Boeing just signed a contract to build the f-15ex.
My old unit the 142 Fighter Wing, is scheduled to get the first production aircraft.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaK_uSeCJgg

Why is the government upgrading a 4th generation has-been? Don't get me wrong, it's been an amazing platform, but IMO...they need to be building 22's while keeping the export restrictions in place. Seems like a blatant Boeing money grab to me. Just my $0.02.

the F-15 Cs and Ds are going to be retired soon, this is the fastest and most wise choice to do it this way...

that and the EX carries more payload than any other fighter aircraft in our fleet...

it can also fly further than the 22's and 35's...

and faster, and lower...

the 15 has never been a "stealth" aircraft, it is an air superiority fighter, which means hiding its weapons isnt nessecary and they can be exposed, and carry far more of, you do that with the 22 or the 35, and you basically have a slower cooler looking jet than a 15, with no stealth... so you basically just have a F15 with a skirt on...

This is why.

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/34...m-9x-sidewinder

He was probably too busy reading the new job openings at Boeing.



FTW!

https://www.defensenews.com/air/2020/07/...the-new-f-15ex/

read that one months ago...

also, the video that was posted, was from 2019..

nice try...

This.

F-22’s were designed for a battle field that doesn’t exist in today’s world. Time to spend your money on upgrading your bread and butter fleet of aircraft and take that F-22 money and put that in to a 6th generation fighter aircraft or UAV’s.

F-22’s are cool and all, but will soon be a relic aircraft due to their high cost of maintenance.

That being said, they are fun to send out to intercept Russian bogies coming too close to Alaska. I bet the Russian pilots get a kick out of being intercepted by one.

“Time to break out the camera, Sergi!”

As for the Boeing money grab? You know they make the F-22 as well? Or, would if the F-22 program wasn’t discontinued.

Seeing how Boeing can’t seem to make a reliable commercial airplane these days, might as well make some money on defense contracts! Gotta keep the stock holders happy!

The air battle theater of today is a radarless stealth world.
With the advent of the Legend Pod, F15/18's can interface F22/35 passive targeting sensors.
So the F15 can target and fire missiles using F-22/35 onboard avionics.
This is a low cost force multiplier.

I never would have guessed that the first time I would read Reeeeevotard on wise choices, it would be regarding building military aircraft, and I am not surprised.

Sounds legit.

Nick, Steamer?

I ain’t Evo. I’m not an expert on something I know little about.

I got to sit in an active duty F-14 once and then crawl all the way up into one of the engine exhausts and all the way back to the engine itself (on a decom'd plane of course). Full flight line, orientation, suit etc. Then we got an end of runway show at 20' directly overhead. Blew my hat into the ocean, both ears and the video mic out. Then they did it 10 more times just to be fvckwads. Then 9/11 happened and those privilege's are gone forever unless you know some serious brass.

I know a little bit from my sled buddies and what I've read on line, but am no expert. Just lucky to get that once in a lifetime experience. F-14's will always be my favorite plane. Those things are FUCKIN' HUGE. The end.

This.

It's very awesome how an F-22 oversees and controls the air battle theater.

While the F-22 could come on down and take you on in a dogfight, it's not going to. You are going to be dead about the moment you decide to take off....as the F-22 already knows you are there, and is going to have another plane fire off it's weapons and direct them at you.

All while stealthy circling the battle field, out of sight, out of mind.

Some very cool articles out there on the F-22 and what it was designed and envisioned to do.

F-14's are way cool too.

Personally, when I'm the next billionaire, I'm getting myself an A1 Skyraider. And a Corsair. A P-51. Just because I can.