Boeing is reportedly studying whether it could transform its upgraded F-15EX Eagle II into an electronic warfare (EW) aircraft like its EA-18G Growler, a variant of the U.S. Navy's F/A-18 Super Hornet.
The study is still in its early stages. But as the aerospace firm continues to seek foreign buyers for the F-15EX, it could very well move forward.
"The Growler line has ended," Rob Novotny, Boeing's business development lead for the F-15, told Breaking Defense over the weekend. Novotny noted that F/A-18E/F production is also slated to end in 2027, and no additional EA-18Gs will be produced.
"There's a lot of conversation internally, could we turn this [the F-15EX] into a Growler," he added. "So we're looking at some trade work."
The F-15EX is already equipped with EW capabilities from its BAE Systems Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability System (EPAWSS). According to BAE Systems, EPAWSS offers "several instantaneous full-spectrum EW capabilities, including radar warning, geolocation, situational awareness, and self-protection. The system enables freedom of maneuver and deeper penetration into battlespaces protected by modern integrated air defense systems."
Novotny also addressed the Eagle II's lack of stealth, saying this should not be seen as a non-starter for a future EW aircraft.
"Stealth means, to me, I can go to a place where the enemy doesn't want me to go, and I can operate in their environment, achieve my objective, and not be targeted," Novotny suggested.
The Boeing executive is also on the record saying, "Modern aerial combat requires command of the electromagnetic spectrum, and this platform would lead the way into the next decade or two."
The F-15EX Eagle II achieved Initial Operational Capability this month. The U.S. Air Force is set to acquire at least ninety F-15EXs, down from the 144 aircraft the air service had originally sought to replace its aging fleet of F-15C/D models
U.S. ally Israel is one of the principal operators of the F-15 and has sought to acquire more than fifty F-15EX Eagle IIs. Poland, Indonesia, and other undisclosed countries have also been reported as considering the F-15EX, which Boeing has marketed as a low-cost alternative to the fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II.
The original Eagle and Strike Eagle has more than 100 air-to-air victories, most with the Israeli Air Force, while not a single F-15 has been shot down to date.
Boeing may now seek to entice foreign buyers by offering an EW variant of the F-15EX, fitted with jamming pods and other systems. It could ensure that the Eagle II continues to soar for years to come.
Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: Editor@nationalinterest.org.
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