F-15EX

The F-15EX is a new multirole-capable fighter jet based on the 2-seat F-15QA (Qatar) configuration upgraded with advanced capabilities, including the Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability System (EPAWSS) and the USAF F-15 Continuous Delivery & Integration (CD&I) Operational Flight Program (OFP) software. The F-15EX provides significant operational flexibility, enabling it to perform a wide range of missions sets with one or two aircrew. It will be used predominantly in defensive and offensive counter-air missions at both Air National Guard (ANG) and Air Combat Command (ACC) operational squadrons. F-15EX will perform the Homeland Defense mission and provide Combatant Commanders (CCDR) with strike packages capable of operating in Highly Contested Environments (HCE). The FY 2027 RDT&E funding request continues incremental funding of development and test activities started in prior years, including for Long-Range Kill Chain (LRKC) and Hybrid SATCOM (Beyond Line-of-Sight communications) development, which was an FY 2026 new start. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver weapon system capability. The use of such program funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program element 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605833F or 0605898F. FY 2020 Prior Years RDT&E funding of 385.000 million was executed in Program 0207134F (F-15E Squadrons) and is not included in this exhibit. FY 2020 RDT&E funded two F-15EX test aircraft. In FY 2021, F-15EX RDT&E efforts were continued in Program 0207146F (F-15EX). The FY 2026 spend plan amount for F-15EX 3600 includes $117,715 thousand of discretionary and $40,000 thousand of mandatory (reconciliation) for a total of $157,715 thousand. Program RDT&E funding may be utilized to implement innovation insertion, capability insertion, software increments, spiral upgrades, modular component swaps, and other insertions consistent with Modular Open System Architecture. Program RDT&E funding may be utilized to design, develop, integrate, and test weapon system and/or component level open architectures. Program RDT&E funding may be utilized to fund the concept refinement, design, development, integration, and testing of interdependent technologies and common architectures that underpin weapon system and portfolio-wide mission outcomes.