Fighter Jets The US Military Is Quietly Phasing Out & What's Replacing Them

The United States Air Force is entering a major modernization phase, retiring 21 F-15E Strike Eagles equipped with Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-220 engines as part of the FY2026 budget, while newer -229 variants remain in frontline service through the 2030s. The -220-powered jets deliver about 23,770 pounds of thrust, versus roughly 29,000 pounds for the -229 engines, and maintenance costs have risen as components age. The 21 aircraft constitute fewer than 10% of roughly 218 F-15Es in inventory, with the fleet’s modernization complemented by more than 200 F-15Es already updated with the APG-82(V)1 AESA radar. The Air Force plans to replace the retired airframes with the Boeing F-15EX Eagle II, procured in FY2026 as 21 aircraft at about $147 million each (roughly $3.1 billion total), continuing a focus on open-mission systems and 13 weapons stations.