Page 1 - Desert Lightning News, Nellis-Creech AFB Edition, October 29, 2021

vol. 5, no. 22 Serving Southern Nevada’s military community, including Nellis, Creech and NTTR oct. 29, 2021

An Aerotech news And review publicAtion • www.Aerotechnews.com

F-15EX undergoes operational test mission at Nellis AFB

of a robust threat environment
by Christie Vanover that we have here at Nellis.
Nellis AFB, Nev.
That way, when we write our
The F-15EX is undergo- initial test reports, we’re giving
ing operational test missions an accurate look to the Combat
paired with F-15Cs and F-15Es Air Force and the Air National
at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Guard as to what the platform
Oct. 18-25, 2021. is capable of when it initially
“AFOTEC is excited to be fields,” said Colton Myers,
coordinating full, large-scale F-15EX test project manager,
operational tests with the Operational Flight Program
F-15EX, especially because Combined Test Force.
it’s only been in the U.S. Air ____ See f-15EX, on Page 3
Force’s hands for six months,”
said Lt. Col. Kenneth Juhl, Air
Force Operational Test and
Evaluation Center F-15 test
director. “The fact that we’re
going this fast in operational
test is definitely owning up to Air Force photograph by William R. Lewis
the Chief of Staff of the Air Maj. Kevin Hand, F-15EX operational and experimental test pilot with
Force’s accelerate change or the Air National Guard-Air Force Reserve Test Center, prepares to taxi
lose mentality.” out for a mission from Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Oct. 20, 2021. Hand
There are currently two F- will be flying the F-15EX Eagle II for test and evaluation flights for the
15EX aircrafts in existence. Air Force’s newest fighter jet.
The Air Force accepted de- LEFT: Lt Col. Wes Turner, assigned to the Air National Guard Air Force
livery of them at Eglin Air Reserve Command Test Center, F-15 Combined Test Force, Eglin Air
Force Base, Florida, in March Force Base, Fla., conducts a preflight inspection prior to a mission at
and April 2021. The platform Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Oct. 20, 2021. Turner will be conducting
is anticipated to join the F-35, Air Force photograph by William R. Lewis F-15EX Eagle II test and evaluation operations while at Nellis.
F-16 and A-10 along with
a sixth-generation fighter
program as part of the four-
plus-one concept intended to
streamline the fleet.
At Nellis, AFOTEC De-
tachment 6 is leading the
integrated test and evaluation
of the F-15EX with units from
Eglin and Nellis AFB, the
Oregon and Florida National
Guard and contractors.
The plane has undergone
a series of developmental
tests to ensure the aircraft
adheres to the required build
specifications and safety stan-
dards. It has also conducted
operational missions as part
of Northern Edge in Alaska.
“The main focus here is to
provide the initial push for Air Force photograph by William R. Lewis
operational test and evalu- An F-15EX Eagle II Fighter Jet assigned to the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, takes off and an F-15C Eagle
ation, to really evaluate the assigned to the 123rd Fighter Squadron, Portland Air National Guard Base, Ore., taxis to the runway at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Oct. 20, 2021.
platform from an end-to-end Aircraft from Nellis AFB, Eglin AFB, Fla., and the Oregon Air National Guard are providing support for the Test and Evaluation of the F-15EX in
perspective, with the addition operationally realistic scenarios to determine how effective and suitable the aircraft is at accomplishing its air-to-air mission for future Air Force use.