The US Air Force wants to scrap 119 fourth-generation F-15E Strike Eagle fighters and modernise the remaining 99 aircraft

The US Air Force is actively working to rejuvenate its fighter fleet. The service intends to retire more than half of the fourth-generation F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft in the coming years.

Here's What We Know

Budget documents state that the U.S. Air Force wants to retain only 99 F-15E Strike Eagle fighters. The service plans to invest in modernising the aircraft by adding Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability System (EPAWSS) technology.

The developer of the EPAWSS is BAE Systems. The suite provides maximum situational awareness to help pilots more effectively detect, identify and quickly respond to potential threats.

The F-15E is equipped with the F100-PW-229 or F100-PW-220 engine, depending on the level of upgrade. The powerplant is designed by Pratt & Whitney. The US Air Force has a total of 218 fighters in service, with an average age of 30 years.

The service intends to retire 119 Strike Eagle aircraft. The US Air Force wants to keep in service only the newer fourth-generation fighters, which are equipped with Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-229 engines.

The F-15E fleet will shrink to 99 aircraft by fiscal year (FY) 2028. At the same time, the U.S. Air Force will not retire fighters in either FY2023 or FY2024. Fleet rejuvenation will be achieved not only by writing off old aircraft, but also by buying new ones. Specifically, the F-15EX Eagle II and the F-35 Lightning II.

Source: Air & Space Forces Magazine