
Air Force officials told a Senate panel on Tuesday the plan to procure over 80 F-15EXs over the next five years is required to keep up with an operational pace that continues to challenge readiness levels, with the aircraft to serve as a gapfiller for the aging F-15C fleet while bringing F-35s onboard. Lawmakers on the Senate Armed Services Airland Subcommittee pressed the witnesses on the current status to bring down F-35 sustainment costs and the capability for the F-15EXs…