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Samuel King Jr.
The Air Force’s newest fighter, the F-15EX Eagle II, was revealed and named during a ceremony April 7 at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. The aircraft will be the first Air Force
aircraft to be tested and fielded from beginning to end, through combined developmental and operational tests.
F-15EX Eagle II unveiled as newest fighter

by 1st Lt. with a proven platform that’s modernized and opti- and evaluation efforts. The 85th Test and Evaluation
KARiSSA RoDRiguez mized to maintain air superiority now and into the Squadron will work closely with the 40th Flight Test
future.” Squadron to integrate testing, from start to finish.
Air Force News Service
The ceremony celebrated the historic arrival of the The Air Force will procure up to 144 F-15EXs from
egLin AiR FoRCe BASe, Fla. — April 7 marked dynamic new fighter aircraft. This process began sev- Boeing, to replace F-15C/D models. The goal is to in-
the unveiling of the name and the official role of the eral years ago, as a combined Air Force effort to bring crease the F-15 fleet fighter readiness.
Air Force’s newest fighter, the F-15EX Eagle ll. the best in response capability. The 173rd Fighter Wing at Kingsley Field Air Na-
Lt. Gen. Duke Richardson, Office of the Assistant “Team Eglin and the 96th Test Wing are proud to be tional Guard Base, Oregon, is in line to become the
Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology, a part of the rich history of this legendary aircraft,” first F-15EX formal training unit in 2024. The first
and Logistics military deputy, presented the F-15EX said Brig. Gen. Scott Cain, 96th Test Wing commander. operational F-15EX squadron will function in the Or-
during an unveiling and naming ceremony at Eglin The EX provides a unique opportunity for the test egon ANG for critical homeland defense alert missions.
Air Force Base, Florida. enterprise, as it is the first Air Force aircraft to be “Since 1985 the F-15 has had a home in the Guard
“Undefeated in aerial combat, the F-15 Eagle epito- completely tested and fielded through combined de- and Guard Airmen have flown these amazing aircraft,
mized air superiority in the minds of our enemies, velopmental and operational test efforts. both in the defense of the homeland and in every major
allies, and the American people for over 45 years, but The official role of the EX is to meet capacity require- international conflict since the first Gulf War in 1991,”
it was not meant to fly forever. We heard the demand ments while bringing diverse technology, ensuring the said Lt. Gen. Michael Loh, ANG director. “Now that is
signal from our warfighters,” Richardson said. “I’m platform’s relevance for decades to come. the battle-tested legacy of Guard F-15s — first to the
pleased to say we’ve responded boldly and decisively, The 96th TW and the 53rd Wing are set to begin test fight, always ready and always there.”

U.S. Air Force rolls out new mission statement

by Tech. Sgt. Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown, ing military airpower for the nation. a seamless team to operate, maintain, and
JoShuA DeWBeRRY Jr. said. “As the new mission statement was for- enable our mission and bring the unique
Since the domain of space falls under the mulated, it was important to us that all capabilities and effects of airpower to bear.”
Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs Space Force, the Air Force can now focus Airmen see where they fit in,” said Chief In order to accomplish the mission of
PenTAgon, virginia — The Air Force solely on Airpower and maintain a sus- Master Sgt. of the Air Force JoAnne S. Airpower, Air Force leaders call on Airmen
released its new mission statement: To tained focus on core air domain missions. Bass. “Every Airman, from every career to accelerate change and to think about
fly, fight, and win … Airpower anytime, With a Total Force of more than 689,000, field, is directly responsible for delivering, future challenges before they are in front
anywhere. This change emphasizes the Airmen work to support all aspects of supporting, launching and driving Airpow- of them.
primary competitive advantage and ca- Airpower, which includes five core mis- er, which is the culmination of our diverse “Our national security is not just on the
pabilities that Airpower provides to the sions: air superiority; global strike; rapid specialties, expertise and capabilities that shoulders of the Chief of Staff of the Air
nation and joint operations. global mobility; intelligence, surveillance make up our great Air Force.” Force or other service chiefs,” Brown said
The ability to fight and win with Air- and reconnaissance; and command and Gen. Brown also underscored the im- during his 2021 AFA Aerospace Warfare
power is key to facing emerging competi- control. Airpower also requires people and portance of the Total Force in making Symposium fireside chat. “It’s all of us
tors and near-peer adversaries, according resources dedicated to unit readiness, base American Airpower a reality. together that have an interest in this; and
to service leaders. infrastructure and talent management. “Delivering airpower for our nation the way we work together on this; and
“As we developed this new mission state- The Chief Master Sergeant of the Air requires more than just aircraft,” added make progress together and understand
ment, we consulted Airmen from across Force emphasized that all Airmen, no Brown. “It requires total force Airmen – ac- what’s out there in the future, and really
the entire spectrum — enlisted, officers, matter what Air Force Specialty Code they tive duty, Guard, Reserve, civilians – in all appreciate that, will help all of us move
reservists, guardsmen and civilians,” Air serve in, play an important role in generat- Air Force specialties working together as faster.”