The fact that we're going this fast in
operational test is definitely owing to
the chief of staff of the air force's
accelerate change or lose mentality. There are currently two F-15Xs in
existence. The air force accepted
delivery of them at eglin AFB, florida in
march and april 2021.
The platform is anticipated to join the F-35 lightning-2, F-16 fighting falcon
and A-10 thunderbolt 2 along with a 6th
generation fighter program as part of
the 4+1 concept intended to streamline
the fleet. at nellis AFB AFO TEC detachment 6 is
leading the initial operational test and
evaluation of the F-15EX with units from
eglin and Nellis AFBs. The oregon and
florida national guard and contractors.
The plane has undergone a series of
developmental tests to ensure the
aircraft adheres to the required build
specifications and safety standards. It has also conducted operational
missions as part of exercise northern
edge in Alaska. The main focus here is to provide the
initial push for operational tests and
evaluation to really evaluate the
platform from an end-to-end perspective
with the addition of a robust threat
environment that we have here at Nellis.
That way when we write our initial test
reports we're giving an accurate look to
the combat air force and the guard as to
what the platform is capable of when it
initially fields, said Colton Myers
operational flight program combined test
force F-15EX test project manager.
Major Kevin Han an F-15EX experimental
and operations test pilot with the air
national guard air force reserve test
center is among a handful of pilots who
will fly multiple day and night missions
with defensive and offensive counter air
while at nellis AFB.
The big thing we're trying to take away
is really showing the differences
between the X and the C model. Han said
a big improvement the X has is that it's
a digital flight control system. So it's
a fly-by-wire aircraft versus the
traditional C model which is a standard
hydro-mechanical aircraft completely
controlled by the pilot versus now a
computer controlling the airplane, he
said.
