At Eglin Air Force Base, the US Air Force’s first Boeing F-15EX fighter touches down.

The newest fighter aircraft of the United States Air Force, the Boeing F-15EX, landed here on March 11. The aircraft will be the first in the Air Force to undergo comprehensive testing, including both operational and developmental testing, before being put into service. The aircraft is equipped with the unit insignia of the 40th Flight Test Squadron, 96th TW, which is EX1 marked with “ET.” When the EX2 arrives in April, it will have a “OT” tail flash, signifying the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron of the 53rd wing. Together, the two test squadrons are transported on the EX-1 to support the joint test effort. The goal of integrated testing is to guarantee that the aircraft satisfies test requirements and that the EX is provided to the warfighter as soon as feasible.

Brig. Gen. Scott Cain, commander of the 96th Test Wing, said, “Today is a significant day for the base and our mission as the US Air Force’s First Boeing F-15EX Fighter Arrives at Eglin Air Force Base.” Being a part of this iconic aircraft’s next evolution makes us extremely proud. I’m excited to watch how this special test partnership gets the F-15EX ready for combat.

According to Lt. Col. Richard Turner, commander of the 40th FLTS, who piloted the new EX to Eglin, “combining these test capabilities on day one of flight test helps ensure F-15EX is ready to execute on any system issues early on, so they can be addressed before the F-15EX’s increased production and delivery to the warfighter.”

On March 11, the Air Force’s newest fighter plane, a Boeing F-15EX, touched down at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. With the help of Eglin’s testers, the teams are able to find any problems with the system early on and fix them before the F-15EX is produced in greater quantities and delivered to the squadrons. Here, the EX’s test program’s groundwork and test planning will be supervised by the Operational Flight Program Combined Test Force. The new fighter is a two-seater with improved mission systems and software capabilities, enhanced avionics, and a larger cargo capacity that can be flown by a single pilot. Aircrew will fly local airspace flights to acquaint themselves with the aircraft before testing and evaluation commence.

At Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, the Air Force’s newest fighter plane, the Boeing F-15EX, is operational. When the Air Force’s newest fighter plane, the Boeing F-15EX, arrives at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida on March 11, testers here will be in charge of it.