USAF F-15EX Contract Awarded

[RAFEngO74to09]

"The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Missouri, has been awarded a $22,890,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (FA8634-20-D-2704). The first delivery order has been awarded as an undefinitized contract action with a total not-to-exceed value, including options, of $1,192,215,413. It is a cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost-plus-incentive-fee, fixed-price-incentive-fee, firm-fixed-price effort for the F-15EX system. This delivery order (FA8634-20-F-0022) provides for design, development, integration, manufacturing, test, verification, certification, delivery, sustainment and modification of F-15EX aircraft, as well as spares, support equipment, training materials, technical data and technical support. Work will be performed in St. Louis, Missouri; and at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, and is expected to be completed Dec. 31, 2023. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $248,224,746; and fiscal 2020 aircraft procurement funds in the amount of $53,000,000 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, is the contracting activity."

https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/2272447/

https://twitter.com/BoeingDefense/status/1282802551004561413

Brochure / Video / Gallery: Boeing: F-15EX (http://www.boeing.com/defense/f-15ex/)

[RAFEngO74to09]

USAF Press Release:

The Department of the Air Force has awarded a nearly $1.2 billion contract for its first lot of eight F-15EX fighter aircraft.

The contract, awarded to Boeing, provides for the design, development, integration, manufacturing, test, verification, certification, delivery, sustainment and modification of F-15EX aircraft, including spares, support equipment, training materials, technical data and technical support.

The F-15EX will replace the oldest F-15 (https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/104501/f-15-eagle/)C/Ds in the service’s inventory. Eight F-15EX aircraft were approved in the fiscal year 2020 budget and 12 were requested in the FY21 budget. The Air Force plans to purchase a total of 76 F-15EX aircraft over the five-year Future Years Defense Program.

“The F-15EX is the most affordable and immediate way to refresh the capacity and update the capabilities provided by our aging F-15C/D fleets,” said Gen. Mike Holmes (https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/1108488/general-james-m-holmes/), commander of Air Combat Command (https://www.acc.af.mil/). “The F-15EX is ready to fight as soon as it comes off the line.”

The F-15EX is a two-seat fighter with U.S.-only capabilities. It features a deep magazine that can carry a load of advanced weapons. The platform also requires minimal transitional training or additional manpower and little to no infrastructure changes, ensuring the continuation of the mission.

“When delivered, we expect bases currently operating the F-15 to transition to the new EX platform in a matter of months versus years,” Holmes said.

The most significant difference between the F-15EX and legacy F-15s lies in its Open Mission Systems (OMS) architecture. The OMS architecture will enable the rapid insertion of the latest aircraft technologies. The F-15EX will also have fly-by-wire flight controls, a new electronic warfare system, advanced cockpit systems, and the latest mission systems and software capabilities available for legacy F-15s.

“The F-15EX’s digital backbone, open mission systems, and generous payload capacity fit well with our vision for future net-enabled warfare,” said Dr. Will Roper (https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/1467795/dr-will-roper/), assistant secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics. “Continually upgrading systems, and how they share data across the Joint Force, is critical for defeating advanced threats. F-15EX is designed to evolve from day one.”

The first eight F-15EX aircraft will be fielded at Eglin Air Force Base (https://www.eglin.af.mil/), Florida, to support testing efforts. The delivery of the first two aircraft is scheduled for the second quarter of FY21. The remaining six aircraft are scheduled to deliver in FY23. The Air Force is using the Strategic Basing Process to determine the fielding locations for subsequent aircraft lots.

https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2272575/daf-awards-contract-for-first-lot-of-f-15ex-fighter-aircraft/

[lomapaseo]

"The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Missouri, has been awarded a $22,890,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (FA8634-20-D-2704). The first delivery order has been awarded as an undefinitized contract action with a total not-to-exceed value, including options, of $1,192,215,413. It is a cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost-plus-incentive-fee, fixed-price-incentive-fee, firm-fixed-price effort for the F-15EX system. This delivery order (FA8634-20-F-0022) provides for design, development, integration, manufacturing, test, verification, certification, delivery, sustainment and modification of F-15EX aircraft, as well as spares, support equipment, training materials, technical data and technical support. Work will be performed in St. Louis, Missouri; and at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, and is expected to be completed Dec. 31, 2023. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $248,224,746; and fiscal 2020 aircraft procurement funds in the amount of $53,000,000 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, is the contracting activity."

https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/2272447/

https://twitter.com/BoeingDefense/status/1282802551004561413

Brochure / Video / Gallery: Boeing: F-15EX (http://www.boeing.com/defense/f-15ex/)


Reads like a make-work type of contract to keep skills occupied

[GlobalNav]

P-51EX is coming next. Digital backbone and all.

