In response to Boeing, Poland has proven curiosity within the F-15EX.
The Polish Air Pressure could be contemplating yet one more kind so as to add to its already various stock, made from F-16, FA-50 and (sooner or later) F-35 plane: the brand new Boeing F-15EX.
In response to an announcement made by Boeing on the annual MSPO Worldwide Defence Trade Exhibition in Kielce, Poland, the U.S. aerospace firm is showcasing the F‑15EX fighter plane to Poland as a possible U.S. Division of Protection Overseas Army Gross sales program.
“Poland’s curiosity within the F-15EX confirms its dedication to the preparedness and effectiveness of its army forces,” mentioned Tim Flood, senior director, International Enterprise Improvement for Europe and Americas, in a public assertion. “The F-15EX gives superior interoperability, supportability and affordability together with a sturdy trade plan that may assist Poland’s aim of creating impartial protection capabilities.”
F-15EX is able to land in Poland. 🇵🇱
With unparalleled velocity, vary and payload, the #F15EX would improve the nationwide safety wants of Poland and the NATO Alliance.
Launch: https://t.co/D8rjj0CpKI #MSPO2023 pic.twitter.com/GA3a1caknA
— Boeing Protection (@BoeingDefense) September 7, 2023
Boeing has made important investments within the F-15EX making it essentially the most succesful multirole fighter plane in manufacturing at this time.
As already reported right here at The Aviationist, the brand new F-15EX, developed from the F-15QA, comes from a collection of wants primarily emerged after the Nationwide Protection Technique directed the U.S. armed companies to adapt to the brand new threats from China and Russia. Whereas extraordinarily much like the QA variant, the plane options some US-only capabilities like the brand new AN/ALQ-250 Eagle Passive Energetic Warning Survivability System (EPAWSS) digital warfare and digital surveillance system and Open Mission Systems (OMS) structure.
“The F-15EX is the world’s most superior fighter with unmatched functionality, lethality and survivability and is the correct match to strengthen Poland’s safety wants,” mentioned Rob Novotny, director, Enterprise Improvement for Boeing’s F-15 program. “By enhanced interoperability with U.S. and NATO forces, capability for know-how progress and a 20,000+ hour financial operational airframe life, Poland can anticipate the F-15EX to win in present and future risk environments.”
The F-15EX is in manufacturing with two aircraft delivered to the U.S. Air Force. Indonesia not too long ago grew to become the eighth nation to pick out the F-15 and can change into the first export customer of the newest variant when the sale is finalized.
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Poland has continued to put money into new weapon programs to spice up its army, turning into NATO’s high spender on protection with 3.9 p.c of its GDP forecasted for 2024. The nation is modernizing its army in a number of fields and, among the many most up-to-date procurement packages we are able to’t however point out the potential acquisition of 96 Boeing AH-64E attack helicopters price about 12 billion USD.
However would such a various fleet be sustainable in any respect? Arduous to say. For positive, the Polish Air Pressure has been contemplating a number of choices to fill the air superiority hole: based on the final yr’s figures, Poland would want between 150 and 200 fighters to fulfill the NATO commitments and canopy its homeland safety wants. The brand new platform would complement F-35s and F-16s and would have to be heavier and succesful to supply extra firepower.
To this respect, the F-15EX could be match bringing a big vary and payload capabilities that may very well be notably vital to hold out long-range assaults in opposition to floor targets.
Nonetheless, there are different choices on the desk. For example, final yr, at MSPO 2022, Eurofighter showcased the Typhoon to Poland. Thought of the current historical past of a number of procurements, someone suggested Poland ultimately may purchase each the F-15EX and the Storm (bringing the variety of completely different fight plane sorts to six, together with additionally the M-346)….we’ll see.
David Cenciotti is a journalist primarily based in Rome, Italy. He’s the Founder and Editor of “The Aviationist”, one of many world’s most well-known and browse army aviation blogs. Since 1996, he has written for main worldwide magazines, together with Air Forces Month-to-month, Fight Plane, and lots of others, overlaying aviation, protection, conflict, trade, intelligence, crime and cyberwar. He has reported from the U.S., Europe, Australia and Syria, and flown a number of fight planes with completely different air forces. He’s a former 2nd Lt. of the Italian Air Pressure, a personal pilot and a graduate in Pc Engineering. He has written 5 books and contributed to many extra ones.
