Poland Could Soon Be Flying the F-15EX Eagle II Fighter

Summary and What You Need to Know: Poland is weighing options between the Boeing F-15EX Eagle II and the Eurofighter Typhoon to replace its aging MiG-29 fleet, with a potential deal for two squadrons of the F-15EX still under consideration.

-Pratt & Whitney, the engine maker behind the F100, has offered to boost its maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) capabilities in Poland, where it already operates a facility.

-The F100 engine, known for superior fuel efficiency, is being promoted as a lower-risk, cost-effective choice for Poland’s F-15EX fleet, potentially giving the aircraft an edge over the Eurofighter in Warsaw’s decision-making process.

Polish F-15EX Could Get 'Low Risk' Pratt & Whitney Engines

Even as the Polish Air Force received its first F-35 Husarz fifth-generation stealth fighter last week, the aircraft will remain in the United States for training purposes. It could be several years before the first operational squadron of the Lockheed Martin-made multirole aircraft enters service in Poland. In the meantime, Warsaw continues to seek options to replace its aging Soviet-design MiG-29 aircraft – and earlier this year announced it would look to acquire two squadrons of the Boeing F-15EX Eagle II, the upgraded variant of the F-15.

However, that deal hasn't been finalized and Warsaw is determining whether it should move forward with the F-15EX or go with the Eurofighter Typhoon. The latter aircraft is already widely in service with several NATO members and could have an edge over the Eagle II.

However, to sweeten the potential deal, engine maker Pratt & Whitney has stepped up by stating it would increase the engine maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) activities in Poland.

"Pratt already has a sizeable footprint in Poland, where it placed F100 engine work when the country acquired Lockheed Martin F-16s more than two decades ago," Aviation Week reported, noting the company's facility in Rzeszów, which opened in 2015.

Different Engines for the Polish Eagle IIs

Complicating matters is that the General Electric F110 engines have powered the F-15EX, but the F100 more than meets the performance requirements of the Eagle II, and Aviation Week added the Pratt & Whitney engine "has a margin for growth in the system."

"It's really the engine to airframe interface that needs to be….validated or certified, however, no architecture changes to the engine," Josh Goodman, F100 program director at Pratt & Whitney told reporters on Tuesday, adding that the company's sizable presence in Poland is ready to roll. The facility could produce upwards of 30 engines monthly.

However, as Breaking Defense reported, Polish industry isn't quite "capable" yet of "sustaining all parts" for the F100, but Pratt & Whitney would do its part to ensure the program can move forward.

A further advantage of the Pratt & Whitney F100 over the General Electric F110 is the former's superior fuel efficiency, notably during cruise flight.

"The F100 was specifically engineered to enhance fuel efficiency, especially at subsonic cruise speeds where military aircraft typically spend a significant amount of time during transit or patrol operations," Bulgarian Military explained. "Its lower bypass ratio and optimized thermodynamic cycle allow for more efficient fuel consumption when the afterburner is not in use, making it perfect for longer flights at cruising altitude. Additionally, the F100's compressor and turbine stages enhance airflow management under these conditions, boosting its fuel efficiency further."

Boeing has continued to tout the F-15EX as a low-cost alternative to the F-35, and now it may need to prove that it is a wiser investment for Poland than the Eurofighter Typhoon. Pratt & Whitney's offer to build the engines in Poland could swing Warsaw's decision in the Eagle II's favor.

Author Experience and Expertise: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: Editor@nationalinterest.org.

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