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Collins Aerospace to Provide Essential Components for Pilot Survivability in US Air Force F-15EX Fleet.
Collins Aerospace, a subsidiary of RTX (formerly Raytheon Technologies), has been awarded a contract by Boeing Defense to deliver 144 ACES II (Advanced Concept Ejection Seat) ejection seats for the US Air Force’s new F-15EX fighter fleet. This agreement underscores Collins Aerospace’s ongoing role in supplying military aircraft with advanced survival systems designed to protect pilots in critical situations.
Collins Aerospace will provide 144 ACES II ejection seats to outfit the US Air Force’s new F-15EX fighters under a contract with Boeing Defense. (Picture source: RTX)
Collins Aerospace will provide 144 ACES II ejection seats to outfit the US Air Force’s new F-15EX fighters under a contract with Boeing Defense. This deal highlights Collins Aerospace’s continued contribution to developing advanced survival systems for pilot protection in critical situations.
The ejection seat is a fundamental element for pilot safety and, more broadly, for the success of aerial missions. In an emergency (critical malfunction, loss of control, or imminent impact), it enables the pilot to escape the aircraft rapidly. Thanks to its advanced technologies—including sensors, stabilization devices, and shock absorption mechanisms—the ejection seat minimizes the risk of severe injury or even death during ejection.
According to Collins Aerospace, the ACES II ejection seat builds on decades of proven technology and safety enhancements. “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 ideal solution for this aircraft,” said Sharon Tabori, Vice President and General Manager of Integrated Mission Solutions at Collins Aerospace. “Our family of ACES ejection seats is the safest option available due to the advanced technologies we’ve incorporated. Installing it on the F-15EX will give crews the confidence that their ejection seat will work when they need it most.”
The ACES series was originally introduced in 1978 and has already saved more than 700 lives. Today, approximately 6,000 ACES II seats are in service with 29 air forces worldwide, including on the US Air Force’s A-10, F-15, F-16, F-22, B-1, and B-2 aircraft, as well as on all F-15 and F-16 aircraft internationally. Collins Aerospace’s continued improvements to seat design aim to reduce the risk of head, neck, and spinal injuries for pilots, making the ACES II series a benchmark for safety and life preservation.
Work-related to this new contract will be conducted in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The delivery of these ACES II ejection seats will support the expansion of the F-15EX program as the US Air Force moves forward with modernizing its fighter fleet.