{"id":67868,"date":"2026-10-18T22:07:04","date_gmt":"2026-10-18T20:07:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.outono.net\/elentir\/?p=67868"},"modified":"2026-10-18T22:08:04","modified_gmt":"2026-10-18T20:08:04","slug":"how-the-f-15ex-eagle-ii-fighter-operates-and-its-role-alongside-the-f-35a-stealth-aircraft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.outono.net\/elentir\/2026\/10\/18\/how-the-f-15ex-eagle-ii-fighter-operates-and-its-role-alongside-the-f-35a-stealth-aircraft\/","title":{"rendered":"How the F-15EX Eagle II fighter operates and its role alongside the F-35A stealth aircraft"},"content":{"rendered":"

Fifth-generation fighter aircraft with a low radar signature have significantly changed the world of aerial warfare today.<\/p>\n

A test flight in an F-15EX Eagle II, the most advanced version of this excellent fighter jet<\/a><\/rel>
\nThe spectacular 'zoom climb' of a USAF F-15EX Eagle II fighter at Eglin AFB<\/a><\/rel><\/p>\n

Nevertheless, fourth-generation aircraft such as the F-15, F-16, and F\/A-18 continue to play an important role in aerial warfare<\/strong>, despite having a larger radar signature than the F-22 or F-35. In fact, new versions of these fourth-generation aircraft are still being manufactured today. This is the case with the F-15EX Eagle II, which made its maiden flight on February 2, 2021<\/strong>. It is a development of the F-15E Strike Eagle\u2014which first flew on December 11, 1986\u2014which in turn is based on the F-15 Eagle, which first took to the skies on July 27, 1972.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/div>\n
An F-15EX Eagle II (center) and two F-15E Strike Eagles from the USAF's 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron flying alongside a KC-135 Stratotanker tanker over the Pacific Ocean (Photo: U.S. Air Force).<\/div>\n

Obviously, the F-15EX has a notable disadvantage compared to the F-35: its larger radar signature.<\/strong> This makes it more easily detectable in aerial combat or during an attack mission. Although the F-15EX features a powerful radar jammer and electronic countermeasures<\/strong>, these capabilities do not grant it the same ability as the F-35 to remain undetected by enemy radar. The F-15EX\u2019s greatest advantage is its massive weapons payload\u2014up to 13,300 kg\u2014which is far superior to that of the F-35A in a non-stealth configuration (8,165 kg)<\/strong>; in this setup, the aircraft carries weaponry under its wings, which results in a larger radar signature. In its stealth configuration, the F-35A\u2019s weapons payload is reduced to 2,268 kg<\/strong>, which is the amount that can be accommodated within its internal weapons bays.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/div>\n
An F-15EX Eagle II of the USAF's 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron flying alongside an MQ-28 Ghost Bat drone over the Philippine Sea during Exercise Valiant Shield 2026 on June 27, 2026 (Photo: U.S. Air Force).<\/div>\n

This weapons payload gives the F-15EX a significant role in missions alongside the F-35:<\/strong> while the fifth-generation fighter leverages its low radar signature for defense-breaching missions (neutralizing radars and surface-to-air missile systems) and acts as an advanced intelligence node (gathering target data and distributing it to other allied aircraft), the F-15EX operates as a provider of massive firepower<\/strong>. This combination is similar to the role the F\/A-18E\/F Super Hornet plays alongside the F-35C in the U.S. Navy<\/a>, as we discussed here just a few days ago.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/div>\n
The nozzles of the new General Electric F110-GE-129 turbofan engines of the F-15EX Eagle II. This is one of the external features that distinguishes it from its predecessor, the F-15E Strike Eagle (Photo: U.S. Air Force).<\/div>\n

If you want to learn more about the F-15EX, AiTelly<\/a> has released an interesting video today analyzing how this aircraft operates<\/strong> and showing how it carries out its missions alongside the F-35A:<\/p>\n