When the F-15 entered service in the 1970s, fatigue tests were done to see how long they could last. Another such test will soon be done, ACC commander Gen. John Corley said Friday. Corley noted that F-15s built in the Cold War were expected to serve perhaps 15 years, or about 4,000 hours, but have been extended by necessity to 8,000 hours. He said Air Force Materiel Command will do a new test to see if long-term extension of the F-15 is realistic.
Boeing received a $2.47 billion Air Force contract Nov. 25 for 15 more KC-46s, bringing to 183 the number of Pegasus tankers on contract to all customers, foreign and domestic. The new contract—for Lot 12 of the initially planned KC-46 buy—is to be completed by 2029.
