American company Boeing will be able to produce around 20 F-15EX fighters per year starting in fiscal year 2027 figures that matter not only for the U.S. but also for potential export customers, including Ukraine, which might one day need a wingman for the Gripen.
According to a U.S. Air Force report to Congress, there's a clear intent to maximize F-15EX procurement, with production capable of increasing to 36 aircraft annually if additional funding is provided. Boeing itself says it aims to double its current output to 24 jets per year in the coming years up from the current 12. While not insignificant, this rate is still far from sufficient.
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The U.S. Air Force currently plans to acquire 129 F-15EXs, with 126 expected to be delivered by the end of 2030 already nine months behind schedule. The delays stem from software issues, supply chain disruptions, and material shortages. Future production capacity could also be limited by the arrival of the sixth-generation F-47 fighter, which will likely take industrial priority.
Even at the projected rate of 24 aircraft per year, Boeing will need about five years to fulfill just the U.S. order. That means any potential foreign customers will either have to wait longer or fund an expansion in production, as U.S. military demand will always come first.
Boeing expects F-15EX production to continue into the 2030s, with the aircraft expected to serve well into the 2050s. The company says that several international operators of older F-15 variants have already shown interest.
Still, given the production constraints and high costs, it remains uncertain whether new buyers will commit to the F-15EX. As for Ukraine, while such a fighter could be a powerful complement to the Gripen, more accessible alternatives may be the more realistic option.
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