F-15E vs. F-15EX: Technological Differences Explained!

The F-15E Strike Eagle and the F-15EX Eagle II are both advanced versions of the iconic F-15 fighter jet, but they are designed for different roles and feature several technological upgrades. While they share a common airframe, there are significant differences between the two in terms of capabilities, systems, and overall performance.

Here’s a breakdown of the key technological differences between the F-15E and F-15EX:

1. Role and Purpose

• F-15E Strike Eagle: The F-15E is a multirole fighter designed for air-to-ground and air-to-air missions. It was primarily developed for precision strike missions, capable of carrying a wide range of bombs, guided munitions, and performing close air support (CAS), interdiction, and deep strike operations. It is also designed to carry out long-range strategic strikes with precision, operating in both day and night conditions.
• F-15EX Eagle II: The F-15EX, on the other hand, is an air superiority fighter built to be an upgrade to the older F-15 models. While it retains the F-15’s versatility, it is more focused on enhancing air-to-air combat capabilities, advanced avionics, and increasing operational longevity, particularly for high-speed, high-altitude engagements. It also emphasizes interoperability with more modern air forces and platforms.

2. Avionics and Cockpit

• F-15E: The F-15E is equipped with older avionics, but it has been upgraded over the years with features such as a digital flight control system and modernized radar. The cockpit includes dual-head-up displays (HUDs) for the pilot and weapons systems officer (WSO), as well as advanced navigation systems and targeting pods.
• F-15EX: The F-15EX represents a next-generation upgrade of the F-15 platform, featuring a fully digital cockpit with advanced touchscreen displays and a glass cockpit. The pilot’s interface is modernized with improved sensor fusion (integrating information from different sources into a single, comprehensive display), active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, and enhanced communications and data-sharing systems. It also integrates the ability to carry out future upgrades through its open mission systems architecture.

3. Radar System

• F-15E: The F-15E is equipped with the AN/APG-70 radar, a mechanically scanned array radar. While capable, it is relatively less advanced compared to newer systems in terms of tracking, targeting, and electronic warfare (EW) capabilities.
• F-15EX: The F-15EX features the AN/APG-82(v)1 AESA radar, which offers significantly enhanced range, resolution, and target-tracking capabilities. AESA radars are more reliable, resistant to jamming, and provide better tracking of multiple targets simultaneously. This radar also allows for more precise target identification, essential for modern warfare.

4. Weapons Systems

• F-15E: The F-15E can carry a broad array of air-to-ground munitions such as laser-guided bombs (LGBs), joint direct attack munitions (JDAMs), and air-to-air missiles like the AIM-7 Sparrow and AIM-120 AMRAAM. It’s specifically designed to deliver precision strike capabilities in hostile environments, with a focus on deep strike missions.
• F-15EX: The F-15EX, like the F-15E, can carry a wide range of munitions, but it has the added advantage of carrying next-generation missiles such as the AIM-120 AMRAAM, AIM-9X Sidewinder, and hypersonic weapons in the future. Additionally, it is designed to be compatible with future advanced weapons systems and offers greater payload capacity. This allows the F-15EX to carry more ordnance and maintain operational effectiveness across a wide range of missions, including air superiority and precision strike.

5. Engine and Performance

• F-15E: The F-15E is powered by the Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-229 engine, providing a solid thrust-to-weight ratio for both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. It’s capable of reaching speeds of over Mach 2.5 and can operate at high altitudes and low levels with great agility and stability.
• F-15EX: The F-15EX is powered by the same F100-PW-229 engines but features modernized systems that improve fuel efficiency, reliability, and thrust. Additionally, the F-15EX can be outfitted with future engines that will improve its speed, range, and fuel economy, ensuring its competitiveness with the latest-generation fighters.

6. Life Cycle and Upgrades

• F-15E: The F-15E is designed to remain in service for a long time with periodic upgrades. However, it still has the limitations of older systems and may require more significant upgrades in the future to stay relevant in the face of evolving threats.
• F-15EX: The F-15EX is future-proofed with a modular, open-architecture system that can be rapidly upgraded over time with the latest avionics, weapons, and systems. This makes it a more flexible platform in the long term, capable of adapting to future needs and technological advancements.

7. Cost and Production

• F-15E: The F-15E, while expensive to maintain, is cost-effective for the missions it’s designed to perform, offering a good balance of performance and capability.
• F-15EX: The F-15EX is designed to be more cost-effective than fifth-generation fighters like the F-35 while still offering superior capabilities compared to older F-15s and F-16s. The F-15EX is considered a budget-friendly option for modern air forces looking to upgrade their fleet without fully replacing older aircraft.

8. Stealth and Survivability

• F-15E: While the F-15E has some degree of radar evasion capabilities, it does not feature stealth technology like newer platforms. It’s more vulnerable to advanced radar and missile threats than newer stealthy fighters.
• F-15EX: While the F-15EX is not a stealth fighter, it has reduced radar cross-section (RCS) due to various design and materials changes. It is better equipped to evade enemy detection compared to older F-15s, but it still doesn’t offer the same low observability as true stealth fighters like the F-22 or F-35.

Conclusion:

In summary, the F-15E and F-15EX are both exceptional aircraft, but they are designed with different priorities in mind. The F-15E excels in multirole precision strike missions, making it a powerful asset for deep strike, close air support, and interdiction operations. The F-15EX, on the other hand, is built to be a modernized air superiority fighter with advanced avionics, longer service life, and greater flexibility for future upgrades.

The F-15EX’s advanced radar, cockpit upgrades, and multirole capabilities make it a formidable aircraft in the modern aerial landscape, while the F-15E continues to be a highly effective strike platform for its current role in the Air Force.