F-15EX vs. F-35 Fighter (Which Is Better?)

One of the current battles focuses on a seemingly simple question: should the Air Force spend a portion of its budget on a new version of its oldest fighter, the F-15 Eagle, or dedicate every available dollar to the F-35 Lightning, its newest fighter? Complicating matters is that the two aircraft are built to do different things. The single-engine F-35A is meant to carry out penetrating strikes into protected enemy airspace, relying on stealth and powerful sensors to avoid enemy troops. Whereas the Air Force’s soon-to-be-retired twin-engine F-15C fighters are air-to-air-only aircraft that patrol the airspace around the United States and foreign military bases, fending off intruders and potential attackers. The F-15 is non-stealthy as a fighter can get, but has a 33 percent higher maximum speed of Mach 2.5 and a longer range.

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[robertbaird]

As an retired airdefense officer i see the f15EX as needed in the intial engagement as the truck with the extra air to air missles that is needed to fight Chinia.

[johnpaulbacon]

Interesting. The lack of F-22's is the main reason this is happening. The pairing of the F-15's and F-16's was a great one. With the addition of the F-22's and F-35's the expectations were that the F-15's and F-16's get phased out but with what has happened the mix of the older and newer planes the USAF has a nice capability to meet most needs if and when they arise.

[verdebusterAP]

Its not about better
its what you can with each plane
The F-35 gives more options than F-15EX
while the F-15EX gives more payload and range
Both have their pros and cons depending on situation

[andreabindolini]

I think that a mix of EX and 35 should be the more balanced choice. On a technical note: the thrust-to-weight ratio of the F-15EX, with the new engines and the light air-to-air armament (compared with the average air-to-ground of the F-15E) would be absolutely insane.

[pahtar]

You didn't mention one of the key advantages the F-15EX has: It has an expected airframe life of 20, 000 hours, 2-3 times as long as most modern jets, including the F-15C/D and F-35. So even though the purchase price is about the same, you'll have to buy more F-35s to have inventory for the same number of years.

[hawingerkus]

Both combat aircrafts come from different types. F-15EX is a 4.5th generation twin-engines heavy fighter whose total engine thrust is more than F-35, which lead to a further combat range and more payload, while F-35 is a 5th generation single-engine light fighter whose stealth characteristic is better than F-15EX. F-35 has less hardpoints and armanent payload capability compared to F-15EX

[thizzle]

As commenters have ready stated the obvious here; different aircraft for different missions. I'd like to point out some critical things here that our video narrator did not- while the F-35A's cost is NOW comparable to the F-15EX (at one time it was $150 million per unit), the maintenance cost for the F-35S is still three times as much compared to the F-15EX projected maintenance cost. This is key to Figther Wings' already relatively 'tight' budgets.

[antonleimbach]

Personally I love the F-15 and am glad to see it get an extension. The F-35 is an amazing aircraft and I’m sure it will fulfill its role but I do think there is plenty for the F-15 to do in the modern airspace.

[joshuasright]

The F-15 E Strike Eagle is multi roll fighter, Air to Air and Air to ground capabilities. Has been for well over 10 years. The F-15 is not just an Air superiority fighter.

[kotabear]

So far the Eagle is undefeated in over one hundred documented engagements... The lightening... 🤔😜🦅🇺🇸

[fuge]

based on this, what would make everyone happy is that there are two air-frames for air dominance the US air-force uses:

>twin engine twin seat. air dominance, air superiority fighter
made to be the best fighter in the air and dominate the skies. it should have full capacity and be able to carry a large payload of AA or CAS. Needs to be able to be backwards compatible for doctrine.

>single engine, single seat dominance and support fighter
F-35 fills this role, but is a little on the expensive side and has a slightly undersized payload.

however because of budget constraints the better option is to have several different aspects

you have your top of the line feature rich fighters, which are the spear point. Then you have your high performance fighters which are your spear blade. behind that are your attack craft which can operate from limited access points.

the B-1 is a strategic bomber
the B-2 is a strategic stealth bomber
the B-52 is just a heavy bomber
the B-21 is a strategic stealth bomber, but smaller and upgraded.

the A-10 is a jet propulsion based CAS

the F-16 is a economy oriented fighter and air dominance support
the F-15 is a performance oriented fighter and air dominance support
the F-22 is a performance oriented, stealth capable, air superiority fighter
the F35 is a feature rich, stealth capable, air dominance support fighter
the NGAD will be a performance oriented, feature rich, stealth capable, air superiority fighter, though what I have seen of it it looks to be a further down scaling of the B-21.

[roderickcampbell]

I am in the both F-15EX and F-35 camp. Different aircraft and different missions. Yes, both are expensive. But the F-15EX argument is compelling and all F-35 doesn't seem very prudent to me.

[paulBXR]

even the US Airforce is having that 70's-80's nostalgia trip.

[ulikemyname]

If F-35 can spot and destroy the enemy's AA systems nothing can stand in the way of F-15EX. It is just as maneuverable as the best in the business but it is not only the fastest but it can carry as many as 22 missiles which makes it the most potent bird in the sky basically one F-15EX can do city wide scale of destruction with conventional weapons.

[RedSemen]

both are great, why not both? just give half the budged for each

good video very informative.

[louisbabycos]

Go with a mix of F15 EX and the silent eagle version of the F15

[brianfoley]

Nice video...smart content well presented...well reasoned...well done.

[soulknight]

If the weapon systems can talk to each other, it would be very beneficial to just have both. I'm curious, is the F-15EX the same as the F-15SE (Silent Eagle)? Boeing introduce the SE variant years ago but nothing in recent news about it. If the EX isn't the SE, what happened to the SE idea?

[monkeddnizar]

Yes the stealth requirement are n advand technlgy until now, but there r already been built the radar that can detect & to counter the stealth technlgy. So in the upcoming years, it is possible that stealth technlgy cannot be a priority to any defenses system surely ....

[iamscoutstfu]

Y'know you make a good point about the fact that F22 was canceled so early.

NGAD must be really paradigm shifting.