USAF plans F-15 modernization

[fightingirish]

Slightly off-topic, but Japan is cleared to transform 98 of its F-15J Eagles into "Japanese Super Interceptors".
Link: https://www.dsca.mil/major-arms-sales/japan-f-15j-modernization

 

[AN/AWW-14(V)]

FY20 - USAF will start work for MUOS Satcom integration on the F-15C/D and F-15E

http://www.airforcemag.com/DRArchive/Documents/2019/CR%20Impacts%20Oct%2022.pdf

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1192068222792720385

 

[sferrin]

"Advanced Tactical Missile Storage". Hmmm.. .

 

[Grey Havoc]

First F-15QA fighter flown for Qatar

Boeing has conducted a 90min first flight with Qatar's lead F-15QA fighter, describing the model as "the most advanced version" of the twin-engined type ever manufactured.

www.flightglobal.com

 

[TomcatViP]

Is that a full Carbon Wing skin?!!

 

[Grey Havoc]

I'm wondering that too.

 

[TomcatViP]

Nothing that I have read so far mentions anything specific but elevators skins are made of composites since Eagle inception, that we know. Here it does appear as if they are sharing the same revetement. So either the wing is now made of old epoxy matrix or everything was re-designed.

 

[TomS]

There are some comments in the article below about the F-15QA wing being a new structural design with old aerodynamics.

https://www.flightglobal.com/helico...15s-pave-upgrade-path-for-usaf/127193.article

In an interview with FlightGlobal on 22 February, Parker also confirmed the F-15QA also will be delivered with a redesigned wing that strengthens the internal structure without changing the aerodynamics,. The redesign was made possible by using advanced new manufacturing techniques developed within Boeing in the last few years, he adds.

 

[TomcatViP]

What It Is Like Flying The Most Advanced F-15 Eagle Ever Built

A test pilot's perspective on Qatari F-15QA trials that will pave the way to deliveries in 2021, and help the development of the USAF’s new F-15EX.

www.thedrive.com

Interesting bits also pertaining to the EX (narrower HUD, HOTAS and LAD or common language with C and E's operational computers)

 

[TomcatViP]

F-15SA wings for USAF F--15E:

“In June 2018, the 409th SCMS partnered with the F-15 System Program Office, the F-15 Foreign Military Saudi case manager, and Worldwide Redistribution Service representatives to determine the feasibility of purchasing Royal Saudi Air Force F-15SA wings that were removed during a fleet retrofit and scheduled for destruction,” he said.

After completing a business case analysis of several wing procurement initiatives, Hudson said the decision was made to buy the F-15SA wings.

409th SCMS works with F-15 SPO, AFLCMC to secure RSAF wings for F-15, saving millions

The 409th Supply Chain Management Squadron, along with the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s F-15 Program Office and F-15SA Conversion, Fighters and Advanced Aircraft Program Office at Robins

www.robins.af.mil

 

[TomcatViP]

F-15EX for India:

Boeing unveils Indian F-15EX and industry plans

Boeing has confirmed that the US government has sanctioned its bid to promote its F-15EX Advanced Eagle combat aircraft to the Indian Air Force (IAF). This bid will be...

www.janes.com

 

[AGS-1787]

I wish they would post the flight testing videos with the new flight by wire system, They should have called f-25 or something like that. It might not be stealth but it is going to be a beast

 

[sferrin]

I wish they would post the flight testing videos with the new flight by wire system, They should have called f-25 or something like that. It might not be stealth but it is going to be a beast

No, they shouldn't have called it an F-25.

 

[Foo Fighter]

The media people are confused enough as it is, changing the name would make them suggest it as an all new aircraft and "Why is it not a stealthy aircraft"?

 

[TomcatViP]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1357065511364947968

View: https://twitter.com/i/status/1357065511364947968

 

[TomcatViP]

Some details on that extraordinary 1st test flight (Full afterburner Viking T.O, Mach2, Tailslides, high G traffic patterns) :

Boeing's Chief F-15 Test Pilot Talks Flying The Air Force's New Eagle On Its Maiden Flight

The F-15EX went to 40,000 feet and flew at twice the speed of sound on its first flight.

www.thedrive.com

 

[BDF]

“I believe this is the most lethal and survivable jet that's on the market today and I say that because the battlespace effects that this airplane can provide are on par or exceed what you can do with an LO [low observable] platform that has restrictions. This jet has 30,000 lb of things we can put on the wings and the fuselage,” adds Giese. “No one’s going to match that. Then if you marry that up with the radar and the EW system, I would argue — even as a guy that flew the F-22 for 12 years — that this platform produces battlespace effects — which is what the commanders care about — that are equal or better than what an LO platform can do, that’s based on power, size, payload, and capacity.