[Harley Quinn]

​
The F-15EX is a two-seat fighter with U.S.-only capabilities. It features a deep magazine that can carry a load of advanced weapons. ​​​​​​

I find this intriguing; are they saying that the new variant will have a weapons bay, or has the F 15 always had one?

[Easy Street]

I find this intriguing; are they saying that the new variant will have a weapons bay, or has the F 15 always had one?

The F-15 has never had a weapons bay and it’s hard to see how one could be added that could fit more than one or two missiles (possibly by bulking out the fuselage cheeks as for conformal fuel tanks). But they haven’t done that. So “deep magazine” is horrific jargon meaning “can carry a large number of weapons” which, compared to F-35 and F-22, it can.

[Harley Quinn]

The F-15 has never had a weapons bay and it’s hard to see how one could be added that could fit more than one or two missiles (possibly by bulking out the fuselage cheeks as for conformal fuel tanks). But they haven’t done that. So “deep magazine” is horrific jargon meaning “can carry a large number of weapons” which, compared to F-35 and F-22, it can.

Thank you ES; just another case of the marketing department stretching the English language beyond what it can respectably be expected to bear I suppose.

[ORAC]

In the references I have found the F-15EX is the deep magazine.

The concept is that it pairs with either F-22 or F-35 whilst carrying a heavy load of stand-off/hypersonic weapons for which they provide targeting data.

[ORAC]

https://www.snafu-solomon.com/2020/07/rfi-issued-for-f-15ex-and-f-15e.html

RFI issued for F-15EX and F-15E enhancements to plug known but classified capability gaps.

[RAFEngO74to09]

First flight

Boeing Defense on Twitter: "Get an EX-cellent view of the #F15EX as it takes to the skies during its first flight. We'll be delivering the first two jets to the @USAirForce soon. #ReadyAF https://t.co/80cDgVoYKL" / Twitter

PR MediaRoom - News Releases/Statements (https://boeing.mediaroom.com/news-releases-statements?item=130824)

Description Boeing: F-15EX (http://www.boeing.com/defense/f-15ex)

[ORAC]

https://warontherocks.com/2019/06/f-15ex-the-strategic-blind-spot-in-the-air-forces-fighter-debate/

F-15EX: THE STRATEGIC BLIND SPOT IN THE AIR FORCE’S FIGHTER DEBATE

......The modern F-15E shows how neatly compartmentalizing fighters into “generations” can be misleading and subconsciously shape our perceptions. Consider the fifth-generation F-35’s much-lauded sensor fusion (https://www.aviationtoday.com/2018/09/04/f-35-data-fusion/). This is enabled by computing power, software, sensors, and algorithms; all items with high potential to scale to other platforms — and they have. Despite the hype, the reality is that almost all current fighters have had some form of sensor fusion for the better part of a decade (http://www.defense-aerospace.com/articles-view/feature/5/125860/rafale-in-combat%3A-%E2%80%9Cwar-for-dummies%E2%80%9D.html). In fact, the newest, largest, and most capable radar (https://theaviationgeekclub.com/f-15es-apg-82-aesa-radars-deploy-red-flag-alaska-first-time/) and the highest computing power (https://www.boeing.com/features/2016/08/f15e-fastest-computer-08-16.page) on a U.S. aircraft aren’t on a fifth-generation fighter — they’re on the F-15E.

In the time I’ve flown the F-15E I’ve seen it progress through seven major operational software updates (called suites) and various hardware upgrades (https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/104604/anasq-236-radar-pod/), each more integrated and potent than the last. When the next software upgrade (https://combataircraft.keypublishing.com/2017/05/12/boeing-begins-f-15-suite-9-work/) arrives it will have even more sensors and hardware (https://www.janes.com/article/86779/boeing-awarded-epawss-contract-modification-for-f-15e). In fact, the only limitation keeping it from achieving sensor fusion on par with the F-35 is its cockpit displays. As an example of how sequestration and funding instability drive incoherent budget choices, nearly $12 billion in aforementioned F-15E sensor upgrades are still stubbornly pushed through 1980s displays that use cathode-ray tubes to produce low-quality analog video (https://www.atariarchives.org/cgp/Ch02_Sec01.php) that aren’t even all color (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bc/F-15e_cockpit.jpg), let alone digital, touchscreen, or high-resolution. The impressive F-35 cockpit has all of this, and that makes all the difference. The F-15EX enhanced cockpit displays mirror the newest displays coming to both F/A-18 Block III (https://www.israeldefense.co.il/en/node/33312) and F-35 Block 4 (https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2017-07-19/elbit-awarded-contract-develop-f-35-display-replacement), mostly because they are all made by the same company (https://defense-update.com/20120305_elbit-systems-large-area-display-selected-for-boeings-advanced-cockpit-technology.html).


