F‑15EX Eagle II Multirole Fighter Jet Debuts Over Gulf of America Elevating U.S. Strike Force
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Four F-15EX Eagle II fighters from Eglin Air Force Base flew an operational demo over the Gulf of America with Secretary of the Air Force Troy E. Meink aboard the lead jet. The sortie marks a milestone in transitioning the Eagle II from testing to active deployment within the Air Force’s future strike mix.
On November 25, 2025, the U.S. Department of War released official imagery showing a formation of F-15EX Eagle II fighter-bombers flying over the Gulf of America. The images and accompanying reports confirm that four aircraft from Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, conducted an operational evaluation sortie on November 21 with Secretary of the Air Force Troy E. Meink in the rear cockpit of the lead jet. Beyond the symbolic presence of the service’s top civilian leader, the flight underscores how the F-15EX is moving from test bench to front-line tool for U.S. airpower. It also illustrates Washington’s choice to pair fifth-generation stealth fighters with a heavily armed, non-stealth “truck” capable of carrying large numbers of missiles and stand-off weapons. For countries following the evolution of U.S. air strategy, the Gulf of America demonstration offers a concrete glimpse of how this new platform will be employed in contested environments close to home and overseas.
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The demonstration over the Gulf of America highlights how the F-15EX is being woven into U.S. force posture on both the southern approaches to the continental United States and in the Indo-Pacific (Picture Source: U.S. Department of War)
The aerial demonstration primarily served as a comprehensive systems and tactics evaluation for the F-15EX Eagle II, the newest iteration in the renowned F-15 lineage. Evolved from the Advanced Eagle variants developed for Saudi Arabia and Qatar, the F-15EX features a strengthened airframe rated for 20,000 flight hours, digital fly-by-wire controls, and an open mission systems architecture that supports rapid hardware and software integration. Its advanced sensors include the AN/APG-82(V)1 active electronically scanned array radar and the EPAWSS electronic warfare suite, enabling long-range target detection, precise threat geolocation, and improved survivability against contemporary surface-to-air and air-to-air threats. With a payload capacity of roughly 29,500 pounds and the ability to carry up to 12 air-to-air missiles, the F-15EX stands as a high-endurance multirole fighter. It is capable of deploying large stand-off weapons such as the JASSM and future hypersonic systems alongside precision-guided munitions, all while upholding the F-15’s established legacy of power and versatility.
The Gulf of America flight is also a milestone in a development and fielding process that has accelerated over the last two years. The first F-15EX airframes were delivered to Eglin AFB in 2021 for combined developmental and operational testing, focusing on weapons separation, integration with fifth-generation platforms and validation of the new avionics suite. In July 2024, the Oregon Air National Guard’s 142nd Wing declared initial operational capability, marking the aircraft’s entry into the USAF’s air sovereignty and interception mission set. The November 21 sortie over the Gulf follows an earlier forward deployment in July 2025, when two F-15EX from the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron were sent to Kadena Air Base in Japan to train local crews and prepare a future permanent rotation of up to 36 aircraft to replace retired F-15C/Ds in Okinawa. Seen in sequence, these steps show a deliberate transition from test and evaluation, to homeland defense fielding, to integration in key overseas theatres.
From a capability perspective, the F‑15EX delivers distinct advantages over the legacy F‑15C/D fleet and complements fifth‑generation platforms such as the F‑35 and F‑22. Where many F‑15C/D airframes are approaching four decades of service and contend with structural fatigue and aging avionics despite incremental upgrades, the F‑15EX introduces a new, more robust airframe, modern sensors, and a cockpit centered on large‑area displays and advanced mission computers. Although it lacks the low observability of stealth aircraft and is therefore less survivable in the most heavily defended environments, the F‑15EX is substantially less costly to procure and operate, carries a markedly larger payload, and can function as a “missile magazine” to support stealth fighters operating inside contested airspace. Operationally, a mixed force could employ F‑35s for detection and targeting through their sensor fusion and reduced signature, while F‑15EXs deliver long‑range air‑to‑air salvos or stand‑off strikes from safer standoff positions. This role evolution mirrors the platform’s lineage from the original F‑15A/C air‑superiority design to the multirole, deep‑strike capabilities embodied in the F‑15E Strike Eagle.
