The budget proposal, presented by the House and Senate Armed Services Committees, includes an allocation of $3.1 billion to raise the annual production rate of F-15EX Eagle II multi-role fighter jets. The current production level of 18 aircraft per year could be increased to 24 under the new plan.
This potential increase may pave the way for additional aircraft orders beyond the initial batch. Boeing is currently producing 48 F-15EX jets across three production lots and is in negotiations to begin work on a fifth lot.
The Department of Defense had originally planned to procure around 98 of the 144 F-15EX aircraft outlined. With additional funds, this figure could rise by approximately 30 more jets.
The F-15EX Eagle II is primarily intended to secure the airspace of the continental United States. A further 36 aircraft are scheduled for deployment to Kadena Air Base in Japan.
Boeing is fulfilling existing orders from both the US Department of Defense and Israel, the latter having ordered 25 jets. A potential government-to-government agreement may soon lead to the sale of 24 more aircraft to Indonesia, and Boeing is also actively marketing the jet in Poland and Saudi Arabia.
In addition to increased production funding, Congress seeks to prevent the retirement of the currently operational F-15E Strike Eagle fleet. A sum of $127.5 million has been earmarked to expand maintenance and servicing capabilities for these aircraft.
Previous plans called for 119 early-production F-15E aircraft to be retired by 2027. Under the new proposals, retirement would be allowed only where economic repair is unfeasible, such as in cases of severe fatigue or accident damage.
