The F-15EX programme was approved under the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2020, which was signed in December 2019. The process for acquiring the F-15EX aircraft began in February 2019. The 142ndWing at Portland will become the first operational unit to fly the aircraft, while the 173rd Fighter Wing is expected to serve as the F-15EX formal training unit in 2024. The USAF intends to acquire 144 F-15EXs from Boeing. The fighter jet will provide the capability to carry a large number of missiles in support of the F-35 aircraft, follow behind the F-35 to offer firepower to destroy threats detected by the F-35 during combat operations. The new fighter is the most advanced variant of the multi-role, all-weather, and day and night versions of the F-15 aircraft family. It is the latest iteration of the F-15 Eagle Mission Design Series and an upgraded version of the F-15 fourth-generation fighter jet.
F-15EX is a next-generation fighter aircraft being developed by Boeing for the US Air Force (USAF).
