Boeing Co. announced July 13 that it had landed a $1.2 billion deal with the U.S. Air Force for eight F-15EX fighter jets. The deal is a boost for the Chicago, Illinois-based aerospace manufacturer, which in recent months has endured a sharp contraction in demand for new planes from airliners struggling due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.
According to a statement from Boeing, the planes are “already under construction” in Boeing’s St. Louis production plant. The new F-15EX fighter jets will replace the oldest F-15s still in the U.S. Air Force’s arsenal. In addition to the order of eight new planes, the Air Force says it has requested 12 more for its financial-year 2021 budget, and a total of 76 planes over a five-year period, as part of its “Future Years Defense Program.” Boeing, in a statement, said that future plans could include as many as 144 aircraft....MORE