https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1003x597/image_e683b092b308801d8cbc7838192cd6982f7ec5e0.png


https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/672x449/image_a8d2ae1ffba209523a58c17d668408b086900b94.png

Figure 9. Boeing F-15E outfitted with AMBER rack prototypes on lower weapon stations. With no other changes, this rack would expand current F-15E missile capacity from eight to 14 AIM-120s. Because it connects via standard bomb attachment lugs, the rack should also easily fit the F-35A inboard wing stations to double its missile capacity for non-stealth air defense missions. (Image: U.S. Air Force (http://www.ndiagulfcoast.com/events/archive/42ndSymposium/AgingandNewSchmidt.pdf).)

[Tarnished]

Indonesia to boost air force with F-15EX, Rafale jets (aa.com.tr) (https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/indonesia-to-boost-air-force-with-f-15ex-rafale-jets/2149103#:~:text=Indonesian%20Air%20Force%20plans%20to,upgrad ed%20too%2C%20says%20air%20chief&text=Indonesia%20will%20purchase%20F%2D15EX,air%20force%20sa id%20on%20Thursday.)

Indonesia seems to think they will get some of these next year.

[Cornish Jack]

Diminishing vision coupled with juvenile interest drew my attention to the heading for this thread - but then I discover it's about aircraft !! :O;)

[NutLoose]

Looking at the impressive rear cockpit in the EX one wonders why they still persist with a CWP, surely they could replace that with a smaller simple lcd screen that could bring up the different warnings on one screen and say prioritise them in order they need addressing., so instead of having a scattering of lights coming on and then having to diagnose the primary fault to rectify / workaround, one could rapidly address the cause.


BAe ..Boeing... I accept donations for the idea.

[safetypee]

NutLoose, CWP. Perhaps an issue of interface.
The original (old) aircraft systems / MWP may have been based on analogue interfaces; sensors, individual wires and lamps.

Latterly, with updates, the new operational systems would probably be all digital, interfacing with each other.
The cost of changing the older aircraft warning system (little need to interface with operational systems) could be judged as unjustified, particularly if the MWP concept still works.

[NutLoose]

Thanks...........

[India Four Two]

This caught my attention:

The F-15EX is a two-seat fighter with U.S.-only capabilities.

What's the reason behind that statement?

[NutLoose]

This indicates it may be available to others.

https://www.flightglobal.com/defence/can-boeing-score-60-year-production-run-with-rejuvenated-f-15/140140.article

[Asturias56]

Thought one other points about it was you could sell it to people you wouldn't sell an F-22 or F-35 to...............

[RAFEngO74to09]

First F-15EX delivered to USAF.

AF’s first F-15EX arrives at Eglin > Eglin Air Force Base > Article Display (https://www.eglin.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2534696/afs-first-f-15ex-arrives-at-eglin/)

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/780x513/image_dd24acac3cb4dcc961a331450b67319e75bb153f.png

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/780x447/image_f8dfa4d8bbfce0a16a58e83b9cd55f8af0b3e8db.png

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/780x452/image_cf47aa2d86d2928ca34dced47d308edea4e09bca.png

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/780x534/image_45f2961249ea337c78fa202cc68fd3e2eb18a954.png

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/780x493/image_e3a04d155cd593cfa5b52666dce25d25d48bd8e2.png

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/780x423/image_909efcd51e910fadcbeda1fce2419fe9070c30fe.png

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/780x448/image_d8648facd5a07653ee908f4a95d4574ba1388861.png

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/780x491/image_2cb8981b5d8a9ce291d80da8c65128be448a3598.png

[Finningley Boy]

Just reading this suggests the US isn't quite so immersed in the idea of an unmanned future. Rather a more broad spectrum. But imho, the gulf between the US and the EU/UK investment in defence matters is diverging even wider.