Ignoring the fact that this airplane, as good as it is, is enabled by LO platforms. Nice sales pitch though...

 

[Mark Nankivil]

A few pics of EX on its return from its first flight. Shot 4 missed approaches before landing - gave me plenty of opportunities to take pics...

Enjoy the Day! Mark

 

[TomcatViP]

Not missed... Those were touch and gos

 

[TomS]

Not missed... Those were touch and gos

The two aren't exclusive. A missed approach is what you fly after the "touch" in a touch and go. You can also fly a missed approach without a touchdown.

 

[Grey Havoc]

Glitch, or just PR?

 

[TomS]

Glitch, or just PR?

Testing.

 

[TomcatViP]

Not wanting to open a debate but those are not the same things...

Missed approach - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

 

[TomS]

Not wanting to open a debate but those are not the same things...

Missed approach - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

Correct, they are not the same thing but they are connected. If the plane did touch and gos (as reported in WarZone), it also flew missed approaches, because that's how touch-and-gos work. You fly the approach, touch-down, fail to stop, then fly a missed approach up and away from the runway. So why "correct" Mark when he mentioned missed approaches?

 

[Mark Nankivil]

Glitch, or just PR?

Had plenty of fuel - also made pitch up and hard right turn over the Boeing ramp to make noise and get pics taken for each touch and go.

Touch and Go it is.... Mark

 

[TomcatViP]

It might have been awesome to watch (but very noisy). Thanks for sharing those beautiful pictures @Mark Nankivil

 

[TomcatViP]

A pair of Strike Eagles were used for this week strike above Syria (that would explain the brief 4min warning to the Russians):

A pair of U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets dropped seven precision-guided munitions Thursday during airstrikes on a remote compound in eastern Syria used by Iranian-backed militias.

The strikes destroyed nine buildings in a compound along the border and damaged two others, Pentagon officials confirmed on Friday.

U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle jets used in strikes against Iran-backed militias, Pentagon says

A pair of U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets dropped seven precision-guided munitions Thursday during airstrikes on a remote compound in eastern Syria used by Iranian-backed militias.

amp.washingtontimes.com

 

[bobbymike]

The Air Force's F-15E 'bomb truck' can now carry 15 JDAMS

The U.S. Air Force has successfully tested a new loadout for the F-15E Strike Eagle that allows the highly capable multirole fighter to carry a whopping 15 JDAMs at once, though it won't be able to leverage them all in a single sortie. Entering service more than a decade after the F-15 Eagle...

www.sandboxx.us

 

[Excalibur66]

The Air Force has its first F-15EX

The newest Eagle has landed.

www.defensenews.com

 

[TomcatViP]

Rumors around 20 F-15EX for Korea:

the F-15K, the flagship of the Air Force, is also old, so the time to improve its performance is coming. The existing mechanical radar is replaced with the latest active array scanning (AESA) radar, and avionics equipment is also subject to replacement. The cost of performance improvement alone exceeds the 5 trillion won, costing 90 billion won per F-15K. Recently, the price of the US Lockheed Martin stealth fighter F-35A has dropped to less than KRW 90 billion per unit. Some people are talking about a specific amount, such as about 3.4 trillion won for the F-15K performance improvement project cost, and 5 trillion won for the introduction of 20 F-15EX units, including about 2 trillion won.

https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/kfx-korean-indigenous-fighter-programme.1686/post-449186

 

[bobbymike]

F-15C records longest known missile shot

The 28th Test and Evaluation Squadron partnered with the 83d Fighter Weapons Squadron to execute the longest known air-to-air missile shot to date during March 2021.

www.53rdwing.af.mil

 

[sferrin]

F-15C records longest known missile shot

The 28th Test and Evaluation Squadron partnered with the 83d Fighter Weapons Squadron to execute the longest known air-to-air missile shot to date during March 2021.

www.53rdwing.af.mil

A shame they didn't give any details. Given the current state of headlines from, well, almost everybody, I'd guess there are a slew of asterisks behind the claim. "Longest range shot from a US F-15 over the Gulf of Meixco" or something.

 

[rooster]

No way that can be considering the tomcat had kills approaching 150 miles. Maybe it was flying through the jet stream and launched at mach 2+ with a long glide from a ballistic profile..... I imagine this was a science experiment that couldn't be an every day use

 

[sferrin]

No way that can be considering the tomcat had kills approaching 150 miles. Maybe it was flying through the jet stream and launched at mach 2+ with a long glide from a ballistic profile..... I imagine this was a science experiment that couldn't be an every day use

Always wondered how far an AIM-54C (or AIM-47 with it's original Mach 6 motor) launched from an F-12B at Mach 3.2 and 80,000 feet would fly.