The U.S. Air Force has resumed full production deliveries of F-15EX Eagle II fighter jets following the end of a 105-day strike at Boeing’s St. Louis facility, with the latest aircraft delivered to Portland Air National Guard Base in early December demonstrating a rapid recovery of the production line.
The strike, which began Aug. 4 and ended Nov. 17, involved approximately 3,200 Boeing workers and caused significant disruptions to the F-15EX program, which is central to the Air Force’s plans to modernize its aging fighter fleet. The work stoppage marked the first time the Air Force publicly acknowledged production delays affecting a major aircraft program due to labor action.
Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach confirmed the strike’s impact on F-15EX deliveries during written testimony to the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee as part of his nomination hearing for the U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff. Wilsbach told the committee that while the Air Force had received its first batch of aircraft, only half of the second group had been delivered at that point.
Despite the strike, Boeing and the Air Force managed to deliver two aircraft during the work stoppage. F-15EX 14 arrived at Portland Air National Guard Base on Aug. 19, just 15 days after the strike began, followed by F-15EX 15 on Nov. 16, one day before the strike’s conclusion. These deliveries likely represented aircraft that were already in final production stages when the strike commenced.
The most significant achievement came in early December with the delivery of F-15EX 16, which arrived less than three weeks after the strike ended. The rapid turnaround demonstrated the production line’s recovery and the effectiveness of coordination between the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s F-15 System Program Office, Boeing, and the Defense Contract Management Agency.
“The rapid turnaround highlights the strength and dedication of the joint government and industry team,” said Col. Jessica Kashka, F-15EX Program Manager. “Their success ensures that the nation’s warfighters receive the advanced capabilities of the F-15EX, reinforcing the Air Force’s commitment to maintaining a ready and lethal force.”
The strike centered on contract disputes between Boeing and members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local 837. Workers rejected four contract offers during the strike, with the union demanding a $10,000 ratification bonus, 401(k) benefit match, and higher wage increases for longtime employees. The approved contract, ratified by a 68 percent margin on Nov. 13, included a $6,000 signing bonus and a 24 percent general wage increase over five years, with 8 percent in the first year and 4 percent in each subsequent year. The average base pay for workers will increase from $75,000 to $109,000 annually under the new agreement.
Boeing stated during the strike that it was working to meet customer needs and had hired replacement workers, a move strongly opposed by the union.
The Air Force has not publicly disclosed whether the strike will affect the overall F-15EX delivery schedule for fiscal year 2026 or whether compensation adjustments will be made to the contract due to the delays.
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