Global
The US Air Force has finalized a massive contract with Boeing, valued at up to $131.23 billion, for the production, modernization, and maintenance of F-15 fighter jets. This extensive agreement covers customers both within the United States and internationally until 2037, ensuring continuous support for these strategic aircraft. According to available details, the agreement, signed on August 24 last year under the F-15 Eagle Crest program, grants the US Air Force flexibility to place purchase orders in phases, rather than committing to a fixed number of aircraft at once. The period for submitting these orders can extend until August 24, 2031, with an option for further extension until 2036. This comprehensive framework combines new aircraft production, necessary upgrades, modifications, maintenance services, and depot support, all within a single contract serving the Air Force, Air National Guard, and foreign buyers. The contract also includes a significant clause for establishing internal maintenance centers for the US Air Force. This provision aims to enable these centers to independently perform comprehensive maintenance operations, reducing full reliance on Boeing. It is important to note that this contract does not obligate the US government to spend the full $131.23 billion. Instead, it sets a financial ceiling for what the Air Force is authorized to order throughout the contract's duration. Only $343,740 was allocated in fiscal year 2026 to fund research, development, testing, and evaluation upon the contract's award. American F-15 Eagle fighters are renowned for their superior air capabilities, boasting speeds exceeding Mach 2.5 and the capacity to carry over 12 missiles, in addition to advanced radar systems that provide decisive air superiority. Notably, the contract announcement did not include any immediate order for aircraft purchases. For comparison, when the US Air Force entered into a similar 10-year, $62 billion contract with Lockheed Martin for new F-16 exports in August 2020, an immediate order worth $4.94 billion for 90 aircraft was placed on the same day. The new contract implicitly includes foreign military sales to countries such as Saudi Arabia, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Indonesia, Poland, and Israel. It is worth noting that Indonesia and Poland do not currently operate F-15 fighter jets in their air fleets. In a related context, an F-15EX aircraft acquisition report, part of the fiscal year 2027 budget, indicated a planned agreement dated December 29, 2025, involving 25 F-15IA aircraft, with an option to purchase an additional 25 aircraft, at an estimated value of $8.58 billion. The report stated that this deal would significantly contribute to stabilizing the lower-tier supply chain and extending the operational lifespan of the F-15EX production line. As a result, the total number of US F-15EX aircraft is projected to increase to 268 by fiscal year 2031, a significant rise from the baseline of 98 aircraft. This larger acquisition will encompass major upgrades to the radar, mission computer, electronic warfare suite, and engines. However, the report anticipated that the program would fail to meet its full operational capability deadline of July 2027. This delay is attributed to a 15-week strike at Boeing's St. Louis facility from August 4 to November 17, 2025, further exacerbated by the prime contractor's subsequent failure to achieve required production recovery targets.
