The first test flight of an F-15EX fighter was conducted on Tuesday by Boeing which took off from St. Louis Lambert International Airport and completed a 90-minute sortie, according to a report by The Week. The fighter jet is being built for the United States (US) Air Force.
The F-15EX jet, which has been offered to India and Israel, is the newest variant of the iconic F-15 Eagle air superiority fighter. Eagle took its first flight in 1972 and is still among the premier weapons in the air forces of the US, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Japan.
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Boeing was given a US Air Force bid for eight F-15EX jets last year. The US Air Force is reportedly planning to buy over 144 F-15EX fighters with a contract value of around $23 billion.
Get an EX-cellent view of the #F15EX as it takes to the skies during its first flight. We'll be delivering the first two jets to the @USAirForce soon. #ReadyAF pic.twitter.com/80cDgVoYKL
— Boeing Defense (@BoeingDefense) February 2, 2021Advertisement
Boeing has described the F-15EX as the most advanced version of the F-15 series to date. The features of the newest version of the jet include new cockpit displays, fly-by-wire technology, and electronic warfare systems.
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“The US and India have held discussions on F-15EX fighter jets and the two respective air forces have exchanged information about it,” Boeing said on Tuesday.
The F-15 has always been hailed as highly rated for its agility and prowess in close-range dogfights and long-range air-to-air engagements. According to the claims made by Boeing, the F-15 jets of the US, Saudi and Israeli air forces have shot down over 100 enemy fighters in the last five decades. While no F-15 has been shot in any air-to-air combat.
