The US Air Force (USAF) continues to test and certify the capabilities of its newest fighter, the F-15EX Eagle II. In November, the organization certified the use of missiles from the jet's new weapons stations, called 1 and 9. 

The test took place on 29/11 off the coast of Florida within the Eglin Training Complex area and involved airmen from the 96th Test Wing. They fired two weapons: the AIM-9X Sidewinder short-range missile from Station 9 and the AIM-120 AMRAAM medium-to-long-range, radar-guided missile from Station 1. 

“I am very proud to be a part of this milestone for the F-15EX program to provide increased payload capability to combat air forces”, said Major Jeremy Schnurbusch, pilot of the 40th Test Squadron, which fired the AIM-9X missile.

Conducted by the Operational Flight Program's Combined Test Force, this was the first test looking at the effective and safe use of the F-15's new weapons stations. The successful deployment of these weapons is an important step in demonstrating the Eagle II's ability to carry up to 12 air-to-air missiles. 

Among the many innovations of the F-15EX, the plane can also carry four more missiles than the previous versions of the F-15 through the new weapons stations, installed on the tips of the wings. The F-15EX has a total of 23 hard points: 12 on the conformal tanks, 10 on the wings and 1 on the fuselage, against 17 on the F-15E Strike Eagle. 

With that success, these missile launches spurred the aircraft's integrated development and operational testing at Eglin, where the F-15EX fired its first missile just nine months ago. 

The aircraft successfully launched the missiles in separate passes against a target drone. The launches were another milestone in the F-15EX development test program, but they also incorporated many operational test objectives during the mission.

“The integrated testing strategy was critical to the success of our testing, allowing us to break the mold of traditional testing, resulting in a better overall product for the warfighter on a shorter timeline than a traditional approach”, said Colton Myers, F-15EX test project manager.

Once the initial tests are completed, the operational units that receive the new F-15EX will be able to carry and deploy a total load of 12 missiles on the aircraft.

Officially launched in April 2021, the F-15EX is the newest and most lethal variant of the F-15 Eagle, a legendary fighter whose combat score (104 kills to 0 losses) is enviable. The model, however, is already obsolete and the cut in the production of the F-22 Raptor prevented the 5th generation jet from completely replacing it. Thus, the US Air Force will acquire 144 new fighters to replace the so-called Legacy Eagles. 

With information ACC