Here’s Why the F-15 Eagle is Still Going Strong After 50 Years

The Pentagon’s 2020 request for eight F-15 Eagle fighters is a testament to the fighter’s versatility. Nearly five decades after first flight, the F-15 is still relevant on the modern battlefield, proving the value of continuously upgrading platforms with the latest technologies. The jet, which observers believed would die out after the introduction of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, is embarking on an unlikely second career as a sidekick to fifth generation fighter.

In addition to already paid development costs, Flight Global identifies other reasons why the F-15X makes sense: The aircraft will be cheaper to operate per hour than the F-35.