A decision regarding Poland’s air dominance fighter jet program might be announced as early as the end of this year, according to a representative from Boeing.
Poland is looking to acquire 32 new multirole jets, with the F-15EX Eagle II, a fourth-generation aircraft, from Boeing and the Eurofighter Typhoon from a competitor both vying for the contract. Additionally, there’s potential for a third option involving another order of F-35A jets, building on a previous $4.6 billion agreement with the US in 2020.
Marissa Myers, Boeing’s senior manager for fighter programs, emphasized the company’s commitment to showcasing the capabilities of the F-15EX during discussions with Polish officials, though specific timelines for the decision have not been provided. “We are targeting late 2024 or early 2025 for the air dominance decision,” she stated at the International Defence Industry Exhibition (MSPO) held in Poland.
Maj. Gen. Cezary Wisniewski, deputy general commander of the Polish Armed Forces, previously noted that his team had traveled to Italy for an evaluation of the Eurofighter Typhoon. While Myers did not confirm whether the F-15EX was similarly assessed, she discussed the advanced features of the jet, which include digital fly-by-wire controls, a glass cockpit, and an updated electronic warfare suite.
A crucial aspect of the program will be the engine selection. Myers mentioned that should Poland opt for Pratt and Whitney’s F100 turbo fan engine as an alternative to General Electric’s F110-129 engine, there could be “cost and schedule” challenges associated with the certification and testing of the F100.
In response, Josh Goodman, the F100 program director at Pratt and Whitney, expressed confidence in the engine’s suitability, labeling it as “low risk” and noting that it would only require a few flight tests for certification in Poland.
Meanwhile, General Electric has already secured a $1.6 billion contract for the F110 engine, which won the competition for the Eagle II, and is poised to supply 329 engines. According to a US Air Force spokesperson, a total of 89 engines are currently under contract for the F-15EX, with 21 already delivered.
Scott Keating, GE’s regional general manager for defense and systems in Europe, highlighted the engine’s importance, stating, “We are the only qualified engine on the platform… we are ready to serve, we are ready to deliver.” The F110 engine is not only the choice for the F-15EX but also powers 70 percent of the US Air Force’s frontline F-16 fleet.
In addition to the F-15EX program, planned export orders are significant, with Israel set to acquire up to 50 units of the F-15IA variant, recently cleared by the US State Department as part of a $19 billion package. Also, a recent Memorandum of Understanding between Boeing and Indonesia marks a pivotal step in finalizing the sale of 24 Eagle II jets.
