By Stephen Losey Oct 26, 10:11 AM

An F-15EX Eagle II Fighter Jet assigned to the 40th Flight Test Squadron prepares for departure at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, Oct. 20, 2021. Both of the Air Force’s F-15EX aircraft were at Nellis AFB to test how effective the aircraft would be in air-to-air missions. (William R. Lewis/Air Force)

WASHINGTON — The Air Force is wrapping up the first weeklong operational test of its two new F-15EX Eagle II fighter jets.

The F-15EXs, updated versions of the fourth-generation F-15 jet, took part in their first major test with the Air Force at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada from Oct. 18 to Oct. 25. The fighters — so far, the only F-15EXs that have been built — flew alongside F-15Cs and F-15Es, the Air Force said in a Friday release.

Maj. Kevin Hand, one of the test pilots who flew the F-15EX, said in the release the tests were intended to highlight the differences between it and the older C model — particularly its digital flight control system making it a fly-by-wire aircraft. The F-15C uses a hydromechanical system for its flight controls.

The Air Force also set out to test the EX’s Eagle Passive/Active Warning and Survivability System, an electronic warfare system.

from JC’s Naval and Military news and photos https://ift.tt/3Gk80Fx
via IFTTT