The USAF's F-15 fleet

[adroth]

Aging Aircraft: USAF F-15 Fleet Grounded; Radar Updates Underway
Dec 12, 2016 00:55 UTC by Defense Industry Daily staff

http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/aging-aircraft-usaf-f-15-fleet-grounded-04149/

December 12/16: Engineers from Boeing have been working on external link external link USAF F-15Es, replacing old APG-70 radars with the state-of-the-art APG-82 AESA radar. The work has been underway since September on planes located at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina. Dubbed as the RMP Eagle modernization program, more than 90 jets will receive the overhaul which is expected to be completed within the next seven to nine years.

“Array of Aging American Aircraft Attracting Attention” discusses the issues that accompany an air force whose fighters have an average age of over 23.5 years – vs. an average of 8.5 years in 1967. One of the most obvious consequences is the potential for fleet groundings due to unforseen structural issues caused by time and fatigue. That very fear is responsible for the #1 priority placed on bringing new KC-X aerial tankers into the fleet to complement the USA’s 1960s-era KC-135 Stratotankers.

It can also affect the fighter fleet more directly.

Following the crash of a Missouri Air National Guard F-15C aircraft Nov 2/07 (see crash simulation external link), the US Air Force suspended non-mission critical F-15 flight operations external link on Nov 3/07. While the cause of that accident is still under investigation, preliminary findings indicate that a structural failure during flight may have been responsible. In response, Japan suspended its own F-15 flights, which left them in a bit of a bind – even as Israel’s F-15s joined them on the tarmac. As the effects continue to spread and the USAF and others continue to comment on this situation, DID continues to expand its coverage of this bellwether event. A conditional restoration of the American F-15A-D fleet to flight status was soon overturned by the re-grounding of that fleet as a result of the report’s conclusions – a status that remains only been partially lifted. Meanwhile, the accident report has been released (compete with video dramatization) and the status of the remaining aircraft will have significant implications for the USAF’s future F-15 fleet size. Not to mention its other procurement programs.

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[adroth]

Milestone and contract award boost USAF Eagle upgrade effort
Gareth Jennings, London - Jane's International Defence Review
09 April 2019

https://www.janes.com/article/87759/milestone-and-contract-award-boost-usaf-eagle-upgrade-effort?utm_campaign=CL_%20Jane%27s%20360-April-10-2019_PC5308_e-production_E-30718_KP_0410_0750&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Eloqua

The US Air Force (USAF) effort to upgrade its Boeing F-15 Eagle combat aircraft took a step forward on 8 April, with a significant developmental milestone and a further contract award for two of the proposed enhancements.

Boeing announced that the Eagle Passive/Active Warning and Survivability System (EPAWSS) upgrade had made its maiden flight on an F-15 testbed, while on the same day the Department of Defense (DoD) contracted the company for low-rate initial production (LRIP) lot 3 of the Advanced Display Core Processor II (ADCP II) for the aircraft.

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[Ayoshi]

https://www.janes.com/article/89419/stormbreaker-ioc-with-usaf-expected-later-this-year

StormBreaker IOC with USAF expected later this year
21 June 2019

Optimised to address moving battlefield targets, StormBreaker - formerly designated 'Small Diameter Bomb II' - is a 250 lb-class, air-launched unpowered glide weapon system furnished with a unique tri-mode seeker that combines millimetre wave (MMW) radar, imaging infrared (IIR), and semi-active laser (SAL) sensors with a GPS/inertial navigation system (INS) autopilot for precision accuracy in adverse weather conditions. The seeker's optical dome is protected by a clamshell shroud, which is jettisoned before the seeker is activated. A Rockwell Collins TacNet bi-directional dual-band datalink enables Joint Tactical Information Distribution System (JTIDS) connectivity with aircraft and an ultra-high frequency (UHF) link with a ground designator.

Equipped with a deployable wing assembly to achieve stand-off engagement ranges in excess of 70 km, StormBreaker incorporates a multifunction warhead (blast, fragmentation, and shaped charge jet) designed to defeat armoured and non-armoured targets; a redesign of the warhead was performed during the development cycle to provide the capability to disable or defeat main battle tanks. The warhead fuze can be set to initiate on impact, at a pre-set height above the intended target, or in a delayed mode. The munition operates in three principal attack modes: normal attack (NA), laser-illuminated attack (LIA), and co-ordinate attack (CA). It can be used against moving or stationary targets using its NA (MMW/IIR) sensors or LIA modes, and against fixed targets with its CA mode.

