Pentagon Now Planning 268 F-15EX Jets As Boeing Production Surges
The Pentagon plans to significantly increase procurement of the F-15EX fighter jet, raising the total planned fleet to 268 aircraft. This move reflects a strategic shift toward relying on the upgraded F-15EX as a cornerstone of future air superiority. Boeing is preparing to scale production to meet growing demand, potentially reaching 36 jets per year by 2030.
- ▪The Pentagon's fiscal year 2027 budget request increases planned F-15EX procurement to 268 aircraft.
- ▪Boeing aims to produce up to 36 F-15EX jets annually if demand supports expansion.
- ▪The F-15EX features modern systems including digital fly-by-wire controls, advanced AESA radar, and the ability to carry hypersonic weapons.
- ▪The U.S. Air Force previously reduced its F-15EX procurement target before reversing course with the new budget plan.
- ▪The F-15EX is intended to complement or fill gaps left by limited F-22 production and slower F-35 deployment rates.
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Pentagon Now Planning 268 F-15EX Jets As Boeing Production Surges By Ward Clark | 12:54 PM on May 02, 2026 The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of RedState.com. Kyodo News via AP The F-15 Eagle fighter has been, since its adoption by the United States Air Force in 1974, one of the world's premier air-superiority fighters. It's not stealthy, but it's fast, big, and carries a huge variety of weapons. It's gone through several revisions and upgrades since its Cold War birth, and the latest, the F-15EX, is in production now, making it over half a century of F-15 production.
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