Introduction
The F-15EX: A Critical Examination of America’s Next-Gen Fighter Jet Background: The Evolution of an Aerial Titan The F-15 Eagle, first introduced in 1976, has long been a cornerstone of U. S. air superiority. With an undefeated combat record and unmatched performance, the jet has undergone multiple upgrades over the decades. Now, the F-15EX Eagle II—the latest iteration—promises to extend the platform’s legacy into the 21st century. But beneath the Pentagon’s glowing endorsements lies a contentious debate: Is the F-15EX a cost-effective modernization or an outdated relic propped up by defense contractors and bureaucratic inertia? Thesis Statement While the F-15EX offers advanced avionics, increased payload capacity, and lower operational costs than stealth alternatives, its reliance on a 1970s-era airframe, vulnerability to modern air defenses, and questionable necessity in an era of fifth-generation fighters raise serious concerns about its strategic value. The Case for the F-15EX: Capabilities and Cost Efficiency Proponents argue that the F-15EX is a pragmatic solution to modern warfare demands. Unlike the F-35, which faces persistent maintenance and cost overruns, the F-15EX boasts: - Enhanced Payload Capacity: With the ability to carry up to 22 air-to-air missiles (compared to the F-35’s four internally), it serves as a "missile truck" in contested environments (Tirpak, 2021). - Lower Operating Costs: At approximately $29,000 per flight hour (vs. the F-35’s $36,000), it offers a more sustainable option for routine missions (GAO, 2022). - Advanced Avionics: The Eagle Passive/Active Warning and Survivability System (EPAWSS) and AN/APG-82 AESA radar provide near-fifth-gen sensor capabilities (Boeing, 2023). Defense analysts like Dr. Rebecca Grant (2021) argue that the F-15EX complements—rather than replaces—stealth fighters by handling missions where radar evasion is less critical, such as homeland defense and long-range strike operations.
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The Counterarguments: Obsolescence and Strategic Missteps Critics, however, contend that the F-15EX is a costly stopgap in an era where stealth and electronic warfare dominate. Key concerns include: - Vulnerability to Modern Air Defenses: Unlike the F-35, the F-15EX lacks low-observable features, making it an easy target for S-400 and Chinese HQ-9 missile systems (Kofman, 2020). - Opportunity Cost: At $80 million per unit (before R&D), the program diverts funds from next-gen projects like NGAD (Next Generation Air Dominance) (CSIS, 2023). - Industrial Policy Over Strategy: Some allege the program exists primarily to sustain Boeing’s St. Louis production line rather than meet urgent military needs (Sweetman, 2022). Retired Lt. Gen. David Deptula (2022) warns that over-reliance on fourth-gen jets risks ceding air superiority to China’s J-20 and Russia’s Su-57 in a high-end conflict. The Bureaucratic and Industrial Complex Factor Investigative reports reveal that lobbying played a key role in the F-15EX’s approval. Boeing, facing financial strain from the 737 MAX crisis, aggressively marketed the jet to Congress, securing an initial $1. 2 billion contract in 2020 (Defense News, 2021). Meanwhile, the Air Force initially resisted, preferring to accelerate F-35 purchases—until political pressure forced a compromise. Conclusion: A Jet Caught Between Eras The F-15EX embodies the Pentagon’s struggle to balance fiscal pragmatism with futuristic warfare needs.
While it offers undeniable tactical advantages in specific roles, its long-term viability remains questionable. If the U. S. is to maintain air dominance against peer adversaries, it must critically assess whether investing in upgraded legacy platforms risks mortgaging the future for short-term convenience. The broader implication? The F-15EX debate is not just about a single aircraft—it’s a litmus test for how America prepares for the next war. - Government Accountability Office (GAO). (2022). *Fighter Aircraft Sustainment Costs*. - Kofman, M. (2020). *Russia and China’s Air Defense Networks*. CNA. - Tirpak, J.
(2021). "The F-15EX: What It Brings to the Fight. " *Air & Space Forces Magazine*. - Sweetman, B. (2022). "Is the F-15EX a Bridge Too Far?" *Aviation Week*. - Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). (2023). *U. S. Air Force Modernization Challenges*.
May 1, 2023 F－15EX米軍がF－15Eをバージョンアップして調達していますけど・・・・F－22みたいなステルス戦闘機って・・・・実戦では奇襲攻撃ぐらいしか活躍の場がないんじゃないですかね？ もし、撃墜されて敵に鹵獲されたら機密保持上マズイわけでしょう？ F－22は運用コストが高過ぎて使い勝手悪い ...
Jun 15, 2022 パイロットが素早く状況を把握して適切に対応する能力を高められるわけです。f-15exはこの点で劣るので、これからの戦場ではf-35に比べて生存性が大きく低下していくとみられています。 後は限定的ながら超音速巡航が可能とされますね。
Mar 9, 2024 F-15EX(2024年最新型)vsF-22A(2001年の第1期低率初期生産型）空中戦した場合どうなりますか？
Feb 19, 2024 f-15exは非ステルスであり、f-35との運用上の相性が悪いと考えられます。 f-15exは対地攻撃能力に重点を置いており、大量の空対地ミサイルを搭載できます。しかし、日本は対地攻撃機の保有や運用に消極的です。
Apr 11, 2021 ちなみにf-35系とf-15exが組んで制空戦闘や侵攻爆撃を行う場合は、f-15exはミサイルキャリアーとなる事は間違いありませんが、f-35aはレーダーをアクティブにすると自らステルス性を失いますので、f-35aは先行して飛行し、後方のf-15exがレーダー波をアクティブにしてf-35へ情報連接によって伝え ...
Jul 10, 2021 f-15exの使命は、f-35のロックオンしたターゲットにミサイルを撃ちこむことです。つまり超音速ミサイルキャリアーという事です。それでf-15exは航続距離とミサイル搭載量が増加しています。 航空自衛隊は後期改修型のf-15jをex仕様に改修します。
Jul 30, 2023 どなたか教えてほしいことがありまして、アメリカ空軍のF-15strikeeagleと最新型F-15EX(イーグルII)の違いが未だにわかりません…。 数ある戦闘機の中で1番F-15が大好きで、見分けができる人になりたいなと思いまして、、なので少しの違いでも構いませんのでわかる方是非教えて頂きたいです ...
Conclusion
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