Two US Air Force F-15EX Eagle II fighter aircraft have conducted a live-firing demonstration over the Gulf of Mexico.
The activity validated the operability and safety of the AIM-120 advanced medium-range air-to-air missile (AMRAAM) and AIM-9X Sidewinder missile when launched from the F-15EX’s latest stations in Eglin AFB, Florida.
“The integrated test strategy has been critical to our test success, allowing us to break the mold of traditional testing, ultimately resulting in a better overall product for the warfighter in a shorter timeline than a traditional approach,” F‑15EX Test Project Manager Colton Myers said.
During the event, the service’s 96th Test Wing pilots fired the missiles against target drones.
![The F-15EX, the Air Force’s newest fighter aircraft, is flanked by an F-15E and F-15C in the distance March 11 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The aircraft will be the first Air Force aircraft to be tested and fielded from beginning to end through combined developmental and operational tests. The 40th Flight Test Squadron and the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron personnel are responsible for testing the aircraft.](https://www.thedefensepost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/6557887-scaled.jpg)
Progress in US F-15EX Program
Upon the completion of initial testing, the F-15EX operational units will carry a full complement of 12 missiles, a significant upgrade over the 8-missile capacity of previous F-15 variants.
“The F-15EX is an incredible addition to the USAF inventory. This event, executed by a top-notch team of test pilots, engineers, and experts, proves yet again the F-15EX will be ready if, and when, our adversaries challenge our nation’s interests,” OFP CTF Commander Lt. Col. Christopher Wee added.
In 2021, the US Air Force’s F-15EX Eagle II took its maiden flight in Missouri.
The aircraft fired its first missile over the Gulf of Mexico in 2022. The same year, the F-15EX’s GE-129 engine completed its first acoustic test.