On a momentous June day, skies over Portland Air National Guard Base in Oregon were graced by the arrival of the first F-15EX Eagle II, marking a new chapter in U.S. Air Force history.
This significant event on June 5, 2024, elevated the 142nd Wing, home to the Redhawks of the 123rd Fighter Squadron, to the prestigious position of being the first operational unit within the USAF to operate the type.
The much-anticipated arrival of the F-15EX—serial number 20-0008, or EX8—followed a series of delays stemming from manufacturing challenges that had caused about a year’s setback.
Nonetheless, the Air Force previously expressed confidence that the program would stay on track, conditional on Boeing meeting its commitment of delivering the remaining six aircraft from the first lot by the end of that month.
With the F-15EX, the Air National Guard is ushering in a new era of defense capability.
“The EX has arrived in Portland! We are immensely excited and proud to be able to serve the State of Oregon and protect the Pacific Northwest,” an official statement from the 142nd Wing read.
The Eagle II supersedes the aging F-15C/D models, heralding significant enhancements like the cutting-edge AN/APG-82 active electronically scanned array radar and the Eagle Passive/Active Warning Survivability System (EPAWSS) electronic warfare suites.
The advanced fly-by-wire system, a digital backbone, new engines, and additional weapon stations are all part of a comprehensive upgrade package.
“The F-15EX will be used predominantly in defensive and offensive counter-air missions,” Air Force budget documents indicated, underscoring the strategic role these fighters will play.
Major Knife Conner, the pilot who flew EX8 to its new home, praised the jet’s comprehensive upgrades, saying, “I have a new radar. A new digital backbone. I’ve got new engines. I’ve got a new electronic warfare suite.”
Moreover, this two-seat jet offers a potential for diversified operations, with the possibility of evolving crew configurations.
Rob Novotny, Boeing’s director of Fighters Business Development and a former Air Force brigadier general, highlighted the advantages of this flexibility. “
I believe the Weapons School at Nellis [Air Force Base, Nevada] is building the F-15EX syllabus right now as a two-seater operation with a WSO [Weapons Systems Officers] in the back,” he stated, hinting at the tactical enhancement a two-person crew could bring.
Anticipation for the follow-up delivery of serial number 20-0007 (EX7) is rife, as the unit readies to further bolster its capabilities. Both jets are adorned with the “Redhawk” tail flashes, a proud emblem of the 123rd Fighter Squadron.
This leap forward is not without its context of broader strategic shifts. The initial vision of acquiring 144 Eagle IIs has been truncated to 98, stirring a debate in Congress over the fleet size.
Relevant articles:
– First Eagle II delivered to Redhawks, scramble.nl
– The F-15EX Eagle II Has Arrived In Portland, The War Zone
– 15EX Eagle II lands at Portland Air National Guard Base, AeroTime
– 15EX deliveries after handing over first operational jet, Breaking Defense