….

Does it need a union rep on the flight line?

 

[Foo Fighter]

Just a secretary for.....notation.

 

[Grey Havoc]

Regarding the F-15E:

Kadena to inspect F-15Es after fighter landed without wheel

An F-15E Strike Eagle that took off from Diego Garcia on Monday discovered mid-flight that one of its wheels was missing.

www.defensenews.com

 

[Forest Green]

F-15E Strike Eagle Fires Drone Killing Laser-Guided Rockets In New Images​

F-15E Strike Eagle Fires Drone Killing Laser-Guided Rockets In New Images

The USAF rushed to add laser-guided rockets to the F-15E's arsenal this year amid growing drone and missile threats in the Middle East.

www.twz.com

 

[VTOLicious]

Short CGI clip...

View: https://youtu.be/Q2sydLJ951I?si=ZotYFn1IqMt8-h7M

 

[TomcatViP]

@VTOLicious : you forgot that one


Pew pew pew

Notice that the fuel value for the CCA seems to have been chosen to be unrealistic (8230!)

 

[Forest Green]

RTX unveils new APG-82(V)X radar enhanced with gallium nitride​

RTX unveils new APG-82(V)X radar enhanced with gallium nitride

EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Sept. 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon, an RTX (NYSE: RTX) business, has unveiled the latest iteration of its combat-proven APG-82radar, the APG-82(V)X. The new radar variant incorporates cutting-edge gallium nitride (GaN) technology to enhance the radar's effectiveness...

www.rtx.com

https://twitter.com/x/status/1970516381654241559

View: https://x.com/AirPowerNEW1/status/1970516381654241559

New APG-82(V)X Radar For F-15EX Announced By Raytheon​

New APG-82(V)X Radar For F-15EX Announced By Raytheon

Using advanced gallium nitride technology means the latest iteration of the APG-82 has longer range while ensuring the F-15EX is harder to detect. Using advanced gallium nitride technology means the latest iteration of the APG-82 has longer range while ensuring the F-15EX is harder to detect.

www.twz.com

 

[Reddington777]

RTX unveils new APG-82(V)X radar enhanced with gallium nitride​

RTX unveils new APG-82(V)X radar enhanced with gallium nitride

EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Sept. 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon, an RTX (NYSE: RTX) business, has unveiled the latest iteration of its combat-proven APG-82radar, the APG-82(V)X. The new radar variant incorporates cutting-edge gallium nitride (GaN) technology to enhance the radar's effectiveness...

www.rtx.com

https://twitter.com/x/status/1970516381654241559

View: https://x.com/AirPowerNEW1/status/1970516381654241559

The related TWZ article had the following quote:

According to Short, Gen. Kelly was also convinced that, while the Air Force is “really good in X band, we’ve got to get out of [it].” X-band is used in most fire-control radars and is thus the biggest threat that enemies are attuned to ‘listen’ for.

As Short explains: “I no longer live in that band where the adversary looks for me the most often. That agility is key to being low probability of intercept and low probability of detection.”

Not sure how you can switch to a higher or lower band for target tracks witbout sacrificing range / resolution, but maybe longer wavelength and lower frequency radar for cuing + EO/IR TGP targeting in addition to X band?

 

[Josh_TN]

Apparently the E-2 manages, though it has the benefit of a much larger antenna structure.

 

[Forest Green]

New Radar for F-15EX: More Range Without Demanding More Power​

New Radar for F-15EX: More Range Without Demanding More Power | Air & Space Forces Magazine

A new radar being proposed by RTX's Raytheon for the F-15E would expand its sensitivity and processing power for longer range.

www.airandspaceforces.com

 

[Forest Green]

Boeing sweetens its Polish F-15EX offer with local deals, ‘Ghost Bat’​

Boeing sweetens its Polish F-15EX offer with local deals, ‘Ghost Bat’

The company hosted an industry day event in Warsaw in an effort to include local companies in a prospective aircraft sale.

www.defensenews.com

 

[bring_it_on]

If the USAF gets back up to 144 EX's for the Guard and then more on top of that (which is possibly if not likely) then you are talking about early 2030s for just fulfilling the USAF backlog alone. There's also Israel that wants an EX variant for the IAF. Unless Boeing gets up to 36 or 48 deliveries per year, I'm not sure how it can fulfill any new orders this side of the mid 2030s.

 

[Training_Dummy]

I don’t think Boeing has delivered that many Eagles in a 12mo period since the mid 90s. Ironically that was probably the last time I was in a Boeing manufacturing facility.

 

[Forest Green]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1990327943479034331

View: https://x.com/RAeSTimR/status/1990327943479034331?s=20

 

[Training_Dummy]

If the USAF gets back up to 144 EX's for the Guard and then more on top of that (which is possibly if not likely) then you are talking about early 2030s for just fulfilling the USAF backlog alone. There's also Israel that wants an EX variant for the IAF. Unless Boeing gets up to 36 or 48 deliveries per year, I'm not sure how it can fulfill any new orders this side of the mid 2030s.

Apparently there are mumblings and rumblings of getting Boeing to 36 EXs per year in the new funding bill

 

[bring_it_on]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvVO289JlNY

 

[F119Doctor]

Boeing sweetens its Polish F-15EX offer with local deals, ‘Ghost Bat’​

Boeing sweetens its Polish F-15EX offer with local deals, ‘Ghost Bat’

The company hosted an industry day event in Warsaw in an effort to include local companies in a prospective aircraft sale.

www.defensenews.com

It will be interesting whether Poland will want the F100-229 engine for their F-15EX, since they already produce, operate, and maintain that engine for their F-16 Block 52 fleet.