U.S. Oregon Air National Guard’s 142nd Wing receives eighth U.S. F-15EX Eagle II next-gen fighter jet
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The 142nd Wing of the Oregon U.S. Air National Guard has officially welcomed its eighth F-15EX Eagle II, according to a November 25 update from Boeing Defense. The delivery adds momentum to the broader U.S. effort to refresh air superiority forces across active-duty and Guard units.
The latest F-15EX Eagle II, designated EX15, has entered service with the Oregon U.S. Air National Guard’s 142nd Wing, a milestone Boeing Defense confirmed in a November 25, 2025, post from its official account. Air Force officials have described the growing Eagle II fleet as a crucial bridge between legacy fighters and the next wave of advanced air dominance platforms, and the arrival of each aircraft helps accelerate that transition for units tasked with homeland defense and rapid response missions.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
F-15EX15 has officially joined the 142nd Wing of the Oregon Air National Guard as the unit’s eighth F-15EX, pictured here on the ground after delivery. (Picture source: Boeing Defense)
EX15’s delivery continues the progression that began in mid-2024 when the 142nd Wing at Portland U.S. Air National Guard Base became the first ANG unit to receive operational F-15EX fighters. Since then, coordination among Boeing, the Air Force, test and evaluation elements, and ANG logistics teams has strengthened the delivery rhythm. Boeing emphasized that this latest aircraft reflects a fully synchronized effort across manufacturing, testing, and sustainment, demonstrating the maturing reliability of the F-15EX production line as it shifts into full-rate output.
The F-15EX Eagle II is the most advanced evolution of the F-15 family. While it retains the recognizable airframe of the earlier F-15C and F-15D models, the similarities largely end there. The EX variant is built around a digital fly-by-wire system, the EPAWSS electronic warfare suite, a strengthened open mission architecture, and one of the Air Force’s most capable radars, the AN/APG-82(V)1 AESA. It can carry more than 29,000 pounds of weapons, including the ability to launch future hypersonic systems measuring up to 22 feet long. These upgrades give the F-15EX far greater flexibility in both air superiority and long-range strike missions.
For the Oregon U.S. Air National Guard, the Eagle II offers a dramatic improvement in reliability and mission readiness. The 142nd Wing is responsible for air defense across the Pacific Northwest, protecting a corridor stretching from the Canadian border to Northern California on behalf of NORAD and U.S. Northern Command. Many of the Wing’s legacy F-15C and F-15D aircraft are approaching the upper limits of their service lives. The arrival of modern F-15EX fighters allows the Wing to transition away from airframes that have been in service for four decades while maintaining uninterrupted alert capability.
At the national level, the F-15EX has become a central pillar of the U.S. Air Force’s modernization strategy. While the service invests heavily in the F-35A and advances the highly classified Next Generation Air Dominance program, it still faces a shortage of combat-ready fighters. The F-15EX fills this gap by offering a cost-effective, rapidly deployable air superiority and strike platform that complements stealth assets rather than replacing them. The Eagle II’s large payload, long range, and advanced electronic warfare systems make it especially valuable in roles where endurance and weapons capacity are critical.
Congress initially projected an acquisition of roughly 144 airframes. Although budget cycles remain fluid, deliveries through Lot 4 are already underway, and ANG units remain among the strongest advocates of continued procurement. The 142nd Wing is expected to operate 18 F-15EX aircraft once deliveries are complete, making it the first fully equipped ANG unit to field the Eagle II. Production at Boeing’s St. Louis facility is expected to accelerate into 2026.
Compared with the F-15C, the EX variant offers a fundamentally different architecture. The digital backbone allows software updates to be fielded quickly, often without major hardware changes. The aircraft’s structural life is projected at 20,000 flight hours, roughly double that of earlier models. Processing power, threat detection capability, weapon options, and networked situational awareness are all significantly enhanced. The result is a fighter that retains the F-15’s proven aerodynamic strengths while introducing an entirely new level of adaptability and survivability.
With EX15 now on the ramp in Portland, the modernization of the 142nd Wing continues to gather momentum. Each delivery brings the unit closer to full operational transition and highlights the increasingly important role the Air National Guard plays in maintaining U.S. air superiority. As new threats continue to emerge in the Pacific and beyond, the Eagle II stands ready to give Guard pilots the capabilities needed for the next generation of air operations.
The U.S. F-15EX fighter jet program is still expanding, but its direction is clear. The aircraft is positioning the U.S. Air Force and the Air National Guard for a more resilient, capable, and flexible fighter force. For the 142nd Wing, EX15 is one more step away from a legacy fleet and one step closer to a fully modernized air defense mission built for the challenges of the coming decade.