Strategically, the demonstration over the Gulf of America highlights how the F-15EX is being woven into U.S. force posture on both the southern approaches to the continental United States and in the Indo-Pacific. Conducting an operational evaluation over coastal waters adjacent to critical energy infrastructure and busy commercial sea lanes reinforces the aircraft’s homeland defense role, complementing Air National Guard units that will eventually transition from upgraded “Platinum Eagle” F-15C/Ds to the new platform around 2030. At the same time, the planned deployment of dozens of F-15EX to Kadena in Okinawa places a high-payload, high-sortie-rate platform in direct support of U.S. and allied air operations facing China and North Korea, where massed missile salvos and rapid reinforcement could be decisive. Budget documents and recent statements from U.S. Air Force leadership indicate that, after an initial plan for 98 aircraft, Washington now aims for a fleet of around 120–130 F-15EX, explicitly citing their range, payload and ability to preserve the fighter industrial base as key factors. This positions the Eagle II as a central pillar of U.S. air strategy for the 2030s: a non-stealth but heavily networked and upgradeable platform able to absorb new weapons, manage manned–unmanned teaming and relieve pressure on more expensive stealth fleets.
Official imagery from the Department of War and records from the November 21 flight confirm that the F-15EX has evolved from a concept on paper into an operational cornerstone of America’s future air combat strategy. By pairing a time-tested airframe with state-of-the-art sensors, advanced electronic warfare capabilities, and an open architecture built for rapid integration of emerging technologies, the Eagle II provides the U.S. Air Force with a versatile platform for both strike and air-defense missions. Its ability to deploy swiftly across theaters, from the Gulf of America to the Western Pacific extends the nation’s combat reach and flexibility. More than a display of pilot proficiency, the Gulf demonstration underscores a strategic shift: beyond the stealth contours of fifth-generation fighters, Washington is reinforcing a complementary tier of airpower focused on volume of fire, survivability, and industrial readiness, an evolution that allies and rivals will be studying with close attention.
Written by Teoman S. Nicanci – Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group
Teoman S. Nicanci holds degrees in Political Science, Comparative and International Politics, and International Relations and Diplomacy from leading Belgian universities, with research focused on Russian strategic behavior, defense technology, and modern warfare. He is a defense analyst at Army Recognition, specializing in the global defense industry, military armament, and emerging defense technologies.
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Four F-15EX Eagle II fighters from Eglin Air Force Base flew an operational demo over the Gulf of America with Secretary of the Air Force Troy E. Meink aboard the lead jet. The sortie marks a milestone in transitioning the Eagle II from testing to active deployment within the Air Force’s future strike mix.
On November 25, 2025, the U.S. Department of War released official imagery showing a formation of F-15EX Eagle II fighter-bombers flying over the Gulf of America. The images and accompanying reports confirm that four aircraft from Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, conducted an operational evaluation sortie on November 21 with Secretary of the Air Force Troy E. Meink in the rear cockpit of the lead jet. Beyond the symbolic presence of the service’s top civilian leader, the flight underscores how the F-15EX is moving from test bench to front-line tool for U.S. airpower. It also illustrates Washington’s choice to pair fifth-generation stealth fighters with a heavily armed, non-stealth “truck” capable of carrying large numbers of missiles and stand-off weapons. For countries following the evolution of U.S. air strategy, the Gulf of America demonstration offers a concrete glimpse of how this new platform will be employed in contested environments close to home and overseas.
The demonstration over the Gulf of America highlights how the F-15EX is being woven into U.S. force posture on both the southern approaches to the continental United States and in the Indo-Pacific (Picture Source: U.S. Department of War)
The aerial demonstration primarily served as a comprehensive systems and tactics evaluation for the F-15EX Eagle II, the newest iteration in the renowned F-15 lineage. Evolved from the Advanced Eagle variants developed for Saudi Arabia and Qatar, the F-15EX features a strengthened airframe rated for 20,000 flight hours, digital fly-by-wire controls, and an open mission systems architecture that supports rapid hardware and software integration. Its advanced sensors include the AN/APG-82(V)1 active electronically scanned array radar and the EPAWSS electronic warfare suite, enabling long-range target detection, precise threat geolocation, and improved survivability against contemporary surface-to-air and air-to-air threats. With a payload capacity of roughly 29,500 pounds and the ability to carry up to 12 air-to-air missiles, the F-15EX stands as a high-endurance multirole fighter. It is capable of deploying large stand-off weapons such as the JASSM and future hypersonic systems alongside precision-guided munitions, all while upholding the F-15’s established legacy of power and versatility.
