144th FW Sharpens Edge Ahead of Eagle II Era

Guardsmen from the California Air National Guard’s 144th Fighter Wing recently deployed to Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, for a period of intensive combat readiness training marking a key step in the unit’s transition toward the F‑15EX Eagle II.

Operating on temporary duty status, Airmen from the 194th Fighter Squadron trained alongside active-duty units flying the F‑15E Strike Eagle, gaining firsthand experience with the aircraft’s multirole capabilities.  The training focused on bridging the gap between the wing’s current F‑15C Eagle and the advanced systems and mission sets they will encounter with the incoming F‑15EX.

Flying and maintaining their legacy Eagles in a Strike Eagle environment allowed pilots and maintainers alike to better understand the expanded air-to-ground and combat versatility that defines the F‑15E and, by extension, the next-generation Eagle II.

The deployment highlights a broader modernization effort across the Air National Guard, as units prepare to replace aging F‑15C/D fleets with the more advanced F‑15EX platform.

For the 144th Fighter Wing, the training at Mountain Home represents more than a routine TDY it’s a crucial stepping stone toward a new chapter in its air defense mission.