F-15
The Boeing F-15 Eagle entered US Air Force service in 1976 as the answer to a 1968 air superiority requirement written after Vietnam air combat losses, and has not been defeated in air-to-air combat since, with more than 100 victories credited. More than 1,700 have been built across all variants for the United States and six export nations.
The F-15EX Eagle II, first flown on February 2, 2021, and operational since July 2024, turned an export-sustained line into a US recapitalization program: the fiscal 2027 budget request more than doubled the planned fleet from 129 to 267 aircraft, and Israel signed for 25 F-15IAs in December 2025. A Qatari F-15QA recorded the family's most recent air-to-air kills against Iranian aircraft in March 2026.
F-15 at a glance
The Eagle line today spans the US Air Force's F-15E strike fleet, the new-build F-15EX, and the Advanced Eagle export family that spawned it.
Variant comparison
| Specification | F-15E Strike Eagle | F-15EX Eagle II | Advanced Eagle exports |
|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration | Two-seat strike fighter | New-build, fly-by-wire, APG-82 AESA, EPAWSS | F-15SA, F-15QA and F-15IA variants |
| Primary operator | US Air Force | US Air Force | Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Israel |
| Status | In service since 1988 | In production; IOC July 2024, up to 267 planned | In production and on order |
The F-15EX is based on the F-15QA developed for Qatar and gives the US Air Force a heavyweight fighter able to carry outsized weapons no stealth jet can fit internally; the fiscal 2027 budget more than doubled its planned fleet from 129 to 267 aircraft.
Full specifications
Latest F-15 coverage from AeroTime
Operators
Frequently asked questions
The newest Eagle: a new-build, two-seat, fly-by-wire F-15 with the APG-82 AESA radar and EPAWSS electronic warfare suite, in US Air Force service since 2024 with up to 267 planned.
No. The F-15 family is credited with more than 100 air-to-air victories without a confirmed air-to-air loss.
The F-15EX carries a much larger payload, including outsized long-range weapons that do not fit inside stealth fighters, and costs less per flight hour to operate.