An order for 24 aircraft appears in the FY2027 budget, while the new total target announced by the Air Force represents a jump from the previously planned 129 units.
The United States intends to significantly expand the F-15EX Eagle II fighter program. According to Breaking Defense, the U.S. Air Force now plans to acquire a total of 267 aircraft in the coming years, more than doubling the previous fleet projection. Until now, the most recent plan pointed to 129 units.
The move already appears in the FY2027 budget released by the Pentagon. In the Air Force’s official aircraft procurement document, the F-15EX appears with an order for 24 units for the next budget cycle, consolidating the model as one of the key bets of U.S. combat aviation in the short and medium term.
According to the publication, the Air Force intends to use the new batches not only to complete the formation of units equipped with the F-15EX, but also to begin replacing the aging F-15E fleet. Boeing, the aircraft’s manufacturer, did not comment on the possible expansion of the program.
The revision comes amid a strong expansion of the U.S. Air Force budget. According to details presented at the Pentagon and reported by Breaking Defense, the service’s total budget for FY2027 is expected to grow by about 25%, reaching $267.7 billion, with an increase of approximately 30% in procurement and 27% in research and development.
Although the F-35A remains the primary next-generation fighter within the Air Force structure, the expansion of the F-15EX indicates a parallel strategy to strengthen combat capability and accelerate the replacement of older aircraft. In the same budget context, the force also plans to purchase 38 F-35s in FY2027, while keeping the F-15EX on a more robust production line in the coming years.
+ HORSE W30: new hybrid V6 engine from Horse Powertrain to be unveiled in Beijing 2026
Source and images: Breaking Defense | Comptroller.war.gov | USAF. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
