# F-15EX Eagle II operational deployment and testing

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/f-15ex-eagle-ii-operational-deployment-and-testing
> Updated: 2026-09-13T20:38:52.000Z. Sources: 11. Developments: 2.

The F-15EX Eagle II fighter jet has reached several operational milestones. In late August 2026, Boeing delivered the first aircraft, identified as EX-22, destined for permanent stationing at Kadena Air Base in Japan. This delivery is part of a U.S. Air Force plan to station 36 F-15EX aircraft at Kadena to replace aging F-15C/D fleets and enhance the defense partnership between the United States and Japan.

Concurrently, the Oregon Air National Guard’s 142nd Wing, the first operational unit to receive the aircraft, conducted the F-15EX’s first live bomb drops at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. During a mission in late August, the aircraft released a 227 kg-class general-purpose bomb. These tests mark the aircraft’s transition from a platform focused on air superiority to one capable of integrated air-to-ground strike missions.

## Claims

- The Oregon Air National Guard’s 142nd Wing conducted the first live bomb drops using the F-15EX Eagle II. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- The live bomb drop milestone occurred on August 27, 2026. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- The deployment took place at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada for three weeks during late August and early September. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- The F-15EX Eagle II is transitioning from a primarily air-superiority platform to include broader strike and air-to-ground roles. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- The bomb used during the mission was identified as a BLU-111 general-purpose bomb. (single source)

## Timeline

### 2026-09-13: F-15EX Eagle II conducts first live bomb drops

The Oregon Air National Guard’s 142nd Wing has completed the first live bomb drops using the F-15EX Eagle II at Nellis Air Force Base, expanding the jet's role into air-to-ground strike missions.

5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/f-15ex-eagle-ii-conducts-first-live-bomb-drops

### 2026-09-03: Boeing delivers first F-15EX destined for Kadena Air Base

Boeing delivered the first F-15EX Eagle II destined for permanent stationing at Kadena Air Base, Japan, marking a key step in modernizing the U.S. Air Force fighter fleet in the region.

6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/boeing-delivers-first-f-15ex-destined-for-kadena-air-base

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Cite as: F-15EX Eagle II operational deployment and testing. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/f-15ex-eagle-ii-operational-deployment-and-testing