Boeing plans to double F-15EX output in St. Louis amid rising U.S. fighter demand

Production ramp targets higher monthly output at Boeing’s St. Louis-area fighter line

Boeing is preparing to increase production of the U.S. Air Force’s F-15EX Eagle II at its St. Louis-area facilities, aiming to lift output to a rate of two aircraft per month as demand for the upgraded fighter grows. The plan would mark a step up from earlier production levels reported for the program and would position the F-15EX line as a central element of the region’s military aerospace manufacturing workload through the second half of the decade.

The F-15EX is the newest variant in the long-running F-15 family. It is being acquired to replace aging F-15C/D aircraft in air defense roles while also expanding capacity for missions that require large weapons loads and long range. The first F-15EX delivered to an operational unit arrived at Portland Air National Guard Base on June 5, 2024, beginning a transition for the Oregon Air National Guard’s 142nd Wing, which is expected to field a full complement of the type over the following years.

Orders and delivery rhythm remain tied to modernization priorities and industrial performance

The U.S. Air Force has stated an intent to procure 98 F-15EX aircraft, a figure that reflects changes from earlier plans that envisioned a larger buy. As the fleet expands beyond test aircraft and early operational deliveries, the production tempo has taken on greater importance for unit conversion schedules, pilot training pipelines, and sustainment planning.

In late 2025, the program’s delivery flow was disrupted by a work stoppage in the St. Louis area that halted the F-15EX production line from Aug. 4 to Nov. 17, 2025. Deliveries later resumed, and Air Force program officials described efforts involving the service, the manufacturer, and federal oversight teams to recover from the resulting schedule impacts.

St. Louis line increasingly focused on U.S. requirements as export prospects shift

International interest has been closely watched because export orders can affect long-term production planning. Indonesia had previously taken steps toward acquiring the F-15EX under a U.S. government foreign military sales framework, including a memorandum of understanding announced in 2023. In early 2026, Boeing confirmed the Indonesia F-15EX effort was no longer being pursued, signaling a shift toward prioritizing U.S. deliveries and production-capacity expansion in St. Louis.

• Target production rate: two F-15EX aircraft per month in the latter part of the decade.
• Key operational milestone: first delivery to an operational unit on June 5, 2024.
• Major disruption: St. Louis-area work stoppage from Aug. 4 to Nov. 17, 2025, followed by resumed deliveries.

The planned ramp-up underscores how fighter recapitalization timelines depend on both budget decisions and manufacturing stability, with St. Louis positioned as a key hub for meeting near-term U.S. fighter inventory needs.

With increased production, the program’s near-term focus remains on steady deliveries to U.S. units, rebuilding schedule margin after the 2025 interruption, and sustaining a workforce and supplier base capable of maintaining a higher monthly output.