Boeing Begins Assembly of New U.S. Air Force F-15E Aircraft
ST. LOUIS, Oct. 05, 2000 -- The Boeing Company today began production of the first of 10 new U.S. Air Force F-15E aircraft as workers here mated the upper and lower halves of the aircraft's forward-wing bulkhead structure.
Deliveries of the 10 aircraft are scheduled for May 2002 through mid 2004. The aircraft will be the 227th-236th F-15Es delivered to the U.S. Air Force.
"Boeing and its F-15 supplier teammates are proud to continue building an aircraft that has unrivaled combat and safety records," said Mike McDonough, manager of Boeing's U.S. Air Force F-15 program. "The F-15E is the world's best dual-role aircraft. Working with the Air Force, our team is committed to sustaining and modernizing F-15s for decades to come."
The two-seat F-15E is tailored for air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. It can carry up to 23,000 pounds of payload, including advanced weapons such as the Joint Direct Attack Munition, AGM-130 and the Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile. The aircraft's Low Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infrared for Night system allows it to be flown at high speed and low altitude, at night and in adverse weather, to strike targets with pinpoint accuracy.
Two Pratt & Whitney F100-P&W-229 engines, each producing 29,000 pounds of thrust, allow an F-15E to exceed twice the speed of sound.
Overall, the U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard operate more than 1,100 F-15s. Current international customers include Israel, Japan and Saudi Arabia. The Republic of Korea Air Force is evaluating an improved version of the F-15E as part of its FX fighter competition.
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Contact Info:
Todd Blecher
(314) 233-0206
todd.h.blecher@boeing.com
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