F100
Fighter engine family used by F-15 and F-16 aircraft.
Fielded
- First flight
- Jul 27, 1972
Photo: U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Emerson Nunez · Public domain (PD-USGov)
Program · United States · U.S. Air Force
F-15E Strike Eagle
Two-seat fighter for air-to-air and air-to-ground missions.
Updated
FieldedU.S. Air Force
Awarded
—
Across linked awards
Timeline8
- 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.
- First flightConfirmed
Production F-15E first flight
Boeing dates the Strike Eagle production variant first flight; not the earlier converted demonstrator.
- First deliveryConfirmed
First production F-15E delivered to Luke AFB
- Initial operating capabilityConfirmed
Operational capability at Seymour Johnson AFB
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Program and variant milestones. Dates show only the precision the sources give.
Cost to the GovernmentFY2027 request $751M
| Measure | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Program totals · 1 | ||
| R&D program totalA separately identified lifetime development total has not been verified. This is not a zero-cost estimate. | Not established | — |
| Unit costs · 2 | ||
| Unit cost (per unit)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. | $31.1MBY1998 $ | F-15E Strike Eagle (fact sheet) U.S. Air Force · figure 1998 |
| Published acquisition / aircraftHistorical fact-sheet figure; not a current replacement quote. | $31.1MConstant FY1998 $ | F-15E fact sheet U.S. Air Force · figure Apr 2019 |
| Quantities · 2 | ||
| Published U.S. fleet snapshotSource inventory snapshot; subsequent retirements, transfers and losses are not inferred. | 219U.S. only | F-15E fact sheet U.S. Air Force · figure Apr 2019 |
| Program quantityA comparable total acquisition quantity has not been verified. | Not established | — |
| Operating costs · 2 | ||
| Annual O&S / aircraftHistorical average for the source study population; not a marginal mission cost. | $8.56M / yrConstant FY2018 $ | Weapon System Sustainment: GAO-21-101SP, FY2011–2018 operating costs GAO · figure FY2018 |
| Reimbursement / flight hourPublished billing rate for use by another DoD component. It is not the fully burdened cost of ownership. | $29,992 / hrNominal $; Other DoD Component | FY2026 aircraft hourly reimbursement rates, Other DoD Component column DoD Comptroller · figure FY2026 |
Program totals · 1
- R&D program totalA separately identified lifetime development total has not been verified. This is not a zero-cost estimate.Source not recordedNot established
Unit costs · 2
- Unit cost (per unit)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.F-15E Strike Eagle (fact sheet) U.S. Air Force · figure 1998$31.1MBY1998 $
- Published acquisition / aircraftHistorical fact-sheet figure; not a current replacement quote.F-15E fact sheet U.S. Air Force · figure Apr 2019$31.1MConstant FY1998 $
Quantities · 2
- Published U.S. fleet snapshotSource inventory snapshot; subsequent retirements, transfers and losses are not inferred.F-15E fact sheet U.S. Air Force · figure Apr 2019219U.S. only
- Program quantityA comparable total acquisition quantity has not been verified.Source not recordedNot established
Operating costs · 2
- Annual O&S / aircraftHistorical average for the source study population; not a marginal mission cost.Weapon System Sustainment: GAO-21-101SP, FY2011–2018 operating costs GAO · figure FY2018$8.56M / yrConstant FY2018 $
- Reimbursement / flight hourPublished billing rate for use by another DoD component. It is not the fully burdened cost of ownership.FY2026 aircraft hourly reimbursement rates, Other DoD Component column DoD Comptroller · figure FY2026$29,992 / hrNominal $; Other DoD Component
Earlier observations · 4
Superseded estimates and prices, each in its original scope and dollar basis.
