{"id":134686,"date":"2026-02-27T02:50:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-26T21:20:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/?p=134686"},"modified":"2026-02-27T02:09:27","modified_gmt":"2026-02-26T20:39:27","slug":"air-force-reserve-fights-to-secure-f-15ex","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/27\/air-force-reserve-fights-to-secure-f-15ex\/","title":{"rendered":"US Air Force Reserve Fights to Secure F-15EX and Strike Eagles Amid Jet Retirements"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

GEORGIA-<\/strong> The US Air Force<\/a> Reserve Command is pushing to acquire surplus F-15E Strike Eagles and new F-15EX Eagle II fighters to replace retiring aircraft. Lt. Gen. John P. Healy aims to end a 14-year pattern of divesting aircraft without recapitalization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking at the Air & Space Forces Association\u2019s annual Warfare Symposium, Healy outlined how the Reserve must align with the United States Air Force 10 year fighter plan while preserving combat experience and reducing costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reported by TWZ<\/a>, the proposal emphasizes readiness, efficiency, and force sustainability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo: USAF<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

US Air Force F-15E Reserve<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Headquartered at Robins Air Force Base, the Air Force Reserve Command oversees three numbered air forces, 34 flying wings, 10 flying groups, a space wing, a cyber wing, and an intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance wing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It also manages additional subordinate units that support total-force missions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The command provides approximately 14 percent of the Air Force\u2019s total force while consuming about four percent of the manpower budget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Healy consistently highlights this value proposition to senior leadership, including programmers, the Chief of Staff, and the Secretary of the Air Force.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Healy addressed the challenge of contributing to the Air Force\u2019s ambitious 10 year fighter roadmap, which seeks nearly 1,400 combat-coded tactical aircraft by 2030.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The plan includes expanded procurement of F-15EX<\/a>, F-35<\/a>, and future F-47<\/a> platforms. Although submitted to Congress, the roadmap remains under refinement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Several Reserve units are scheduled to divest aircraft without confirmed replacement platforms. Healy noted that some squadrons consist entirely of combat veterans and warned that experience could be lost if recapitalization does not occur concurrently with retirement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He acknowledged that some aircraft are legacy systems, with nearly 80 percent of the Reserve fleet classified as aging platforms, but argued that modernization must proceed proportionately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Healy stated that the longstanding practice of divestment without recapitalization over the past 14 years must end. He expressed optimism that leadership is now committed to reversing that trend while maintaining classic associations with active-duty units.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo: USAF<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

F-15E and F-15EX as Replacement Options<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Air Force currently operates 218 F-15E Strike Eagles<\/a>. Of these, 119 aircraft use F100-PW-220 engines rated at approximately 23,500 pounds of thrust each, while 99 use F100-PW-229 engines producing roughly 29,000 pounds of thrust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Previous Air Force plans aimed to retire the older Dash-220-powered F-15Es by the end of Fiscal Year 2028 to free resources for modernization. Lawmakers have raised concerns that such retirements could reduce tactical aircraft availability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One potential solution involves transferring surplus F-15Es to Reserve units. Two Dash-229-powered Strike Eagle squadrons are currently based at RAF Lakenheath in the United Kingdom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are the only permanently forward-deployed F-15Es and are expected to transition to F-35 aircraft in the future. Their eventual return to the United States could create recapitalization opportunities for the Reserve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another option involves reallocating older Dash-220-powered jets to Reserve service. Although less powerful, these aircraft would preserve operational capacity while enabling active-duty modernization priorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The F-15EX Eagle II program has experienced fluctuations in planned procurement numbers. Earlier plans called for at least 144 aircraft to replace F-15C\/D fleets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Under the Fiscal Year 2026 proposal, the program of record increases from 98 to 129 aircraft, including at least one additional squadron converting from the A-10. Further expansion would likely be necessary for Reserve allocation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Units currently operating A-10s, F-16s<\/a>, and even F-15Es could transition to F-15EX depending on force structure decisions. Healy has also pressed for F-35 backfills in Reserve squadrons divesting from F-16 platforms to preserve advanced combat capability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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F-15 Eagle; Photo: By Steve Lynes from Sandshurst | Wikimedia Commons<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Financial Efficiency and Cost Advantage<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Reserve\u2019s operating model delivers measurable savings. An Air Force Reserve F-16 squadron operates approximately $12 million cheaper annually than an equivalent active-duty unit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Projected savings are higher for F-15 platforms. A Reserve F-15E squadron would operate about $28 million cheaper per year than its active-duty counterpart. For the F-15EX, the estimated annual savings reach approximately $24 million per squadron.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These efficiencies stem from the Reserve\u2019s manpower structure. Of roughly 67,000 personnel, about 14,000 serve full-time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Units typically maintain daily operations with about 25 percent full-time staff, reaching full strength during scheduled training periods. This structure reduces overhead while sustaining readiness and accessibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Healy argues that these savings allow the Air Force to reinvest funds into broader modernization priorities while maintaining combat effectiveness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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F-15EX_Eagle_II; Photo- Wikipedia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Strategic Outlook<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Healy emphasized that the Reserve has proven its accessibility, operational efficiency, and combat lethality across mission sets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He described himself as persistent in advocating for recapitalization to ensure that experienced airmen remain within the force.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The feasibility of transferring F-15E or allocating F-15EX aircraft depends on broader force structure decisions and procurement growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the Reserve\u2019s demonstrated cost advantage and combat record strengthen its case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If implemented, integrating F-15E Strike Eagles or F-15EX Eagle IIs into Reserve squadrons would reverse long-standing divestment trends and reinforce the total-force fighter enterprise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stay tuned with us. Further, follow us on social media for the latest updates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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