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The 142nd Wing of the Oregon U.S. Air National Guard has officially welcomed its eighth F-15EX Eagle II, according to a November 25 update from Boeing Defense. The delivery adds momentum to the broader U.S. effort to refresh air superiority forces across active-duty and Guard units.
The latest F-15EX Eagle II, designated EX15, has entered service with the Oregon U.S. Air National Guard’s 142nd Wing, a milestone Boeing Defense confirmed in a November 25, 2025, post from its official account. Air Force officials have described the growing Eagle II fleet as a crucial bridge between legacy fighters and the next wave of advanced air dominance platforms, and the arrival of each aircraft helps accelerate that transition for units tasked with homeland defense and rapid response missions.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
F-15EX15 has officially joined the 142nd Wing of the Oregon Air National Guard as the unit’s eighth F-15EX, pictured here on the ground after delivery. (Picture source: Boeing Defense)
EX15’s delivery continues the progression that began in mid-2024 when the 142nd Wing at Portland U.S. Air National Guard Base became the first ANG unit to receive operational F-15EX fighters. Since then, coordination among Boeing, the Air Force, test and evaluation elements, and ANG logistics teams has strengthened the delivery rhythm. Boeing emphasized that this latest aircraft reflects a fully synchronized effort across manufacturing, testing, and sustainment, demonstrating the maturing reliability of the F-15EX production line as it shifts into full-rate output.
The F-15EX Eagle II is the most advanced evolution of the F-15 family. While it retains the recognizable airframe of the earlier F-15C and F-15D models, the similarities largely end there. The EX variant is built around a digital fly-by-wire system, the EPAWSS electronic warfare suite, a strengthened open mission architecture, and one of the Air Force’s most capable radars, the AN/APG-82(V)1 AESA. It can carry more than 29,000 pounds of weapons, including the ability to launch future hypersonic systems measuring up to 22 feet long. These upgrades give the F-15EX far greater flexibility in both air superiority and long-range strike missions.
For the Oregon U.S. Air National Guard, the Eagle II offers a dramatic improvement in reliability and mission readiness. The 142nd Wing is responsible for air defense across the Pacific Northwest, protecting a corridor stretching from the Canadian border to Northern California on behalf of NORAD and U.S. Northern Command. Many of the Wing’s legacy F-15C and F-15D aircraft are approaching the upper limits of their service lives. The arrival of modern F-15EX fighters allows the Wing to transition away from airframes that have been in service for four decades while maintaining uninterrupted alert capability.
At the national level, the F-15EX has become a central pillar of the U.S. Air Force’s modernization strategy. While the service invests heavily in the F-35A and advances the highly classified Next Generation Air Dominance program, it still faces a shortage of combat-ready fighters. The F-15EX fills this gap by offering a cost-effective, rapidly deployable air superiority and strike platform that complements stealth assets rather than replacing them. The Eagle II’s large payload, long range, and advanced electronic warfare systems make it especially valuable in roles where endurance and weapons capacity are critical.
Congress initially projected an acquisition of roughly 144 airframes. Although budget cycles remain fluid, deliveries through Lot 4 are already underway, and ANG units remain among the strongest advocates of continued procurement. The 142nd Wing is expected to operate 18 F-15EX aircraft once deliveries are complete, making it the first fully equipped ANG unit to field the Eagle II. Production at Boeing’s St. Louis facility is expected to accelerate into 2026.
Compared with the F-15C, the EX variant offers a fundamentally different architecture. The digital backbone allows software updates to be fielded quickly, often without major hardware changes. The aircraft’s structural life is projected at 20,000 flight hours, roughly double that of earlier models. Processing power, threat detection capability, weapon options, and networked situational awareness are all significantly enhanced. The result is a fighter that retains the F-15’s proven aerodynamic strengths while introducing an entirely new level of adaptability and survivability.
With EX15 now on the ramp in Portland, the modernization of the 142nd Wing continues to gather momentum. Each delivery brings the unit closer to full operational transition and highlights the increasingly important role the Air National Guard plays in maintaining U.S. air superiority. As new threats continue to emerge in the Pacific and beyond, the Eagle II stands ready to give Guard pilots the capabilities needed for the next generation of air operations.
The U.S. F-15EX fighter jet program is still expanding, but its direction is clear. The aircraft is positioning the U.S. Air Force and the Air National Guard for a more resilient, capable, and flexible fighter force. For the 142nd Wing, EX15 is one more step away from a legacy fleet and one step closer to a fully modernized air defense mission built for the challenges of the coming decade.
