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Aircraft · Air

F-15E Strike Eagle

Two-seat fighter for air-to-air and air-to-ground missions.

by Boeing

FieldedAircraftAirMilestoneJun 11, 2025
An F-15E Strike Eagle banking away over clouds after aerial refueling above the North Sea

Photo: U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Tony R. Tolley · Public domain (PD-USGov-Military-Air Force)

Milestones19842025
  1. MilestoneF-15E selected in dual-role fighter competition, confirmed
  2. First flightProduction F-15E first flight, confirmed
  3. First deliveryFirst production F-15E delivered to Luke AFB, confirmed
  4. Initial operating capabilityOperational capability at Seymour Johnson AFB, confirmed
  5. Combat useF-15E enters combat in Desert Storm, confirmed
  6. UpgradeFirst 389th Fighter Squadron F-15E receives APG-82 radar upgrade, confirmed
  7. UpgradeFirst operational EPAWSS-equipped F-15Es arrive at RAF Lakenheath, confirmed
  8. MilestoneGAO assessment: F-15E EPAWSS installation constraints, confirmed

Timeline8

  1. MilestoneConfirmed

    F-15E selected in dual-role fighter competition

    The Air Force selected the F-15 approach over the F-16XL, leading to production orders for the F-15E. This selection does not establish the earlier demonstrator unveiling.

    SourcesU.S. Air Force

  2. First flightConfirmed

    Production F-15E first flight

    Boeing dates the Strike Eagle production variant first flight; not the earlier converted demonstrator.

    SourcesBoeing

  3. First deliveryConfirmed

    First production F-15E delivered to Luke AFB

    Sources48th Fighter Wing

  4. Initial operating capabilityConfirmed

    Operational capability at Seymour Johnson AFB

    SourcesAir Combat Command

  5. Combat useConfirmed

    F-15E enters combat in Desert Storm

    F-15Es took part in the opening attacks on Iraqi Scud missile sites. This dates the Strike Eagle variant, not earlier F-15 air-superiority variants.

    SourcesU.S. Air Force

  6. UpgradeConfirmed

    First 389th Fighter Squadron F-15E receives APG-82 radar upgrade

    The Radar Modernization Program replaced the mechanically scanned APG-70 with the APG-82(V)1 active electronically scanned array. The source dates the squadron’s first upgraded aircraft to June.

    SourcesU.S. Air Force

  7. UpgradeConfirmed

    First operational EPAWSS-equipped F-15Es arrive at RAF Lakenheath

    The two upgraded aircraft were assigned to the 492nd and 494th Fighter Squadrons. EPAWSS modernizes the Strike Eagle’s electronic warfare protection.

    SourcesU.S. Air Force

  8. MilestoneConfirmed

    GAO assessment: F-15E EPAWSS installation constraints

    GAO’s June 2025 assessment reports that the first two EPAWSS-equipped F-15Es had been fielded to test and training centers. Installation during scheduled depot maintenance began in 2024. Workforce and legacy-aircraft issues constrained installation schedules. The EPAWSS estimate includes 99 F-15E production units, 96 F-15EX production units and five development units; it is an upgrade-program quantity, not an aircraft fleet total.

    SourcesU.S. Government Accountability Office

Solid entries are confirmed, outlined reported, dashed estimated or still to come; dotted italic entries are speculative. Dates show only the precision the sources give.

Built with1

Cost to the government

  • Unit cost (per unit)Confirmed
    $31.1M
    Estimate / observation: 1998 · BY1998 $

    USAF F-15E fact sheet 'Unit cost' in FY1998 constant dollars (commonly cited as flyaway; basis not stated on the fact sheet). Observation date set to the FY1998 price basis; fact sheet itself is undated.

