An F-15EX Eagle II from the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron, 53rd Wing, takes flight for the first time out of Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., April 26, 2021 | Photo: 1st Lt Savanah Bray/U.S. Air Force
Boeing has announced the conclusion of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by Air Vice Marshal Yusuf Jauhari, Head of Defense Facilities Agency, Indonesia Ministry of Defense, and Mark Sears, Boeing Fighters vice president and program manager, for the sale of 24 F-15EX fighter aircraft to the Southeast Asian nation at St. Louis.
The signing took place in the presence of Indonesian Minister of Defence Prabowo Subianto, who was quoted in a statement released by the company, as saying, “We are pleased to announce our commitment to procure the critical F-15EX fighter capability for Indonesia. This state-of-the-art fighter will protect and secure our nation with its advanced capabilities.”
Although variants of the F-15 are operated by seven countries, the sale to Indonesia, once approved by the U.S. government, would be only the second sale of the F-15EX variant, after a request for the purchase of 25 aircraft by Israel, earlier this year.
An F-15EX Eagle II from the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron, 53rd Wing, takes flight for the first time out of Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., April 26, 2021 | Photo: 1st Lt Savanah Bray/ U.S. Air Force
Sears was quoted in the statement, as saying, “We have invested years of expertise into developing the F-15EX capabilities. There is no other fighter like the F-15 in the world, and this platform will put Indonesia at the top of air dominance capabilities. Boeing is ready to support this effort and remains a committed partner to the U.S. government in advancing international security objectives with allies and partners around the world.”
Indonesia has also recently placed orders for a total of 42 Dassault Rafale fighters. But the F-15EX is very different — being in a much higher weight class, to begin with. The export version of the aircraft delivered to Indonesia will be designated the F-15IDN.
Boeing says the F-15EX is ‘the most advanced version of the F-15 ever built, with digital fly-by-wire flight controls, a new electronic warfare system, an all-glass digital cockpit, and the latest mission systems and software capabilities.’
The U.S. Air Force has current plans to order 104 F-15EX fighters to replace older F-15C/D versions. The aircraft has also been offered to India.
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