Raytheon completed development and integration of the StormBreaker smart weapon on the F-15E Strike Eagle in April 2018. Source: US Air Force

[Ayoshi]

Nearly All F-15Es Photographed Arriving In Middle East Carried Dragon's Eye Radar Pods
July 10, 2019

F-15E Strike Eagles from the 336th Fighter Squadron, the "Rocketeers," of the 4th Fighter Wing based at Seymour Johnson AFB arrived at Al Dhafra Air Base in the UAE on the 14th of June, 2019. The contingent was part of the bolstering of U.S. forces in the region that began in May after still largely undisclosed intelligence warned of potential Iranian aggression throughout the region. We closely examined the official photos showing the arrival of the detachment of Strike Eagles at Al Dhafra Air Base and came away with a noteworthy observation—five out to the six aircraft photographed are carrying AN/ASQ-236 "Dragon's Eye" Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar pods on their centerline stations.

The pod is self-contained and carries a stabilized AESA radar that rotates around the pod's center axis as well as geo-positioning and cooling systems. As such, it can work as a side-looking airborne radar (SLAR), taking high detailed synthetic aperture radar (SAR) maps of an area the Strike Eagle flies parallel too or even over, with near photo-like fidelity. In fact, it is supposedly so sensitive that it can detect roadside and semi-buried IEDs and possibly even groups of people on foot. It is also rumored to be able to generate ground-moving target indicator (GMTI) geolocation data on vehicles, such as trucks and armor, or vessels at sea.

It's also worth noting that AESA arrays have a secondary ability to act as powerful electronic attack nodes. Considering the AN/ASQ-236 is quite mature, it is possible that they have acquired software that would allow them to work in this mode, even if only against a limited set of enemy emitter types.

These functions and the jet's multi-role fighter abilities and long-range not only give the F-15E crew the ability to collect very high-quality intelligence in less than friendly neighborhoods, but they can also rapidly acquire very precise targeting information that can be used to sling weapons, like GBU-39 Small Diameter Bombs, at those targets. Above all else, they can do this in any weather and under any battlefield conditions. The radar is not affected by the time of day, smoke, or cloud cover.

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/28924/nearly-all-f-15es-photographed-arriving-in-middle-east-carried-dragons-eye-radar-pods

[Ayoshi]

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/28924/nearly-all-f-15es-photographed-arriving-in-middle-east-carried-dragons-eye-radar-pods


F-15E equipped with the AN/APG-82 AESA radar. OFFICIAL DOTE REPORT
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AN/ASQ-236 Dragon's Eye pod being mounted on a B-52H for testing. USAF

[Ayoshi]

https://www.janes.com/article/93972/us-air-force-issues-sole-source-notices-for-f-15ex-aircraft-engines

US Air Force issues sole source notices for F-15EX aircraft, engines
29 January 2020

The service plans to acquire as many as 480 F110 engines, engine monitoring system computers, integrated logistics support, support equipment, and tooling, according to an announcement posted on the US federal contracting website beta.sam.gov. The F110 is found in new model F-15s including the F-15SA procured by Saudi Arabia. The contract award and orders are expected to begin in May.

The USAF said that the F-15EX requires a propulsion system to support its Rapid Fielding Program, which is intended to refresh and replace ageing F-15C/D aircraft. The F-15EX, the announcement said, requires delivery of a propulsion system certified for installation in the platform, including integration with the fly-by-wire flight control system.

General Electric F110-GE-129 engine that will power the Boeing F-15EX Advanced Eagle. Source: General Electric

[Ayoshi]

https://www.janes.com/article/94043/usaf-set-to-field-stormbreaker-on-f-15e

USAF set to field StormBreaker on F-15E
02 February 2020

The StormBreaker RAA is the pre-IOC benchmark capability to arm 12 USAF F-15Es with two, fully-loaded (four weapons) BRU-61/A carriage systems each for 1.5 sorties (144 assets total).

Optimised to address moving battlefield targets, StormBreaker - formerly designated 'Small Diameter Bomb II' - is a 250 lb-class, air-launched unpowered glide weapon system furnished with a unique tri-mode seeker, which combines millimetre wave (MMW) radar, imaging infrared (IIR), and semi-active laser (SAL) sensors with a GPS/inertial navigation system (INS) autopilot (the provider for which is undisclosed) for precision accuracy in adverse weather conditions. The seeker's optical dome is protected by a clamshell shroud, which is jettisoned before the seeker is activated. A Rockwell Collins TacNet bi-directional dual-band datalink enables Joint Tactical Information Distribution System (JTIDS) connectivity with aircraft and an ultra-high frequency (UHF) link with a ground designator.