FB

[The B Word]

Yup and the US are also reversing their decision to drive towards more and more synthetic training. Their hard hitting NCMAS report can be read here: https://www.militaryaviationsafety.gov/report/NCMAS_Final_Report.pdf

The headline:

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1439x792/71bbd0ee_abdc_477d_b52d_667bb577bbc1_4f168cba874d38d55917b6a b666c61280140b4b5.jpeg

But still our clowns in the UK, under “Astra”, are still barrelling towards 80:20 or even 90:10 synthetic to live flying ratios. I thought the whole idea of Air Safety was to learn from each others’ mistakes? :ugh:


https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/834x593/19d163cf_173f_4fff_8d93_397a97c7f4e8_542f8418b1d617851dd5c42 0deeb917c5e8f490a.jpeg

[Foghorn Leghorn]

Yup and the US are also reversing their decision to drive towards more and more synthetic training. Their hard hitting NCMAS report can be read here: https://www.militaryaviationsafety.gov/report/NCMAS_Final_Report.pdf

The headline:

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1439x792/71bbd0ee_abdc_477d_b52d_667bb577bbc1_4f168cba874d38d55917b6a b666c61280140b4b5.jpeg

But still our clowns in the UK, under “Astra”, are still barrelling towards 80:20 or even 90:10 synthetic to live flying ratios. I thought the whole idea of Air Safety was to learn from each others’ mistakes? :ugh:


https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/834x593/19d163cf_173f_4fff_8d93_397a97c7f4e8_542f8418b1d617851dd5c42 0deeb917c5e8f490a.jpeg

Nailed it, The B Word. Ask any current operator what would make them more lethal and proficient and they will tell you Astra with its 80:20 synth:live balance is not the answer; the hierarchy are on crack. Alas, they keep drinking the synthetic Kool-Aid and they won’t be told and won’t admit it’s the wrong path to walk.

[Jackonicko]

I've heard certain senior officers quoted as wanting to move to all non operational flying being synthetic.

Others as wanting various percentages of synthetic - 50%, 60%, 80% and 90%.......

Sounds crackers!

[Commando Cody]

This caught my attention:



What's the reason behind that statement?


Aside from unique communications and EW gear, can you say, " Potential Nuclear Weapons Capability"?

[stilton]

Is it intended to operate all these new EX models with two crew members ?

[Foghorn Leghorn]

I've heard certain senior officers quoted as wanting to move to all non operational flying being synthetic.

Others as wanting various percentages of synthetic - 50%, 60%, 80% and 90%.......

Sounds crackers!

It is crackers. It’s absolutely absurd. The hierarchy have no idea what they’re doing. They’ve swallowed the ‘synthetics’ pill and they will not be told different despite everyone on the FL saying it’s a ludicrous strategy.

[sandiego89]

Is it intended to operate all these new EX models with two crew members ?

Stilton, this article indicates the USAF intends to normally operate the EX with single crew, but the aircraft will retain the second seat. Imagine that will allow some flexibility for training and high workload flights where 2 brains helps, and future systems.

I believe all the advanced F-15's produced for other air arms recently are twin seat, so think this was the most expedient add on order for the USAF.

https://www.flightglobal.com/fixed-wing/us-air-force-accepts-first-boeing-f-15ex-fighter/142864.article

[stilton]

Stilton, this article indicates the USAF intends to normally operate the EX with single crew, but the aircraft will retain the second seat. Imagine that will allow some flexibility for training and high workload flights where 2 brains helps, and future systems.

I believe all the advanced F-15's produced for other air arms recently are twin seat, so think this was the most expedient add on order for the USAF.

https://www.flightglobal.com/fixed-wing/us-air-force-accepts-first-boeing-f-15ex-fighter/142864.article


interesting, thanks

[Commando Cody]

Only two nations besides the US operated single seat Eagles, Japan and Israel. After that all F-15 production, including all advanced versions which includes all exports, have been based on the F-15E and consequently all are two-seat.

Since the F-15EX is essentially the F-15SA/QA with some US systems, it would be much too expensive to develop and produce a singe seat version. Remember, the F-15EX is substantially more expensive than the F-35 to buy, the savings come in the operating costs, so you want to keep that unit cost down. And although officially the EX has been announced as replacing the C and it's been stated it will operate as a single seater, there's a whole lot you can do beyond training, given the systems, displays and software are already there, when you put someone (can you say "WSO"?) in that rear seat... I'm sure someone will eventually "discover" this.