| Measure | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Unit costs · 1 | ||
| Published acquisition / aircraftHistorical fact-sheet figure; not a current replacement quote. | $31.1MConstant FY1998 $ | F-15E fact sheet U.S. Air Force · figure Apr 2019 |
| Operating costs · 3 | ||
| Annual O&S / aircraft1 | $9.92M / yrConstant FY2018 $ | Weapon System Sustainment: GAO-21-101SP, FY2011–2018 operating costs GAO · figure FY2011 |
| Annual O&S / aircraft1 | $8.56M / yrConstant FY2018 $ | Weapon System Sustainment: GAO-21-101SP, FY2011–2018 operating costs GAO · figure FY2018 |
| Reimbursement / flight hourPublished billing rate for use by another DoD component. It is not the fully burdened cost of ownership. | $29,992 / hrNominal $; Other DoD Component | FY2026 aircraft hourly reimbursement rates, Other DoD Component column DoD Comptroller · figure FY2026 |
Unit costs · 1
- Published acquisition / aircraftHistorical fact-sheet figure; not a current replacement quote.F-15E fact sheet U.S. Air Force · figure Apr 2019$31.1MConstant FY1998 $
Operating costs · 3
- Annual O&S / aircraft1Weapon System Sustainment: GAO-21-101SP, FY2011–2018 operating costs GAO · figure FY2011$9.92M / yrConstant FY2018 $
- Annual O&S / aircraft1Weapon System Sustainment: GAO-21-101SP, FY2011–2018 operating costs GAO · figure FY2018$8.56M / yrConstant FY2018 $
- Reimbursement / flight hourPublished billing rate for use by another DoD component. It is not the fully burdened cost of ownership.FY2026 aircraft hourly reimbursement rates, Other DoD Component column DoD Comptroller · figure FY2026$29,992 / hrNominal $; Other DoD Component
1Historical average for the source study population; not a marginal mission cost.
| Fiscal year | Appropriation | Request | Enacted | Qty | Budget line | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2027 | RDT&E | $323M | — | — | — | Program Acquisition Cost by Weapon System: Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Request Office of the Under Secretary of War (Comptroller) · Apr 21, 2026 |
| FY2027 | Procurement | $428M | — | — | — | Program Acquisition Cost by Weapon System: Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Request Office of the Under Secretary of War (Comptroller) · Apr 21, 2026 |
| FY2027 | Total | $751M | — | — | — | Program Acquisition Cost by Weapon System: Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Request Office of the Under Secretary of War (Comptroller) · Apr 21, 2026 |
| FY2026 | RDT&E | $233M | $230M | — | — | Program Acquisition Cost by Weapon System: Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Request Office of the Under Secretary of War (Comptroller) · Apr 21, 2026 |
| FY2026 | Procurement | $469M | $407M | — | — | Program Acquisition Cost by Weapon System: Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Request Office of the Under Secretary of War (Comptroller) · Apr 21, 2026 |
| FY2026 | Total | $702M | $637M | — | — | Program Acquisition Cost by Weapon System: Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Request Office of the Under Secretary of War (Comptroller) · Apr 21, 2026 |
| FY2025 | RDT&E | — | $159M | — | — | Program Acquisition Cost by Weapon System: Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Request Office of the Under Secretary of War (Comptroller) |
| FY2025 | Procurement | — | $307M | — | — | Program Acquisition Cost by Weapon System: Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Request Office of the Under Secretary of War (Comptroller) |
| FY2025 | Total | — | $465M | — | — | Program Acquisition Cost by Weapon System: Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Request Office of the Under Secretary of War (Comptroller) |
Reading the cost figures
The fact-sheet acquisition figure uses the dollar basis shown above. GAO’s annual operating and support cost includes a broader ownership scope than the Comptroller reimbursement rate. These figures should not be combined into a single inflation-free trend.
F-15E fact sheet U.S. Air Force · +2 more
Open research: Figures retain the date and scope of the original source. A historical count, cumulative delivery or procurement plan is not today’s mission-capable inventory. A separately identified lifetime development total has not been verified. This is not a zero-cost estimate.
What the government budgets and pays for this program, from budget justification books, appropriations, acquisition reports and contract announcements. Each figure states its dollar basis. What contractors were obligated is under Contracts.
Supply Chain1
Major components and the companies that make them.