Opinion How F-15EX Jet's Improved Stealth Features, Enhanced Payload and Superior Performance Makes It Viable Contender for India's MRFA Tender

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is seeking to significantly modernize its fleet through the Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) tender, a program aiming to procure 114 advanced fighter jets. Among the contenders, Boeing's F-15EX Eagle II is gaining attention, boosted by a recent endorsement from a respected former IAF officer.

Group Captain MJ Augustine Vinod, a retired IAF officer with over 3,000 flight hours on aircraft including the Mirage 2000, MiG-21, and Kiran, has publicly advocated for serious consideration of the F-15EX. His endorsement, given his extensive experience, carries considerable weight in the ongoing debate about India's defense acquisitions.

In a recent interview, Group Captain Vinod highlighted that, if the F-15EX meets the IAF's operational needs and is offered for purchase, it should be a strong candidate. He acknowledged that while the F-15 platform itself dates back to the 1970s (first flight in 1972), the EX variant represents a significant modernization effort, incorporating cutting-edge technology relevant to modern aerial combat.

Boeing is actively promoting the F-15EX as a powerful and adaptable multi-role fighter for the MRFA competition. A key advantage emphasized by both Boeing and Group Captain Vinod is the aircraft's exceptional payload capacity.

The F-15EX can carry up to 13 tons of ordnance, significantly exceeding the 8-ton capacity of the IAF's current workhorse, the Sukhoi Su-30MKI. This allows the F-15EX to carry a wider range and greater quantity of weapons, increasing its mission versatility and firepower.

"The F-15EX is a fighter jet with a proven track record," Vinod stated during his interview. He further elaborated that, despite its "legacy" status, the continuous evolution of the platform, culminating in the EX variant, makes it a very strong option for the IAF.

Beyond payload, the F-15EX incorporates several other advanced features. These include an advanced AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) radar, which provides superior situational awareness and targeting capabilities. The aircraft also features a new digital flight control system (fly-by-wire) for improved handling and maneuverability.

Furthermore, the F-15EX is equipped with the Eagle Passive/Active Warning and Survivability System (EPAWSS), an advanced electronic warfare suite designed to enhance the aircraft's survivability against modern threats.

Finally, although not a fully "stealth" aircraft like the F-35, the F-15EX has incorporated design modifications and coatings to reduce its radar cross-section, making it harder to detect than earlier F-15 models.

The MRFA tender represents a crucial element of the IAF's long-term strategy to replace aging aircraft and maintain a robust air force in the face of evolving regional security challenges.

The F-15EX faces stiff competition from other advanced fighters, including the Dassault Rafale (already in IAF service), Lockheed Martin's F-21 (a variant of the F-16 tailored for India), and Saab's Gripen. The final decision will hinge on a complex evaluation of factors including performance, cost, technology transfer, and strategic partnerships.

 

[Ammoman]

The FX-15EX is a proven platform. Overlooked by everyone. It is priced right and can deliver quickly, It can also, be convinced to setup in India. The aircraft has never been shot down ever. I don't know what the criteria is for India to buy jets? It makes no sense. We are heading for WW3 and we are clueless. I guess, India is ready be a client state for people with slant eyes. Its our fate.

 

[R. Singh]

We must make 114+ F-15 EX-II under MRFA program and buy 40+ F-35s to boost power of IAF !

 

[Mithu Roy]

Get 100 percent TOT for the engine and buy it.

 

[DB_NE_Guy]

Get 100 percent TOT for the engine and buy it.

100% ToT on engine is nowhere possible in this world.

 

[Rajesh]

Yes, we must select the F-15EX-II and its tech-based PMF!

 

[Enforcer]

The F-15EX is not bad. It's gonna be America's second-tier multirole fighter. Which means, after the F-35 has destroyed all planes and SAM missiles on the ground and America has complete control of the airspace, they will use the F-15EX to conduct airstrikes because it's cheaper than the F-35 and can carry a much larger payload than the F-35.

We need the F-35. We have the SU-30MKI for the F-15EX's role.

 

[Saptarshi Dasgupta]

Barring stealth features, in every aspect, the F-15EX is almost 5th generation. From the cockpit to the world's fastest mission computer, to one of the world's best EW suites (even better than Spectra),

its payload, range, speed, and also the availability of long-range missiles like the AIM-120D and AIM-260, coupled with some degree of RAM, make it a great interceptor and air dominance fighter.

Now the question is whether we make our Su-30MKIs similar to these. If so, the need for the F-15EX does not arise. Else, let us go for it.

 

[abhinav srivastava]

A platform of the 1970s. We are thinking of buying it in the 2030s. We will use it for 40 years, conservatively, till the 2070s. We can help the US complete a century of F-15 operations, that too by paying them 25-30 billion USD. Why import 4th gen fighter jets now? 4th gen MRFA was a good idea 20 years ago.

 

[Paul]

Opt for the Su-57 instead, as it can serve as a future replacement for the Su-30MKI. The combination of AMCA and Su-57 will be a formidable force in the years to come.

 

[The_rED_dEVIL]

A platform of the 1970s. We are thinking of buying it in the 2030s. We will use it for 40 years, conservatively, till the 2070s. We can help the US complete a century of F-15 operations, that too by paying them 25-30 billion USD. Why import 4th gen fighter jets now? 4th gen MRFA was a good idea 20 years ago.

