The Boeing F-15EX Eagle II is an Osean all-weather multirole strike fighter. It is an advanced and upgraded version of the original McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle. The F-15EX was designed in the 2008s for air superiority as well as long-range, high-speed interdictions without relying on escort or electronic-warfare aircraft. Osean Air Defense Force (OADF) F-15EX Eagle IIs can be generally distinguished from original F-15E variants by the standard F-15 Eagle aircraft camouflage and slightly smaller conformal fuel tanks (CFTs) and thrust vector controls (TVC) for enhanced maneuverability mounted along the engine intake ramps (although CFTs can also be mounted on earlier F-15 variants).
The Eagle II has been deployed for military operations in Valka, Belka, Yuktobania, and Usea. During these operations, the strike fighter has carried out deep strikes against both anti-air systems, high-value targets, combat air patrols, and provided close air support for friendly troops. It has also been exported to several countries.
The F-15EX can carry up to 18 AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles, with four AIM-9X Sidewinders.
Development[]
The F-15EX Eagle was introduced by the OADF to improved the F-15E Strike Eagle. Unlike the original F-15E, the F-15EX was designed for better air superiority capabilities along with better consideration ground-attack capability.
As a successor to the F-15E, Boeing quietly worked on an F-15E-derived multirole fighter. The company envisaged the aircraft as a replacement for the McDonnell Douglas F-15C Eagle and the F-15E Strike Eagle, as well as to augment the existing F-15s. In 1998, the OADF initiated the Tactical All-Weather Requirement Study, which looked at McDonnell Douglas's proposal and other options such as the purchase of further F-15Es. The study recommended the F-15EX as the OADF's future strike and main air superiority platform. In 1999, McDonnell Douglas and Hughes began a close collaboration on the enhancement of the F-15EX's air-to-ground capabilities.
To assist in the F-15EX's development, McDonnell Douglas modified the second TF-15A prototype of the F-15 Eagle, AF serial number 71-0291, as a demonstrator. The aircraft, known as the Advanced Fighter Capability Demonstrator, first flew on 8 July 2000. It was previously used to test smaller conformal fuel tanks (CFTs), initially designed for the F-15 under the designation "FAST Pack", with FAST standing for "Fuel and Sensor, Tactical. It was subsequently fitted with a Pave Tack laser designator targeting pod to allow the independent delivery of guided bombs. The demonstrator was displayed at the 1990 November City Airshow.
Armament[]
Guns[]
- 1x 20mm M61A1 Vulcan 6-barreled rotary cannon (980 rounds)
Air-to-Air missiles[]
- 6x AIM-7 Sparrow
- 4x AIM-9 Sidewinder
- 22x AIM-120 AMRAAM (18 AMRAAMs with four Sidewinders)
- 22x AIM-260 JATM (18 JATMs with four Sidewinders)
Air-to-Surface missiles[]
- 12x AGM-65 Maverick
- 4x AGM-84 Harpoon
- 4x AGM-84H/K SLAM-ER
- 4x AGM-88 HARM
- 4x AGM-130
- 4x AGM-154 JSOW
- 4x AGM-158 JASSM
- 4x AGM-158C LRASM
Bombs[]
- 12x Mark 82 500 lb unguided bombs
- 12x Mark 83 1000 lb unguided bombs
- 6x Mark 84 2000 lb unguided bombs
- 6x GBU-15
- 12x GBU-10 Paveway II
- 12x GBU-12 Paveway II
- 6x GBU-24 Paveway III
- 6x GBU-27 Paveway III
- 6x GBU-28 (Bunker buster)
- 6x GBU-31 or GBU-38 JDAM
- 6x GBU-54 Laser JDAM (LJDAM)
- 24x GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb (SDB)
- B61 or B83 nuclear bomb
- CBU-87 or CBU-103 (CEM)
- CBU-89 or CBU-104 (GATOR)
- CBU-97 or CBU-105 (SFW)
- CBU-107 Passive Attack Weapon
- BLU-107 Durandal
Energy weapons[]
- 6x Pulse Laser pods
- 1x Tactical Laser System
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- In real life, the F-15EX has not entered full service and doesn't participate in any conflicts yet, unlike the F-15EX in Strangereal.
- The F-15EX shares the same cockpit with the F/C-15 Eagle.