The Air Force received its first combat-ready F-15EX Eagle II fighter on June 5. The Boeing-made jet was flown from St. Louis, Missouri, to Portland Air National Guard Base in Oregon. It is the first of 18 F-15EXs to be assigned to the Air National Guard’s 142nd Wing in Portland and the first of nearly 100 operational F-15EXs expected to be delivered to the Air Force overall.
Wing Commander Col. Michael Kosderka stated that the 142nd Wing was selected because of the skill of its pilots, maintainers, fuelers, and logisticians. Maj. Calvin “Knife” Conner and Maj. Brandon “Wiggles” Wigton of the 123rd Fighter Squadron flew the F-15EX to Oregon, with Air National Guard deputy director Maj. Gen. Duke Pirak attending the jet’s departure.
Boeing mentioned that the Air Force’s second operational F-15EX would arrive in Portland in the following weeks. The Air Force plans to acquire 98 F-15EXs to replace older jets, with advanced avionics such as fly-by-wire controls. The House’s proposed 2025 defense policy bill aims to reverse the decision to cap the F-15EX line and purchase 24 more in 2026.
Kosderka was impressed by the F-15EX, noting quieter engines and a warm reception from the base. Cheers and clapping erupted as the jet arrived, creating an exciting atmosphere.