Boeing has secured a potential $2.8 billion contract from the US Air Force to upgrade South Korea’s F-15K Slam Eagle fighter jets, reinforcing Seoul’s airpower as regional security pressures continue to rise. The F-15K is based on the proven F-15E Strike Eagle and remains a central pillar of South Korea’s strike and deterrence capability.
Under the agreement, Boeing will deliver the design and development of an advanced, integrated aircraft systems suite, though US defense officials have not detailed which sensors or avionics will be included. Upgrade work will take place in Missouri, with the program running through 2037, reflecting a long-term investment in the platform.
The effort builds on a $6.2 billion US-approved modernization package cleared in late 2024, which included improvements to radars, mission systems, and logistics support. Together, these initiatives are intended to keep the F-15K combat-relevant alongside newer platforms such as the F-35A stealth fighter, which also serves in the ROK Air Force.
Specifically adapted for the Korean Peninsula, the F-15K excels in long-range strike operations against fortified and underground targets, a mission set driven by North Korea’s heavily protected military facilities. Powered by GE F110 engines, the aircraft can carry Taurus cruise missiles and South Korean precision-guided munitions. With around 59 aircraft in service, the modernization program aims to boost survivability, sensor performance, and seamless cooperation with US forces well into the next decade.
