F-15EX Clears IOC Hurdle For U.S. Air Force

The U.S. Air Force has a new fighter type after the Boeing F-15EX passed its initial operational capability (IOC) milestone, Air Combat Command chief Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach said on July 10.

“I just declared IOC for the F-15EX,” Wilsbach said during remarks on a webinar hosted by the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies.

The Air Force’s criteria for the IOC rating consisted of eight delivered F-15EX fighters.

The milestone came technically a year late due to production problems, but the event still fell within a yearlong window set by the Air Force for achieving IOC, which ends this month.

The Air Force plans to buy at least 90 F-15EX fighters, a derivative of the Qatari-funded F-15QA. The Air Force added a new electronic warfare suite—the BAE Systems Eagle Passive Attack Warning Survivability System.

The aircraft also boasts several upgrades funded a decade ago by the Royal Saudi Air Force, including a fly-by-wire control system.

The F-15EX lacks a stealthy profile to radar, but Air Force officials prize the twin jet’s ability to more easily integrate a wider variety of munitions.

“That’s going to be a tremendous platform for us because of its 4th-gen-plus capability and external weapons carriage,” Wilsbach said. “The F-15EX can carry some immense weapons that can go a long way. And so that F-15EX and that F-15E will continue to be important platforms.”

The U.S. government reportedly approved the sale of 50 more F-15EXs to Israel, but the deal is not yet confirmed. The type is also under consideration by Poland, Indonesia and other undisclosed countries.

“We applaud [Wilsbach’s] decision to declare initial operating capability for the F-15EX and are fully prepared to support our warfighter with this exceptional aircraft and many more fighters to come,” said Mark Sears, vice president of Boeing Fighters.