Boeing has secured a contract worth up to $2.8 billion from the US Air Force to upgrade the Republic of Korea Air Force’s F-15K Slam Eagle fleet, a variant derived from the US-built F-15E Strike Eagle.
The contract covers the design and development of an integrated suite of aircraft systems, though the US Department of Defense has not publicly detailed the specific subsystems to be included.
All work will be conducted in St. Louis, Missouri, with the programme expected to run through December 2037.
The award builds on a US-approved $6.2-billion foreign military sales package cleared in November 2024, which encompasses radar upgrades, mission systems, and related support equipment for the F-15K.
Adapted to the operational demands of the Korean Peninsula, the F-15K Slam Eagle is capable of air-to-air combat, long-range deep-strike missions, and anti-ship operations.
The aircraft is particularly optimised for striking hardened and underground targets, reflecting the challenge posed by North Korea’s extensive subterranean military infrastructure, and complements South Korea’s fleet of F-35A stealth fighters.
Powered by General Electric F110 engines, the F-15K can carry Taurus long-range cruise missiles along with domestically developed precision weapons.
With a fleet of roughly 59 aircraft, South Korea’s F-15K modernisation programme aims to extend operational life into the next decade, improve survivability and sensor capability, and ensure continued interoperability with US and allied forces.
