US Air Force Gen. Mark Kelly, commander of Air Combat Command, flew the F-15EX Eagle II for the first time on September 1, 2021.
The F-15EX is the first new platform being tested and fielded through a rapid acquisition program that combined developmental and operational test, expediting the test timeline and setting a precedent for future aircraft programs.
As a currently-qualified F-15E pilot, Kelly accomplished his F-15EX flight in tail “002” after completing the requisite academic and simulator training. Kelly completed this conversion qualification to gain a first-hand perspective of the unique attributes and capabilities the F-15EX brings to the fight.
“When folks talk about 4th and 5th gen fighters, it’s important to zero out the ambiguity of exactly ‘what’ they are referring to,” Kelly said. “Are we talking signature, avionics, sensors/sensor fusion, and weapons? Because there is absolutely zero doubt that 4th gen aircraft equipped with 5th gen sensors, avionics, and weapons bring disruptive and decisive effects to a peer fight.”
A fighter pilot with over 6,000 hours in multiple aircraft, Kelly is now one of two pilots in the world who’ve flown both the F-15EX and F-35A, which gives him unique insight into the air force’s vision of how these fighters will integrate together in the future.
“This airframe is a part of future force structure changes that are key to creating a fighter fleet that meets air superiority needs for our nation’s defense,” Kelly said. “As the command in charge of OT&E for the new fighter force structure, ACC will work to develop a fleet that can ensure we have a competitive advantage in a future fight.”
The service received its first Eagle II in March this year, and deployed the fighter for exercises a month later.
The air force says the F‑15EX provides a cost-effective and expedient solution to refresh the F‑15C/D fleet and augment the F-15E fleet to meet National Defense Strategy capability and capacity requirements. The new fighter is a two-seat aircraft—though operable by a single pilot—with fly-by-wire flight controls, digital cockpit displays, and advanced avionics systems. It also features the Eagle Passive/Active Warning and Survivability System, an electronic warfare upgrade that is also being fielded on F-15E models.
