The US Air Force has agreed to purchase new F-15EX fighters from Boeing (BA NYSE) That is the good news. However, the initial purchase will be for only two aircraft. Congress blocked the initial purchase of eight aircraft the Air Force wanted.
The last F-15s were purchased by the U.S. some 20 years ago. Boeing’s F-15 production line has stayed productive through international sales to Israel, South Korea, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. This production has allowed Boeing to continue the development of upgraded, more modern digital avionics and weapons systems for the fighter. The Air Force will benefit from these advancements paid for by international sales. The first F-15s were delivered nearly 45 years ago in 1976.
According to Air Force Magazine, other improvements include a “substantially more powerful mission computer, new cockpit displays, a digital backbone, and the Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability System (EPAWSS)—an electronic warfare and threat identification system.”
Air Force planning includes the eventual purchase of 72 of the new, improved F-15s.
The sale of the F-15s is a glimmer of good news following Boeing’s announcement yesterday of a loss of $636 million in 2019 in the wake of the 737 MAX woes.