Advanced Eagles to Israel
August 15, 2024
The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency has delivered the notification of a possible Foreign Military Sale of 50 F-15IAs and 25 F-151+ Mid-Life Update modification kits (and related equipment) to Congress. The required notification authorised the sale, to the Government of Israel, at an estimated cost of $18.82 Billion. The notification said that the United States was committed to the security of Israel, and that it was vital to US national interests to assist Israel in developing and maintaining a strong and ready self-defence capability. The integration of the F-15IA into the Israel Air Force’s fighter fleet will enhance Israel’s interoperability with U.S. systems and bolster Israel’s aerial capabilities to meet current and future enemy threats, strengthen its homeland defense, and serve as a deterrent to regional threats. It was said that the proposed sale would not alter the basic military balance in the region.
The Israeli government originally showed interest in the Boeing F-15EX Eagle II in 2020, seeking more combat air platforms that could carry heavy weapons designed to destroy reinforced targets. The Israeli Ministry of Defense sent an official Letter of Request to the United States government in 2023, starting the process for the approval of a possible Foreign Military Sale.
The F-15EX is a derivative of the F-15QA that Boeing is building for Qatar, which was, in turn, based on the F-15SA supplied to Saudi Arabia. The F-15SA was the first Eagle variant to incorporate a digital fly by wire flight control system, improving agility and allowing the use of new outboard underwing stations, while also extending asymmetric load capabilities.
The Israeli Air Force originally requested 25 F-15EX aircraft (the USAF version of the Advanced Eagle), albeit with the possibility of increasing the number to 50, and with options for an upgrade to the 25 F-15I Ra’am aircraft. Political and budgetary issues (and subsequently the Gaza war, and associated concern about heavy civilian casualties in Gaza) delayed progress, though Israel did sign a $3 billion order for 25 F-35Is in June. The State Department approval of the F-15IA sale came about two months after Capitol Hill dropped opposition to the deal.
The F-15IA is described as being a modified version of the new USAF F-15EX, but may be more closely related to the F-15QA. The Israeli aircraft will not feature the new AN/ALQ-250 Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability System (EPAWSS) electronic warfare and electronic surveillance system, and CGI artwork released by Boeing shows the TigerEye IRST used by the F-15SA and F-15QA, but not by the F-15EX. The now redundant EPAWSS fairings on the rear fuselage will allow an increase in chaff and flare capacity with 4 new dispensers bringing the a total to 12 dispensers, housing 360 cartridges.
The deal will include a range of support services and equipment, including major and minor modifications, maintenance, and maintenance support; consumables and accessories; facilities and construction support; classified software development, delivery, and support; spare parts; classified publications and technical documentation; personnel training and training equipment, and US Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services.
Aircraft deliveries are expected to begin in 2029.
