Boeing has been awarded a major contract to lead the long-awaited upgrade of the Republic of Korea Air Force’s (ROKAF) F-15K Slam Eagle fleet, marking a significant step in Seoul’s effort to modernize its air combat capabilities amid a rapidly evolving regional threat environment. The contract follows the launch of the upgrade program by South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) in 2022 and the approval of a U.S. Foreign Military Sale (FMS) in November 2024.
Under the agreement, Boeing will design and develop an integrated suite of systems to bring the F-15K closer to the configuration of the U.S. Air Force’s latest F-15EX Eagle II, dramatically enhancing the aircraft’s long-range strike, survivability, and interoperability with allied forces. The contract is valued at $2.806 billion and represents the core development phase of a broader modernization effort estimated at $6.2 billion.
According to the contract notice published by the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center will act as the contracting authority on behalf of the ROKAF and DAPA. The work will be carried out primarily at Boeing’s facilities in St. Louis, Missouri, and is scheduled for completion by December 31, 2037.
While the end date extends beyond DAPA’s original planning window of 2024 to 2034, officials note that the revised timeline reflects delays in contract award and the scale of the design and integration work required. The FMS authorization approved in 2024 covered both the development work awarded to Boeing and the procurement of hardware and services required to upgrade the aircraft themselves.
The F-15K Slam Eagle has long been the backbone of South Korea’s heavy strike capability. Based on the F-15E Strike Eagle, the Korean variant was selected in 2002 after defeating the Rafale, Eurofighter Typhoon, and Su-35 in the highly competitive F-X fighter program. The initial order covered 40 aircraft equipped with General Electric F110-129 engines, followed by a second batch of 21 jets powered by Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-229 engines.
Of the 61 aircraft originally delivered beginning in 2005, South Korea currently operates 59. The fleet averages around 16 years of service and is expected to remain operational until roughly 2060, making the upgrade essential to maintain relevance against modern air defense systems and emerging threats.
The Slam Eagle name reflects the aircraft’s ability to employ the AGM-84H SLAM-ER stand-off cruise missile, a capability that distinguishes it within the ROKAF. It is also the only Korean fighter certified to carry the Taurus KEPD 350K long-range cruise missile, giving it unmatched reach and destructive power within the force.
The components requested under the FMS indicate South Korea’s intention to upgrade the entire F-15K fleet to a standard closely aligned with the F-15EX Eagle II. According to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA):
- 96 Advanced Display Core Processor II (ADCP II) mission system computers
- 70 AN/APG-82(V)1 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radars
- 70 AN/ALQ-250 Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability System (EPAWSS) electronic warfare suites
- 70 AN/AAR-57 Common Missile Warning Systems (CMWS)
This configuration would place the upgraded Slam Eagles among the most capable non-stealth strike fighters in the world, with digital processing power, sensor fusion, and survivability features comparable to those of newly built aircraft.
Interestingly, the Korean upgrade goes a step further than the current U.S. Air Force F-15EX configuration by including the AN/AAR-57 CMWS. This addition will require structural modifications to the aircraft, including the installation of sensor blisters along the canopy rails, underscoring that the F-15K upgrade is not merely a software refresh but a substantial physical transformation.
The FMS notice also includes provisions for aerial refueling support and aircraft ferry services, suggesting that at least the first aircraft may be flown to the United States for modification. The explicit mention of work being conducted in St. Louis reinforces the likelihood that early upgrades will take place at Boeing’s facilities before the process transitions to South Korea for the bulk of the fleet.
Such an approach would allow Boeing and the ROKAF to validate integration work on initial aircraft, reduce technical risk, and accelerate the learning curve before full-rate modification begins in country.
It remains unclear whether the F-15K will receive the full glass cockpit found on the F-15EX Eagle II. The EX features a 10-by-19-inch large area display touchscreen, Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System II (JHMCS II) for both pilot and weapons systems officer, a low-profile head-up display, and a highly digitalized cockpit optimized for networked warfare.
