US Air Force awards $131 billion contract to Boeing for F-15 production and modernization
News, US August 31, 2026 Comments Off on US Air Force awards $131 billion contract to Boeing for F-15 production and modernization3 minute read
The U.S. Air Force has awarded Boeing a framework contract with a maximum value of $131.23 billion to produce, modernize, and sustain F-15 fighter jets for the U.S. military and foreign customers through 2037.
The contract, known as F-15 Eagle Crest, allows the Air Force to place orders over several years rather than committing to a fixed number of aircraft at the time of the award.
The agreement covers new aircraft production, systems integration, modernization, upgrades, retrofits, and sustainment of the F-15 fleet.
Despite its headline value, the contract does not mean the U.S. government has committed to spend the full $131.23 billion. It sets the maximum amount that can be ordered under the agreement over its lifetime. Only $343,740 in fiscal 2026 research, development, test and evaluation funding was obligated when the contract was awarded.
Orders to Continue Through 2036
The Air Force can issue individual orders under the contract through August 2031, with an option to extend the ordering period to August 2036. Boeing is expected to complete the work by August 2037.
The agreement also includes the establishment of organic depot maintenance capabilities, allowing U.S. government facilities to carry out major F-15 maintenance and overhauls rather than relying entirely on the manufacturer.
Boeing will perform the contracted work at its facility in St. Louis, Missouri, while the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio is responsible for the contract.
The framework will support the U.S. Air Force, Air National Guard, and other Department of War customers. It also provides for foreign military sales to Japan, Israel, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Singapore, Indonesia, and Poland. Indonesia and Poland do not currently operate F-15 aircraft.
F-15 Production Continues
The agreement comes as the U.S. continues to expand and modernize its F-15EX fleet. A fiscal 2027 acquisition report increased the planned U.S. F-15EX purchase to 268 aircraft through fiscal 2031, up from an earlier baseline of 98.
The larger purchase is expected to require upgrades to several major systems, including the fighter’s radar, mission computer, electronic warfare suite and engines.
Israel is also purchasing aircraft from Boeing’s F-15 production line in St. Louis. A Dec. 29, 2025, agreement covers 25 F-15IA aircraft, with an option for another 25, for a total contract value of $8.58 billion. The acquisition report said the purchase would help stabilize the lower-tier supply chain and extend the active manufacturing life of the F-15EX production line.
The F-15 is a twin-engine tactical fighter originally designed primarily for air-to-air combat. The F-15E Strike Eagle adds a ground-attack role, while the newer F-15EX Eagle II is intended to complement fifth-generation fighters in the U.S. tactical aircraft fleet.
The latest framework contract therefore gives the Air Force a long-term mechanism to buy, upgrade, and maintain F-15 aircraft while supporting continued production for U.S. and international customers. It also provides Boeing with a potential pipeline of work extending well into the 2030s, although the final value will depend on the orders placed under the agreement.
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