[Jobza Guddun]

*Geek mode selected*

In amongst all their toys, the Saudi's operate C models too.

*Deselected*.

[Commando Cody]

*Geek mode selected*

In amongst all their toys, the Saudi's operate C models too.

*Deselected*.

"Embarrassed Mode Selected"


https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/285x282/homerdoh1_a1b98da44b62787040a5a383273ddb44750b7ab6.jpg
Ds as well, I believe.

"Deselected"

[West Coast]

Only two nations besides the US operated single seat Eagles, Japan and Israel. After that all F-15 production, including all advanced versions which includes all exports, have been based on the F-15E and consequently all are two-seat.

Since the F-15EX is essentially the F-15SA/QA with some US systems, it would be much too expensive to develop and produce a singe seat version. Remember, the F-15EX is substantially more expensive than the F-35 to buy, the savings come in the operating costs, so you want to keep that unit cost down. And although officially the EX has been announced as replacing the C and it's been stated it will operate as a single seater, there's a whole lot you can do beyond training, given the systems, displays and software are already there, when you put someone (can you say "WSO"?) in that rear seat... I'm sure someone will eventually "discover" this.

Do you have source material indicating the EX is more expensive to purchase? Open source documents indicate otherwise.

[RAFEngO74to09]

The F-15EX is not "substantially more expensive than the F-35 to buy" - in fact it about the same as the F-35A at $80M flyaway (November 2020 - Boeing) and therefore cheaper than both the F-35B and F-35C.

The F-15EX is also much cheaper to operate than the F-35 at $27K per hour compared to $35K+ for the F-35.

The F-15EX is ideal for what it is being purchased for - currently recapitalization of ANG units in the homeland AD role - and obviously capable of a lot more if enough are bought to start replacing the oldest F-15Es.

"To Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., it’s not a matter of one or the other. “It’s capability and capacity,” he said during a Defense One online event in October. While Brown insisted, “We still value the F-35,” he called the F-15EX an “opportunity.” Because foreign customers have invested heavily to modernize the F-15, the Air Force can leverage those investments and acquire an airplane that’s as good as a fourth-generation airplane can be, without laying out big dollars for development or tooling, Brown asserted."

https://www.airforcemag.com/article/joining-up-on-the-f-15ex/#:~:text=Boeing%20quotes%20a%20flyaway%20cost,operating%20co sts%20are%20a%20differentiator.

[blind pew]

I misread the thread title..have I been in lockdown too long or am I just an old perve?

[Commando Cody]

Cost figures on which I based my statements.

USAF budget documents indicate that an F-15EX will have a "flyaway" cost of $87.7 million. An F-35A delivered in 2022 will have a "flyaway" cost of $77.9 million. But you've always got to be careful when aircraft prices are listed, because the definitions are, shall we say, "fluid". To the "flyaway" cost of a F-15EX must be added the cost of major systems such as the radar and the electronic warfare suite which aren't covered in that number, whereas the "flyaway" cost of the F-35A includes those systems. So, the difference is even greater.

Where the money is to be made is in operating costs. Using 2019 figures (latest available) obtained by Aviation Week via a Freedom Of Information Act request, the operational cost per flying hour for an F-35A was $43,123, while an F-15E cost $26,733 per hour. As you can see, the lower operating costs makes up the difference relatively early in the -EX's career even adding in the radar, EW and other systems.

The spanner in the works is Lockheed and the Joint Project Office's claim that the F-35A operating costs will drop to $25K per hour by 2025 a number that is being met with some skepticism.

[West Coast]

P-51EX is coming next. Digital backbone and all.

If only for the sweet hum of its engine.

[chopper2004]

Welcome the Eagle II


https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/2000x1156/de2036c9_9045_4339_828f_deab623f754a_d207ea1cd975cdbbd613286 9a321a0d078fb40ed.jpeg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3J-C0yK9i0Y

[RAFEngO74to09]

USAF CSAF: "As we continue to accelerate the change needed to accomplish #NDS (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NDS?src=hashtag_click) objectives, the F-15EX Eagle II represents investment in capabilities that we need in 2030 and beyond.".

(27) General CQ Brown, Jr. on Twitter: "As we continue to accelerate the change needed to accomplish #NDS objectives, the F-15EX Eagle II represents investment in capabilities that we need in 2030 and beyond." / Twitter

National Defense Strategy (NDS)

[RAFEngO74to09]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTt_TJo9EF4

[tdracer]

Cost figures on which I based my statements.

