The newly-built Boeing fighter jet is one step closer to delivery, after completing its first test flight in Missouri, US.
The Boeing F-15EX fighter jet has reportedly completed its first 90-minute test flight, taking off and landing from St. Louis Lambert International Airport.
Boeing F-15 chief test pilot Matt Giese tested the multirole jet’s avionics, advanced systems and software, with a test team monitoring the data collected during the flight in real time.
The team confirmed that the aircraft performed as planned, paving the way for an early delivery to the US Air Force in the coming months.
“[The] successful flight proves the jet’s safety and readiness to join our nation’s fighter fleet,” Prat Kumar, Boeing vice president and F-15 program manager, said.
“Our workforce is excited to build a modern fighter aircraft for the US Air Force. Our customer can feel confident in its decision to invest in this platform that is capable of incorporating the latest advanced battle management systems, sensors and weapons due to the jet’s digital airframe design and open mission systems architecture.”
In July, the US Air Force awarded Boeing a contract to build the first lot of eight jets, with the potential for delivery of up to 144 aircraft.
Features of modern variants of the F-15 include fly-by-wire flight controls, an all-new digital cockpit, modern AESA radar and the ADCP-II.
The F-15EX features the Eagle Passive/Active Warning and Survivability System electronic warfare system, designed to improve mission effectiveness and survivability for operators.
Written by Charbel Kadib.