The US Air Force is expected to declare an initial operating capability with the GBU-53/B StormBreaker glide munition on the F-15E Strike Eagle multirole combat aircraft in the first half of 2020. Source: USAF

[Ayoshi]

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/ge-awarded-f-15ex-engine-contract-ahead-of-potential-competition

01 July 2020
GE awarded F-15EX engine contract ahead of potential competition

The firm-fixed-price contract announced on 30 June covers Lot 1 production of the F110-GE-129 engine through to 30 November 2022.

The USAF had always intended to sole-source GE for production of the F-15EX engine claiming that, with the F110-GE-129 already certified for installation, any competition could add up to three-years to the programme. However, following a protest from rival provider Pratt & Whitney, the service issued a sources sought notification on 15 May in which it asked for bids to build up 461 engines to power 144 aircraft (plus spares). Responses to that request were due to have been submitted in early June, with any request for proposals to follow after. Should the USAF decide it does require a second supplier, these alternate engines could potentially be introduced from Lot 2 onwards.

The General Electric F110-GE-129 engine will power the F-15EX at least through to the end of Lot 1 production in November 2022, after which time the USAF may or may not open up the requirement to other powerplant providers. (General Electric)

[adroth]

I have to wonder if this engine change will result in the same problem as the F-14s had when their engines were replaced, which reportedly reduced their service lives

[adroth]

https://www.boeing.com/defense/f-15ex/

OVERVIEW

The F-15EX is a ready-now replacement for the F-15C that includes best-in-class payload, range and speed. Designed to deliver value to the U.S. Air Force, the F-15EX will be a backbone fighter for the service – not just today, but for the next several decades. Boeing engineers created hundreds of digital aircraft before cutting any metal, and flew thousands of hours before our first test flight. The result is an aircraft with a digital backbone, open system architecture and the capacity to carry hypersonic weapons, making it a key element of the U.S. Air Force’s tactical fighter fleet.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5x728yfiid0

The U.S. Air Force test pilots take to the skies for the first time in the #F15EX​, with its official U.S. Air Force livery. This marks the first time in 20+ years the U.S. Air Force has flown a new F-15.

[adroth]

The U.S. Air Force Is Buying New F-15s After All
The F-15X will complement the F-22 and F-35 in tomorrow's aerial battlefields.

BY KYLE MIZOKAMI
FEB 19, 2019

https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/aviation/a26413900/air-force-buying-new-f-15/

The U.S. Air Force will go ahead and buy brand-new F-15s even as it purchases large numbers of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Updated with the latest technology, the F-15X can carry nearly two dozen air-to-air missiles and will likely work together with stealth jets to take on fleets of enemy fighters.

An article at Bloomberg has revealed that the USAF will request eight F-15X fighters in its budget. The service plans to buy 80 fighters over five years. That's enough to fit out a wing of 72 aircraft, divided into three squadrons of 24 planes each, with eight spares. That's just the five-year projection, though, and the service may buy additional fighters beyond 2025.

The F-15X will come in two versions, a single-seat F-15CX and a twin-seat F-15EX. According to Aviation Week & Space Technology, other than crew size the two jets will be identical.

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F-15X is a thoroughly modern update of the F-15 Eagle air superiority fighter first introduced in the 1970s. Most of the updates it has are already flying in F-15s produced for other countries, with research and development already paid for by nations such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar. These include strengthened airframes for increased maneuverability and airframe life span, giving the advanced fighter an even greater dogfighting capability over the original F-15 and an impressive airframe life span of 20,000 hours.

The F-15X will also include large flat-panel displays for displaying aircraft information, conformal fuel tanks to give it a longer range, a digital fly-by-wire control system, a new APG-82 radar, and the Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability System (EPAWSS) for protection from air-to-air missiles.

One thing the F-15X doesn’t have is stealth capability, at least to the extent of new or new-ish aircraft such as the F-22 Raptor and F-35. The F-15 airframe was designed before stealth became a thing, and there’s not much, other than using radar-absorbing coatings, that can be done to retrofit a reduced radar signature. So, instead of being hard to spot, the F-15X will be armed to the teeth. The plane will use new AMBER missile racks to nearly triple the aircraft’s air-to-air missile capability, from 8 to 22.

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