The Times of India on January 28 excitedly reported that the US Boeing Company was approved to bring F-15EX fighter to participate in bidding for the “Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft” program (MRFA competition)
Boeing once brought in the F/A-18E/F fighter to participate in the MRFA competition. This was a reasonable choice for Boeing, as the F/A-18E/F has a full range of combat and electronic warfare versions, and has been proven in real combat.
But considering the combat performance and equipment maintenance, the F/A-18E/F is unlikely to have a chance of victory, as India has bought the Rafale fighter in bulk and full of praise. Both types of fighters have similar features. So Boeing withdrew the F/A-18E/F and replaced it with the F-15EX. This is the type of heavy fighter with the most powerful air combat capabilities in its line of fighters. In terms of combat effectiveness, the F-15EX is indeed the most powerful of the participating aircraft.
The F-15EX fighter is equipped with an active electronically scanned array radar, the level of the electronic system equivalent to the F-35. Improvements includes the AMBER weapons rack to carry up to 22 air-to-air missiles, infrared search and track, advanced avionics and electronics warfare equipment. This is the aircraft capable of carrying the most weapons.
If facing the F-16C and JF-17 of Pakistan, only a single F-15EX has enough ammunition to take down the enemy squadron. The J-10C is China’s newest fourth-generation aircraft, but it is completely not a rival to the F-15EX.
For the Russian Su-35, in terms of electronic and radar equipment, it is clear that it cannot compete with the F-15EX. As for the Rafale with high maneuverability and multi-role capabilities, it is still only a medium-sized aircraft.
Other fighter models cannot be compared to the F-15EX in terms of electronics, radar and sensors. Furthermore, the F-15 has been proven through combat test, with most of its innovations rooted in battlefield practices. In this factor, other aircraft models cannot be compared.
