With deadlock over the Fiscal Year 2020 defense budget, Boeing is all set to press ahead with the F-15EX project for the US Air Force.
DEADLOCK IN WASHINGTON over the sign-off of the Department of Defense’s (DoD) Fiscal Year 2020 budget, with the government operating under a continuing resolution (CR), means the US Air Force has been unable to move ahead with plans to place a firm order for an initial batch of new Boeing F-15EX Eagles. Prat Kumar, Boeing’s vice-president and program manager for F-15, told Combat Aircraft: ‘Boeing is leaning forward and committed to partnering with the air force on the F-15EX program, we are ready to go on contract as soon possible for our customer.’ He added: ‘We are capable of delivering two jets by the end of 2020 assuming a timely contract award.’ Kumar said Boeing is making investments to protect its ability to deliver the first F-15EX ‘by the end of 2020’ on that basis.
