Air-to-Ground Capabilities Creeping into F-15EX Mission Set
The U.S. Air Force's F-15EX Eagle II, initially focused on air-to-air combat, is expanding into air-to-ground missions. The Oregon Air National Guard's 142nd Wing conducted its first-ever training bomb drops in May, releasing 24 BDU-50s and 12 BDU-56s at Mountain Home AFB. Three pilots completed a 9-month training course to develop a unit-wide bombing program. Additionally, the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron deployed an F-15EX to Kadena Air Base in Japan for munitions load training with live GBU-53/B Small Diameter Bomb IIs. The F-15EX is derived from the F-15E Strike Eagle family, inherently supporting air-to-ground capabilities. The Air Force plans to establish F-15EX squadrons at Kadena and in several states, potentially expanding to a dozen squadrons.
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