F-15EX Eagle II’s from the 40th Flight Test Squadron, 96th Test Wing, and the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron, 53rd Wing, both out of Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, fly in formation during an aerial refueling operation over Northern California. The aircraft participated in the Northern Edge 21 exercise in Alaska earlier in May. (Air Force photo by Ethan Wagner)
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. — The Air Force’s newest fighter, the F-15EX Eagle II, recently returned from its first large force test event, Northern Edge 21.
NE is a bi-annual joint training exercise in Alaska designed to increase joint combat effectiveness in all spectrums of warfare.
The EX test team focused on testing of the latest F-15EX Operational Flight Program, Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability System and radar. EPAWSS is a modern, all-digital electronic warfare and threat identification system designed to defeat the enemy and increase the F-15EX’s survivability.
The cockpit system, large area display, helmet with digital display and global positioning system also reported successful performances, collecting Invaluable data from the newly upgraded systems in a combat relevant area.
“The overall goal was to test the F-15EX in an operationally represented environment, and EPAWSS performed very well” said Col. Doug Creviston, 96th Operations Support Group commander.
“It was really valuable to get data on the system integration.”
The F-15EX is the first aircraft entirely tested and fielded through combined developmental and operational tests. Tactical development alongside other joint fourth and fifth generation aircraft against near peer adversaries in a contested, large force environment is a large step in test.
“This was all about an integrated test,” said Lt. Col. Richard Turner, 40th FLTS commander.
“This jet on one hand is still very much a new airplane in need of some development and envelope clearing, yet on the other it has mature enough systems to throw in the deep-end to see how it performs and speed up its fielding.”
The mission of the aircraft in NE 21 with all of the integrated developmental and operational testing is for testers to use the early data collection to enhance readiness. This early test data collection allows for attention to be called to any system issues needing improvement before the F-15EX’s increased production and ultimate delivery to the future warfighter.
“We will now verify that all the specific mission areas met the intended design and expand the envelope to its full capability in DT while continuously evaluating its utility and performance in OT,” said Turner.
Story by 1st Lt. Karissa Rodriguez
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