New Plane Developed for the US Air Force

by Theodore B. Morrison, age 14

Welcome to the new and improved age of aircraft in the U.S. Air Force. The F-15EX is the latest in the age and it sure does show in the improvements made.

The F-15EX is designed to take previous fighter planes, upgrade them, and add newer, advanced features. The aircraft has the capability to carry hypersonic weapons, missiles that travel at least five times faster than the speed of sound, giving it an upper hand in near-peer conflicts. These missiles are powerful enough to destroy a target with only the kinetic energy of its impact and are capable of carrying explosives including nuclear warheads. The F-15EX will also include improved defense and surveillance systems. The United States has expanded its horizon in air capability with the development of this jet.

While the F-15EX is getting tested for issues, it will be stored at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. The new aircraft, produced by Boeing, was escorted by both a F-15C and a F-15E during the trip from St. Louis to the Air Force base in North-Western Florida, the jet was flown by Lt. Col. Richard Turner and Lt. Col. Jacob Lindaman. The aircraft's first flight was from the factory to the base.

Right now, the U.S. plans on ordering at least 144 F-15EX fighter jets. However, many of those jets haven't been manufactured yet. As of May 2021, only eight have been ordered and a sole jet has been received by the military. The funding for the eight F-15EX’s came from the budget for new fifth-generation F-22A Raptors, since the order quantity was reduced from 750 to only 187 Raptors. The jet’s new flight capabilities are what make it such an important investment to the U.S. Military.

The Air Force is one of the branches that aren’t restricted by geography. Planes can travel across deserts, seas, and jungles, while all the other branches have a limited operating range. The Navy and Coast Guard generally operate in the sea, and the Marines and Army are generally bound to ground combat. Whichever nation has superiority in the skies, can be an agile and effective predator while their soldiers on the ground wouldn’t have to worry about enemy aircraft.

The new F-15EX is the next step in affordable, advanced, and superior military jets. The Air Force is always advancing its technology and finding new ways to evolve future methods of air combat.

[Sources: The Economist ; Business Insider ]