USAF budget documents indicate that an F-15EX will have a "flyaway" cost of $87.7 million. An F-35A delivered in 2022 will have a "flyaway" cost of $77.9 million. But you've always got to be careful when aircraft prices are listed, because the definitions are, shall we say, "fluid". To the "flyaway" cost of a F-15EX must be added the cost of major systems such as the radar and the electronic warfare suite which aren't covered in that number, whereas the "flyaway" cost of the F-35A includes those systems. So, the difference is even greater.

Are you sure about those F35 numbers being true 'flyaway'? Everything I've seen for the F35 didn't include the price of the engine (which is a big portion of the cost) while the F15 numbers included two engines.
As you said, the definitions are 'fluid'...

[Turbine D]

Cost figures on which I based my statements.
USAF budget documents indicate that an F-15EX will have a "flyaway" cost of $87.7 million. An F-35A delivered in 2022 will have a "flyaway" cost of $77.9 million. But you've always got to be careful when aircraft prices are listed, because the definitions are, shall we say, "fluid". To the "flyaway" cost of a F-15EX must be added the cost of major systems such as the radar and the electronic warfare suite which aren't covered in that number, whereas the "flyaway" cost of the F-35A includes those systems. So, the difference is even greater.
The American people were promised that the F-35A would be a cost reasonable replacement for the A-10 and the F-16 when Lockheed Martin won the contract in 2001.

The latest figure tossed out by the Pentagon and Lockheed is the F-35A will cost $80 million each. No they won't! They will cost far more. The latest Pentagon and Lockheed Martin figure touted in the press is $ (https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/f-35-getting-cheaper-it-time-buy-more-stealth-fighters-168920)80 million for each F-35A in the Lot 14 batch for fiscal year 2020. But taxpayers will pay far more than that for an F-35A. This number, like the others trotted out to prove the plane’s affordability, hardly provides the full picture not just of the price per aircraft, but the program as a whole. The $80 million sticker price for the 2020 model F-35A jumps up to $110 million when all aspects of the program are added together according to the USAF justification book and that doesn't include costs that were paid for in previous years. IMHO, it is best to look at the bigger picture, not just acquisition alone.

When all the operating costs for the planned fleet are calculated across the expected 50-year lifetime of the program, the American people will spend an estimated $1.727 trillion on the F-35 aircraft planned for Pentagon purchases. I don't think the F-15EX operating costs will be anything approaching the likes of the F-35.

[ORAC]

One of the most important points, and a sea change between the F-22/F-35 era with their incredible expense and and almost decade periods between upgrades, is the software.

For the las5 couple of decades it’s been warned that the software is more expensive - and more if a development problem - than the hardware. Perhaps that is about to change. (And it makes me wonder about the latest Russian/Chinese generations behind their flashy shut lines)...

https://www.defensenews.com/air/2021/04/07/the-f-15ex-has-a-new-name/

Most important is the aircraft’s open architecture backbone, which will allow the service to quickly update the aircraft and add new capabilities, Richardson said.

https://breakingdefense.com/2021/03/block-4-software-issues-could-cause-f-35-capability-delays-costly-retrofits/

The GAO report found that the current 2027 goal for finalizing the Block 4 (https://breakingdefense.com/tag/block-4-software/)modernization is “not achievable.” GAO said that costs of the effort had ballooned by $1.9 billion between 2019 and 2020, bringing the overall cost to about $14.4 billion. Software development has been the primary driver of the problems, the report said — including the fact that about a quarter of the software being delivered by prime contractor Lockheed Martin (https://breakingdefense.com/tag/lockheed-martin/) was found to have defects after it had already been integrated into the aircraft.

[Commando Cody]

Are you sure about those F35 numbers being true 'flyaway'? Everything I've seen for the F35 didn't include the price of the engine (which is a big portion of the cost) while the F15 numbers included two engines.
As you said, the definitions are 'fluid'...

Sorry for the delay. Originally, F-35 "flyaway" costs, as you say, did not include the engine. They got a lot of grief over that and so started including them, to the best of my knowledge. Now if they still weren't including them today, Boeing and its lobbyists would be all over that. It should be noted that the F-15EX engine price is an estimate. Originally to save time they were going to have all their EXs powered by F110s, as are the advanced F-15s - the F-15K, SG, SA and QA. Pratt complained and so there is now a competition going on to determine who will power the majority of the -EXs (the early ones will all be powered by F110s), so we don't yet know what the exact price of engines in the EX will be.

