Boeing to build 22 more F-15EX fighters to replace US Air Force’s aging Eagle jets

The U.S. Air Force has awarded Boeing a $2.38 billion contract to manufacture 22 more F-15EX Eagle II fighters, expanding its procurement of aircraft intended to replace aging F-15C and F-15D jets.

The Lot 7 agreement was announced on September 29, ahead of the fiscal year deadline. It keeps all 22 aircraft within available funding despite the effects of production disruptions and rising defense industry costs.

Boeing said the award brings the total number of F-15EX aircraft under contract across Lots 1 through 7 to 120.

Keeping procurement on track

The agreement uses congressionally provided reconciliation funding to sustain F-15EX production. According to the Air Force, negotiations accounted for the effects of a 2025 production disruption and broader inflation across the defense industrial base.

The F-15 Program Office and Boeing reached an agreement that preserved the planned quantity while staying within the available resources.

“Lot 7 reflects a disciplined approach to executing available resources while balancing the realities affecting defense production,” Brig. Gen. Timothy Helfrich, portfolio acquisition executive for the Fighters and Advanced Aircraft Directorate, said in the release.

“The team remained focused on affordability, production continuity and delivering the aircraft needed to modernize the U.S. Air Force’s fighter fleet for the threats we face today and into the future,” he continued.

The award supports near-term manufacturing while the service continues to evaluate its future fighter requirements and acquisition plans.

Replacing older Eagle fighters

The F-15EX builds on the established F-15 design, introducing updated systems to support the Air Force’s fleet modernization.

Described by the service as a multirole heavy fighter, the Eagle II incorporates advanced avionics, large-area cockpit displays, a digital backbone architecture, and enhanced survivability capabilities.

Its intended role includes replacing aging F-15C and F-15D aircraft while providing room for further modernization as operational requirements change.

Boeing describes the aircraft as the most advanced version of the Eagle family, with an all-glass touchscreen cockpit and advanced mission systems.

The company’s September announcement also followed the recent delivery of F-15EX-22, the first aircraft supplied under the Lot 3 contract.

Boeing said it planned further Lot 3 deliveries through the remainder of 2026 and was working with the Air Force to increase production to two aircraft per month.

Coordinating the contract award

The Air Force presented the Lot 7 negotiations as an example of its acquisition transformation approach, bringing specialists together to resolve procurement challenges.

The effort involved personnel working across program management, contracting, pricing, engineering, financial management, and logistics. Their task included assessing changing production conditions and aligning the purchase with available funding.

An integrated negotiation team coordinated work across these areas and elevated issues that required senior-level decisions. The service said this approach maintained accountability for cost, schedule, and aircraft quantity.

Senior department leaders supported coordination and decision-making as the team worked through affordability and execution challenges before the fiscal year deadline.

The latest contract sustains Eagle II production as the Air Force moves forward with replacing its older fighters.

Source: https://interestingengineering.com/military/us-orders-22-f-15ex-fighters