Regardless of the final cockpit layout, the upgraded F-15Ks will be powered by the ADCP II, widely described as the fastest mission computer ever installed on a fighter aircraft. This processing power will support the Operational Flight Program Suite 9.1X, a customized software package designed to ensure interoperability between modernized Eagles and legacy F-15 variants operated by both South Korea and the United States.
A centerpiece of the upgrade is the AN/APG-82(V)1 AESA radar. Derived from the APG-63(V)3 used on modernized F-15Cs and the APG-79 fitted to the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, the APG-82 offers dramatic improvements in detection range, target tracking, and multi-mode operation.
The radar can simultaneously track multiple air and surface targets, support high-resolution ground mapping, and share data across networks, enabling faster decision-making and cooperative engagement in complex battlespaces.
Complementing the radar is the AN/ALQ-250 EPAWSS electronic warfare suite. EPAWSS provides full-spectrum EW capabilities, integrating radar warning, geolocation, situational awareness, and self-protection functions into a single system. The upgrade will also increase chaff and flare capacity by 50 percent, with four additional dispensers installed in fairings behind the tail fins, bringing the total to 12 dispensers and 360 countermeasure cartridges.
Designed to operate in dense and contested electromagnetic environments, EPAWSS is intended to give the F-15K greater freedom of maneuver and deeper penetration capability against modern integrated air defense systems.
The inclusion of the AN/AAR-57 CMWS further enhances survivability. The system uses ultraviolet sensors to detect incoming missile launches, providing accurate threat localization and automatically cueing countermeasures. Although first fielded in 2005, the CMWS has been continuously upgraded, with Generation 3 algorithms now optimized to counter newer missile threats.
Together, the radar, EW suite, and missile warning system represent a significant leap in the Slam Eagle’s ability to survive and fight in high-end conflict scenarios.
The F-15K upgrade is part of a broader modernization of the ROKAF’s fighter fleet. In parallel, South Korea is upgrading its KF-16 Block 52 fighters to the V configuration, integrating new AESA radars, mission computers, and self-protection suites, with completion expected by 2025. These efforts complement the acquisition of the F-35A Lightning II and the ongoing development of the indigenous KF-21 Boramae.
South Korea’s decision to invest heavily in legacy platforms reflects the increasingly complex security environment it faces. North Korea continues to expand and diversify its ballistic missile arsenal, while China’s air force is rapidly modernizing with advanced fighters, long-range weapons, and sophisticated air defense systems.
In this context, the Slam Eagle remains the ROKAF’s primary long-range strike platform capable of carrying heavy stand-off weapons such as the Taurus KEPD 350K and SLAM-ER. While the F-35A and KF-21 bring stealth and advanced sensors, they currently lack equivalent stand-off strike capabilities in Korean service.
The KF-21 is expected to close part of this gap with the introduction of the Korea Air-Launched Cruise Missile (KALCM) under its Block 2 upgrade, with initial air-to-ground capability reportedly planned for mass-produced aircraft from 2027. Until then, and likely beyond, the F-15K will remain indispensable.
By aligning the F-15K’s configuration closely with the U.S. Air Force’s F-15EX, South Korea stands to gain significant interoperability benefits. With F-15EX deployments planned for Kadena Air Base in Japan, common systems and software will simplify joint training, logistics, and operational planning.
In a regional contingency, upgraded Slam Eagles could operate seamlessly alongside U.S. F-15EXs and F-35s, sharing data, coordinating strikes, and potentially serving as high-capacity “missile trucks” supporting stealth assets penetrating defended airspace.
The scale and ambition of the F-15K upgrade program signal South Korea’s intent to keep the Slam Eagle relevant well into the 2040s and potentially beyond. With advanced sensors, powerful mission computers, and state-of-the-art electronic warfare systems, the upgraded F-15K will be far more than a legacy platform—it will be a central pillar of South Korea’s deterrence and strike posture.
As the regional balance of air power continues to evolve, Boeing’s $2.8 billion contract represents not just a modernization effort, but a strategic investment in maintaining credible, long-range air combat capability in one of the world’s most volatile security environments.
