Air Force awards Boeing $131 billion ceiling contract for F-15 production
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The U.S. Air Force awarded Boeing a sole-source contract with a $131.23 billion ceiling to produce, modernize and sustain F-15 fighters through 2037. The Aug. 24 award lets the Air Force place orders over time rather than buying a fixed number of aircraft at signing. Only $343,740 was obligated at award, and no jets were ordered.
Key Facts
- The contract ceiling is $131.23 billion, with orders possible through Aug. 24, 2031, and an option to extend to 2036.
- The award covers foreign military sales to Japan, Israel, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Singapore, Indonesia and Poland.
- A Dec. 29, 2025, agreement covers 25 F-15IA aircraft for Israel, with an option for 25 more, at $8.58 billion.
- The U.S. F-15EX buy rises to 268 aircraft through fiscal 2031, up from a baseline of 98.
- The program will miss its July 2027 full operational capability date after a 15-week strike at Boeing's St. Louis plant from Aug. 4 to Nov. 17, 2025.
Contract Structure
The Air Force awarded Boeing a sole-source contract with a $131.23 billion ceiling on Aug. 24. Designated F-15 Eagle Crest, the contract lets the Air Force place orders over time rather than buying a fixed number of aircraft at signing. Orders may run through Aug. 24, 2031, with an option to extend to 2036. The framework rolls new production, upgrades, retrofits, sustainment and depot support into a single contract for the Air Force, the Air National Guard and foreign buyers. Only $343,740 in fiscal 2026 research, development, test and evaluation funds was obligated at award, and the notice does not include an order for any jets.
Foreign Sales and Production
The contract involves foreign military sales to Japan, Israel, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Singapore, Indonesia and Poland. Indonesia and Poland do not currently fly the F-15, while Israel is already buying F-15s from the same St. Louis line. A Dec. 29, 2025, agreement covers 25 F-15IA aircraft for Israel, with an option for 25 more, at $8.58 billion. The F-15EX Modernized Selected Acquisition Report says the buy stabilizes the lower-tier supply chain and extends the active manufacturing life of the F-15EX production line. The report raises the U.S. F-15EX buy to 268 aircraft through fiscal 2031, up from a baseline of 98.
Schedule and Delays
The program will miss its July 2027 full operational capability date after a 15-week strike at Boeing's St. Louis plant from Aug. 4 to Nov. 17, 2025. The report says the delay was compounded by the prime contractor's subsequent failure to meet production recovery goals. Mitigation steps include a re-evaluation of the FOC definition, meaning the service is weighing a change to how it measures the milestone it is about to miss. The larger buy will force a refresh of the radar, mission computer, electronic warfare suite and engines.
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Air Force awards Boeing $131 billion ceiling contract for F-15 production
