In the cutting-edge environment of modern aerial warfare, the U.S. Air Force F-15EX Eagle II, or “Super Eagle” by its colloquial name, is making a new standard for domination of the skies with an armaments loadout that may make it the most munition-laden fighter ever. Being able to carry an impressive array of missiles and focusing on flexibility over stealth, the F-15EX is a behemoth in the USAF fleet of aircraft.
The first of this premium variant, derived from the F-15QA built for Qatar, was flown to Eglin Air Force Base on 11 March 2021, with a second arriving there on 20 April 2021, to be tested. The remaining six will arrive in 2023 with an eventual aim of replacing the aging F-15C/D fleet, representing a radical shift in the USAF’s approach to air combat preparedness.
This new generation of the Eagle family is not an incremental step; it is a quantum leap in combat capability. Digital fly-by-wire flight control, Large Area Display (LAD) glass-cockpit with touchscreen, and advanced radar systems such as the APG-82 AESA are just the beginning. The integration of the JOINT Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS) and the Eagle Passive/Active Warning and Survivability System (EPAWSS) ensure pilot safety and effectiveness in enemy terrain.
Arguably the F-15EX’s most remarkable capability is its armament flexibility, highlighted on August 30 when the 53rd Wing took the Eagle II aloft with a potent mix of twelve Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) and three Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles (JASSM), the latter successfully launched during in-flight tests at Eglin Air Force Base. This armament capacity is a significant increase over the eight missiles the previous F-15s, such as the F-15A, F-15C, and F-15E, had carried.
At the heart of this expansion is the Advanced Missile and Bomb Ejector Rack (AMBER) system, increasing the air-to-air missile capacity of the aircraft by 50 percent to 12, out of a possible 23 weapons stations. The AMBER racks are blockbusters, enabling the F-15EX to act as a “missile truck” in joint operations with fifth-generation fighters like the stealth F-35 Lightning II.
In contrast to the F-35, which has to carry its munitions internally in order to preserve its stealth profile, the F-15EX is not bound by this constraint. It is able to carry a variety of munitions externally without restrictions, the penalty being less speed and maneuverability resulting from the added load.