The Gulf of America flight is also a milestone in a development and fielding process that has accelerated over the last two years. The first F-15EX airframes were delivered to Eglin AFB in 2021 for combined developmental and operational testing, focusing on weapons separation, integration with fifth-generation platforms and validation of the new avionics suite. In July 2024, the Oregon Air National Guard’s 142nd Wing declared initial operational capability, marking the aircraft’s entry into the USAF’s air sovereignty and interception mission set. The November 21 sortie over the Gulf follows an earlier forward deployment in July 2025, when two F-15EX from the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron were sent to Kadena Air Base in Japan to train local crews and prepare a future permanent rotation of up to 36 aircraft to replace retired F-15C/Ds in Okinawa. Seen in sequence, these steps show a deliberate transition from test and evaluation, to homeland defense fielding, to integration in key overseas theatres.
From a capability perspective, the F‑15EX delivers distinct advantages over the legacy F‑15C/D fleet and complements fifth‑generation platforms such as the F‑35 and F‑22. Where many F‑15C/D airframes are approaching four decades of service and contend with structural fatigue and aging avionics despite incremental upgrades, the F‑15EX introduces a new, more robust airframe, modern sensors, and a cockpit centered on large‑area displays and advanced mission computers. Although it lacks the low observability of stealth aircraft and is therefore less survivable in the most heavily defended environments, the F‑15EX is substantially less costly to procure and operate, carries a markedly larger payload, and can function as a “missile magazine” to support stealth fighters operating inside contested airspace. Operationally, a mixed force could employ F‑35s for detection and targeting through their sensor fusion and reduced signature, while F‑15EXs deliver long‑range air‑to‑air salvos or stand‑off strikes from safer standoff positions. This role evolution mirrors the platform’s lineage from the original F‑15A/C air‑superiority design to the multirole, deep‑strike capabilities embodied in the F‑15E Strike Eagle.
Strategically, the demonstration over the Gulf of America highlights how the F-15EX is being woven into U.S. force posture on both the southern approaches to the continental United States and in the Indo-Pacific. Conducting an operational evaluation over coastal waters adjacent to critical energy infrastructure and busy commercial sea lanes reinforces the aircraft’s homeland defense role, complementing Air National Guard units that will eventually transition from upgraded “Platinum Eagle” F-15C/Ds to the new platform around 2030. At the same time, the planned deployment of dozens of F-15EX to Kadena in Okinawa places a high-payload, high-sortie-rate platform in direct support of U.S. and allied air operations facing China and North Korea, where massed missile salvos and rapid reinforcement could be decisive. Budget documents and recent statements from U.S. Air Force leadership indicate that, after an initial plan for 98 aircraft, Washington now aims for a fleet of around 120–130 F-15EX, explicitly citing their range, payload and ability to preserve the fighter industrial base as key factors. This positions the Eagle II as a central pillar of U.S. air strategy for the 2030s: a non-stealth but heavily networked and upgradeable platform able to absorb new weapons, manage manned–unmanned teaming and relieve pressure on more expensive stealth fleets.
Official imagery from the Department of War and records from the November 21 flight confirm that the F-15EX has evolved from a concept on paper into an operational cornerstone of America’s future air combat strategy. By pairing a time-tested airframe with state-of-the-art sensors, advanced electronic warfare capabilities, and an open architecture built for rapid integration of emerging technologies, the Eagle II provides the U.S. Air Force with a versatile platform for both strike and air-defense missions. Its ability to deploy swiftly across theaters, from the Gulf of America to the Western Pacific extends the nation’s combat reach and flexibility. More than a display of pilot proficiency, the Gulf demonstration underscores a strategic shift: beyond the stealth contours of fifth-generation fighters, Washington is reinforcing a complementary tier of airpower focused on volume of fire, survivability, and industrial readiness, an evolution that allies and rivals will be studying with close attention.
Written by Teoman S. Nicanci – Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group
Teoman S. Nicanci holds degrees in Political Science, Comparative and International Politics, and International Relations and Diplomacy from leading Belgian universities, with research focused on Russian strategic behavior, defense technology, and modern warfare. He is a defense analyst at Army Recognition, specializing in the global defense industry, military armament, and emerging defense technologies.
