USAF rescues downed F-15E crew from Iran in $300M CSAR mission, first combat pilot rescue in 27 years since Serbia ops.
F-15EX EAGLE-II fighter jet
USAF more than doubles F-15EX buy to 267 jets in FY2027 budget, replacing aging F-15E Strike Eagles with Boeing’s latest Eagle II.
The fighters listed below represent the most capable operational combat aircraft in 2026, based on a mix of technological sophistication, combat capability, speed, stealth, and operational versatility.
The United States Air Force (USAF) confirmed that an A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft crashed near the Strait of Hormuz on April 3, 2026, amid escalating military operations in the Middle East.
The McDonnell Douglas F-15C/D Eagle remains one of the longest-serving fighter aircraft in the United States Air Force (USAF) inventory.
Indonesia has abandoned plans to acquire Boeing’s F-15EX fighters, shifting focus to Rafale deliveries, KF-21 development, and training fleet upgrades as part of a broader air force modernization effort.
The United States has approved the Foreign Military Sales deal, clearing Israel to receive up to 50 Boeing F-15IA fighter jets, with the program connected to operations out of Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport (TLV) and aviation stakeholders, including El Al Israel Airlines (LY).
The US Air Force plans to retain a select group of F-15C/D Eagles through 2030, extending their service for homeland defense duties originally set to end in 2026.
Boeing enhances its F-15EX offer to Poland with the MQ-28 Ghost Bat drone and new defense industry partnerships.
The McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle, introduced in 1976 at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, boasts an unmatched 104:0 air to air kill ratio.