Boeing Awards Contract for F-15EX Ejection Seats

The contract, which will be performed in Colorado Springs, Colorado, further solidifies the company to continue outfitting the Air Force with next-generation ejection seats, Collins parent company RTX said.  

"The F-15EX is the most advanced Eagle ever built, combining cutting-edge technology with a proven airframe, which makes Collins' ACES II ejection seat the perfect fit for this aircraft," Sharon Tabori, vice president and general manager of integrated mission solutions at Collins Aerospace, said in a statement. "Our ACES family of ejection seats are the safest option available because of the advanced technologies we've incorporated. Having it installed on the F-15EX will give aircrew confidence to complete their most challenging missions, knowing that their ejection seat will work when they need it most."

Ejection seat safety has come under intense scrutiny in recent years following the discovery of a potential defect in cartridge-actuated devices.

In 2022, for example, the Air Force grounded its entire fleet of F-35s in a temporary stand-down triggered by concerns about faulty ejection seat parts. Out of 706 ejection seat cartridges inspected, four were deemed suspect and replaced, the Air Force said.

In May, an Air Force flight instructor died after the ejection seat in his T-6 Texan II activated while the aircraft was on the ground.

According to Collins, the ACES seats have saved more than 700 lives in 47 years they've been in use. At least 6,000 ACES II seats are in service in aircraft belonging to 29 air forces around the world, the company said.

Collins ACES seats are installed in U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolts, F-15 Eagles, F-16 Fighting Falcons, F-22 Raptors, B-1 Lancers, and B-2 Spirit fleets, as well as all F-15s and F-16s worldwide, it said.