Upgraded F-15EX Eagle II fighter jets will not violate the baseline schedule despite a one-year delay in deliveries

The US Air Force will receive its third F-15EX Eagle II fighter jet a year later than planned. However, the delay will not upset the baseline schedule developed by Boeing and the Pentagon.

Here's What We Know

The military service has two Eagle II fighters. They are based on aircraft for the Royal Bahrain Air Force. Boeing planned to deliver the third F-15EX Eagle in December 2022. It would have been the first fighter in the final configuration.

However, the aircraft made its maiden flight late last month, and the US Air Force won't receive it until a couple of weeks later. It will be followed by five more modernised fighters. The entire six will be handed over by the end of the first quarter of 2024.

Despite the one-year delay, the deliveries are not out of the original schedule. This was stated by a US Air Force spokesman. The schedule developed assumes that initial operational readiness will be achieved between July 2023 and July 2024.

The first batch consists of eight aircraft, including a pair of test aircraft. Four upcoming fighters will also be used for testing. Two more F-15EX Eagle IIs from the first batch will go to Oregon to the Air National Guard Air Force Base.

Source: Breaking Defence