The F-15EX Eagle II is the latest, digital Eagle species to enter the USAF's inventory with the first two birds delivered by Boeing to Eglin AFB in 2021. The F-15EX is being drafted to replace the older F15C/D variants for the Air defense & superiority role by leveraging the Eagle's capability to strike from very long ranges which no other USAF aircraft can boast of while also supplementing the F-22 & F-35 5th Gen fighters on strike missions given its massive 13 tonnes weapons payload. The EX takes the Eagle's capabilities to another level by combining an all digital backbone, open mission system architecture, an advanced cockpit offering better visibility & fly-by-wire controls along with Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability System (EPAWSS), an electronic warfare and threat identification system, which further enhances Eagle's survivability and attack capabilities by further sharpening its instincts. The EX is capable of carrying around 12 AMRAAMs and 22 AIM-9X Sidewinders under its wing pylons besides 15 JDAMs and hypersonic missiles making it the most advanced, capable & lethal Eagle variant in the USAF colours ever. The inability of the F-22 and F-35 to carry hypersonic missiles in their internal weapons bays owing to missile size will ensure that the specialized role is assigned to the F-15EX. The first set of Eagle IIs spread their wings at Eglin in 2021 and recently had their live fire tests wherein they shot AIM-120C/D missiles while proving their survivability and ability to operate in tandem with 5th gen penetrating platforms. USAF plans to buy around 76 of these Eagle IIs which could go up to 144. The Eagle, thus, is back and this time in its extraordinary digital Avatar to take on the adversaries...

Audio and Episode Cover Art Credits: Boeing