Overview
- The 18th Wing received the first permanently assigned F-15EX Eagle II fighters on Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026, making Kadena the first overseas USAF base to host combat‑coded EX aircraft.
- Kadena will eventually operate 36 F-15EXs to replace 48 legacy F-15C/Ds, a planned reduction in airframe numbers offset by the EX’s larger weapons load and upgraded systems.
- The F-15EX brings modern avionics, a new electronic‑warfare suite (EPAWSS) and a weapons capacity of up to 12 air‑to‑air missiles while remaining a non‑stealth platform.
- Pilots and maintainers trained at Eglin AFB and Portland ANG Base and sustained readiness with rotational deployments of fourth‑ and fifth‑generation fighters during the multi‑year transition.
- Deliveries slipped roughly a year after a Boeing St. Louis plant strike in late 2025, and Air Force officials still expect the full transition at Kadena to finish in 2028–2029.