In an era dominated by stealth, drones, and futuristic sixth-generation prototypes, the U.S. Air Force has made a surprising move—it’s spending billions on a fighter jet that first took to the skies in 1972.
That jet is the F-15EX Eagle II, a modernized evolution of the legendary F-15 Eagle. And while it may look familiar on the outside, under the skin it’s a completely different beast—rebuilt for today’s threats and tomorrow’s air wars.
✈️ A Proven Design Meets Modern Tech
The original F-15 was a product of the Cold War, built with one goal in mind: air superiority. With over 100 confirmed air-to-air kills and zero losses in combat, the Eagle quickly earned a reputation as one of the most dominant fighters ever built.
But the F-15EX is no museum piece. It brings:
- An AN/APG-82 AESA radar capable of tracking multiple targets in contested environments
- The EPAWSS electronic warfare suite to jam, spoof, and survive modern threats
- Conformal fuel tanks and upgraded engines for extended range
- A fully digital, fly-by-wire control system
- And perhaps most notably, the ability to carry up to 22 air-to-air missiles
That last point alone makes it a game-changer in an age where stealth jets like the F-35 and F-22 are limited to smaller internal payloads.