    U.S. Air Force
Budget by fiscal year
Fiscal yearAppropriationRequestEnactedQtyBudget lineSource
FY2027RDT&E$323M———Office of the Under Secretary of War (Comptroller)Confirmed
FY2027Procurement$428M———Office of the Under Secretary of War (Comptroller)Confirmed
FY2027Total$751M———Office of the Under Secretary of War (Comptroller)Confirmed
FY2026RDT&E$233M$230M——Office of the Under Secretary of War (Comptroller)Confirmed
FY2026Procurement$469M$407M——Office of the Under Secretary of War (Comptroller)Confirmed
FY2026Total$702M$637M——Office of the Under Secretary of War (Comptroller)Confirmed
FY2025RDT&E—$159M——Office of the Under Secretary of War (Comptroller)Confirmed
FY2025Procurement—$307M——Office of the Under Secretary of War (Comptroller)Confirmed
FY2025Total—$465M——Office of the Under Secretary of War (Comptroller)Confirmed

Unit costs and contract unit prices for this product, and budget figures for the programs that buy it. Each figure states its dollar basis and links its source; contract values are under Programs & awards.

Sources13

  1. 1.
    Government recordWeapon Systems Annual Assessment: DOD Leaders Should Ensure That Newer Programs Are Structured for Speed and Innovation — p. 71

    U.S. Government Accountability Office · Jun 11, 2025 · Supports: System milestone

    “99 F-15E and 96 F-15EX production units.”
  2. 2.
    Government recordFirst F-15E Strike Eagles equipped with Advanced EPAWSS system arrive at Liberty Wing

    U.S. Air Force · Jan 21, 2025 · Supports: System milestone

    “arrived at RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom, Jan. 16, 2025”
  3. 3.
    Government recordFebruary 24, 1984: F-15 Became the Air Force’s New Dual-Role Fighter

    U.S. Air Force · Feb 24, 2021 · Supports: System milestone

    “This led to production orders for the F-15E Strike Eagle.”
  4. 4.
    Government recordDESERT STORM: The Strike Eagle’s opening act

    U.S. Air Force · Jan 15, 2016 · Supports: System milestone

    “In the initial assault, or strike package, was 24 F-15Es”
  5. 5.
    Government recordF-15E takes first flight with new radar system

    U.S. Air Force · Jul 17, 2014 · Supports: System milestone

    “The first 389th Fighter Squadron F-15E Strike Eagle received a Radar Modernization Program, or RMP, upgrade here in June.”
  6. 6.
    Government record25 years of dominant Strike Eagle airpower

    Air Combat Command · Apr 15, 2013 · Supports: System milestone

    “In September 1989, the aircraft reached operational capability at Seymour Johnson AFB.”
  7. 7.
    CompanyThe F100-PW-229

    Pratt & Whitney · Supports: System · system component:f100

    “The F100-PW-229 engine powers the F-15E Strike Eagle”
  8. 8.
    Government recordProgram Acquisition Cost by Weapon System: Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Request

    Office of the Under Secretary of War (Comptroller) · Supports: Cost · amount

    “F-15EX Eagle II / F-15E Eagle ... 53.3 - 158.6 - 233.0 - - -”
  9. 9.
    Government recordProgram Acquisition Cost by Weapon System: Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Request

    Office of the Under Secretary of War (Comptroller) · Supports: Cost · amount

    “F-15EX Eagle II / F-15E Eagle ... 3,967.9 24 322.9 428.1 751.0 3,847.3 - -”
  10. 10.
    CompanyF-15E Strike Eagle Dual Role Fighter

    Boeing · Supports: System milestone

    “The dual-role Strike Eagle made its first flight on December 11, 1986”
  11. 11.
    Government recordF-15E Strike Eagle (fact sheet)

    U.S. Air Force · Supports: Cost · amount

    “$31.1 million (fiscal year 98 constant dollars)”
  12. 12.
    Government recordF-15E Strike Eagle

    U.S. Air Force · Supports: System

    “dual-role fighter designed to perform air-to-air and air-to-ground missions”
  13. 13.
    Government record48 FW 2023 Heritage Pamphlet

    48th Fighter Wing · Supports: System milestone

    “The first production model of the F-15E was delivered to the 405th Tactical Training Wing, Luke AFB, Arizona, in April 1988.”

Each fact on this page is attached to the sources that support it. Archived copies are linked when we keep one.