[20200902]IF11521_空军F-15EX战斗机项目.pdf

https:/crsreports.congress.gov Updated September 2, 2020Air Force F-15EX Fighter ProgramIn FY2020, the Trump Administration proposed to buy eight F-15EX aircraft for $1.1 billion, the first installment toward a planned initial buy of 144 planes. Subsequently, Congress authorized $985.5 million and appropriated $1.05 billion for the program. The Administrations FY2021 budget requests $1.27 billion for 12 more F-15EXs; the plan set forth in FY2020 had called for 18 in FY2021. This acquisition represents a change from previous Air Force plans to procure only stealthy “fifth-generation” fighter aircraft. What is an F-15EX, and why might the Air Force have changed plans? What is an F-15EX? The Air Force received its first F-15 Eagle air superiority fighter in 1974. Subsequently, the F-15 evolved to encompass more roles, most notably with the deployment of the F-15E Strike Eagle in 1989. The F-15E added substantial air-to-ground capability, including a second cockpit for a weapons systems operator. The Air Force has 453 F-15s of all variants, the last of which was ordered in 2001. Since then, F-15s have been continuously produced for a variety of international customers, including (amon