It's not surprising that the F-35's flyaway cost today would be lower since it benefits from a much larger order base and more rapid production rate. However, no matter how many or fast you build, that won't change the per-hour operating costs and this is where the -EX is expected to come out ahead. Once again, all these numbers and terms are "fluid".

BTW, Aviation Week is quoting the same numbers I did, FWIW.

[ORAC]

https://www.defensenews.com/congress/budget/2021/06/02/air-force-asks-for-more-f-15ex-jets-in-fy22-unfunded-wish-list-not-f-35s/

US Air Force wish list includes more F-15EX jets but no F-35s

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Air Force’s $4.2 billion wish list for fiscal 2022 includes about $1.4 billion to buy 12 more F-15EX fighters from Boeing (https://www.defensenews.com/air/2021/04/07/the-f-15ex-has-a-new-name/), helping to narrow a projected gap as the service divests its aging F-15C/D fleet.

More funding for the F-15EX — which includes procurement of 24 conformal fuel tank sets and assorted spares to extend the range of the aircraft — ranked as the top priority and most expensive item on the service’s annual unfunded priorities list (https://www.defensenews.com/industry/techwatch/2020/02/21/here-is-the-first-thing-the-air-force-would-fund-if-it-had-more-money-in-fy21/), which was delivered to Congress on June 1 and obtained by Defense News.

But the biggest surprise was the conspicuous absence of additional F-35 Joint Strike Fighters (https://www.defensenews.com/air/2021/04/22/dont-expect-more-money-for-additional-f-35s-in-fy22-lawmakers-tell-an-embattled-lockheed/)…….

Congress is usually amenable to boosting aircraft procurement to the levels laid out in the unfunded list, but the Air Force’s planned divestment of more than 200 aircraft in FY22 — including 42 A-10 Warthogs, 47 F-16C/Ds and 48 F-15C/Ds — could make lawmakers even more likely to increase F-15EX procurement.

The Air Force requested funds for 12 F-15EX aircraft and 48 F-35s in its FY22 budget (https://www.defensenews.com/congress/budget/2021/05/28/us-air-force-to-mothball-dozens-of-a-10s-f-15s-and-f-16s-in-fy22-budget/)released Friday…..

[chopper2004]

Theres total of 4 x F-15EX at Eglin as of the end of 2023 with EX3 and EX4 airframes.

https://www.53rdwing.af.mil/News/Article/3625876/eagles-have-landed-new-f-15exs-arrive-at-eglin/


https://scontent-man2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/415181693_683321487315264_6508391635925355181_n.jpg?_nc_cat= 111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=5f2048&_nc_ohc=9eMi4BiLJwcAb5vvOZc&_nc_ht=scontent-man2-1.xx&oh=00_AfB_rYvxmTVz1cT7wXLByoczAdwAr7x0_Hpf8qIm1s64ew&oe=663080BB


https://scontent-man2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/415194428_683321463981933_2637083360896032313_n.jpg?_nc_cat= 107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=5f2048&_nc_ohc=3XH7HukifeUAb4OD1rM&_nc_ht=scontent-man2-1.xx&oh=00_AfD9weLI3hPMHvknrEyCpBHfAdWZ8VgJPnFME4JJv9-KkQ&oe=663076AC
https://scontent-man2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/414919899_687426296904783_5970230383573827307_n.jpg?_nc_cat= 100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=5f2048&_nc_ohc=Uwa_Td0z2OYQ7kNvgETB-gU&_nc_ht=scontent-man2-1.xx&oh=00_AfDPZmlmljBEE6LwGHuyGEkr505EC5fb0BGKry8bWF3M0w&oe=66307CF7

cheers

[chopper2004]

All changes afoot with Seymour Johnson 4th Fighter Wing from 2026 onwards as two of the four Boeing F-15E Strike Eagle squadrons are to merge into one to become the F-15EX FTU. As far as I am aware, its the 333rd and 334th Fighter Squadron are the FTU for the strike eagle while the 335th and 336th are frontline squadrons.

https://www.airandspaceforces.com/air-national-guard-oregon-f-15ex-awesome/

Originally the 173rd Fighter Wing in Oregon would be the F_15EX FTU but the squadron within the wing is becoming F-35A FTU

cheers