Not only that,

1. We already have Su-30MKI of the same catgory in huge numbers to ease out logistics. They can be used for both air superiority as well as heavy tactical air strikes.
2. Some recent reports suggested Beoing could offer F-15E Strike Eagle, EX variant was not mentioned.
3. Though F-15EX is meant to operate alongside fifth gen fighters and will be purchased and remain in service, USAF received only 8 units with 104 planned of it.<Wikipedia> (I think it is most likely built for export purposes)
4. It is unlikely IAF will include an American fighter in its fleet all of a sudden. US is unlikely to allow Indian weapons and sensor suites on their platform (let alone Russian) and has lots of user-end restrictions, we all know.

 

[Suddhasattwa Bandyopadhyay]

The F-15EX is not bad. It's gonna be America's second-tier multirole fighter. Which means, after the F-35 has destroyed all planes and SAM missiles on the ground and America has complete control of the airspace, they will use the F-15EX to conduct airstrikes because it's cheaper than the F-35 and can carry a much larger payload than the F-35.

We need the F-35. We have the SU-30MKI for the F-15EX's role.

We don't need the F-35. It's a $2 trillion disaster and a symbol of wasteful expenditure due to its very low availability rate.

The program isn't cancelled because of high sunk costs, with the US spending over $500 billion to mitigate the problems. As many as 870 software glitches are still present, of which 15 are of a critical nature. It's a white elephant.

People might ask, "What about Israel with their F-35I?" But one shouldn't equate India with Israel, as India conducts a very independent foreign policy, and Israel hardly ever votes against the US.

The F-35I was specifically created for and by US-Israel deep collaboration.

 

[Dipesh Debnath]

Stealth feature reduces the total number of planes needed to do a work. We need to reduce the exposure of humans to robot-infested battlespace too. So, stealth is essential.

 

[Abs29]

A platform of the 1970s. We are thinking of buying it in the 2030s. We will use it for 40 years, conservatively, till the 2070s. We can help the US complete a century of F-15 operations, that too by paying them 25-30 billion USD. Why import 4th gen fighter jets now? 4th gen MRFA was a good idea 20 years ago.

F-15EX is not a 1970s platform, but is the latest iteration of the baseline F-15 A/B, which indeed belonged to the 1970s era. Anyway, when we have trash like MiG-21 and SEPECAT Jaguar still in service, we ought to be a bit more careful when we call F-16 and F-15 old and obsolete.

After all, while both F-16 and F-15 have evolved into the F-16V Block 70/72 and F-15EX/Eagle II and still remain in production, MiG-21, SEPECAT Jaguar, and Mirage-2000 have long been phased out of service, and the prior two are only operational with the IAF.

As you can expect, there is a paucity of spares for both, and the IAF literally has to scavenge for spare parts, especially for the Mirage-2000 and SEPECAT Jaguar, while the MiG-21 is even worse as the spares are spurious and often lead to crashes.

 

[Shiva]

We don't need any type of aircraft from the US, as they are costly and not superior to the existing new aircraft technologies we are developing.

We just need engines.

More specifically, we just need aircraft blades, etc. from foreign countries.

India should include aircraft technology as part of "Made in India" with indigenous technology, except for aircraft engines, so that all this drama will stop.

 

[Andy]

Whatever you buy from US, do know that democrats may come back next election.

 

[Gururag Kalanidhi]

F-15EX may not be selected. But it definitely is the best of the lot. Especially if they can procure the silent eagle configuration. Unlikely to happen, however.

 

[Headhunter 3465]

I love that bomb truck but can America be trusted in the time of need, what is tomorrow a war starts and American refuses to send ammunition and spares

 

[Deepak Hegde]

How can even ex-IAF pilots be blind to the strategic limitations of the American strike jets in the IAF? At least they know the limitations faced by the US already, including the dumbed-down weapons that will be offered if we go in for the jets at all!

 

[Akilesh]

Yes, we must select the F-15EX-II and its tech-based PMF!

We are not talking to Boeing, if we buy anything from the US, it will be most probably from LM, anything but expensive Rafale.

 

[Chanchal Sinha]

India won't go for any mission-critical system from the US, as they come with heavy operational restrictions. My bet is Rafale, as Rafales are better than Sukhoi and, to a good degree, competitive against the F-35. I would vouch for Rafale and indigenous manufacturing, by seeking US help in engine technology and France's help in building good future platforms, such as AMCA or TEDBF.

 

[vasu gali]

Why buy a 4 th generation plane - be it F15 or Rafael however good they be when Pakistan goes for J35, a fifth generation plane?

 

[Rinku Pandey]

Whatever you buy from US, do know that democrats may come back next election.

True. That's why engine supply resumed from 20th Jan, the day Republican Dolandji became President.

 

[Sandeep]

The jet is very good with the latest technology upgrades and the amount and type of weapons it can hold but the jet is very expensive to fly in the air.

It will cost around $50,000 to fly per hour and these jets are more suited for offensive operations, conducting strikes and supporting any ground invasion. Also it will be expensive to maintain its MRO costs and its advanced weaponry will be just as expensive as well.

 

[Sudhir]

There are three real, so-called "stealth aircraft" in the world. Out of them, the J-20 and J-31 (i.e., J-35) are from China. One is the F-35, from the USA. As everybody knows, the Su-57 is half-stealth (external missile bay). So, the only stealth aircraft available for India is the F-35.

So, the options are:
Buy the F-35, but now the F-35 has to be combined with some non-stealth aircraft that can carry many missiles with it.Here comes a need for non-stealth.
So, then the option is:

1. F-35 with F-15 EX, just as Israel used against Iran successfully.
2. F-35 with networking (with US permission) of Tejas MK 1 and 2, or Sukhoi 35 or 57, or Su-30, which India has.

In any case, India needs stealth available to it, i.e., the F-35.

(The F-22 Raptor is also a US stealth aircraft, but it is not available for sale from the USA.)