F-15 Eagle Thread

[Air Force Brat]

Only Admiral Greenert and his little crew, they are going to blow the F-35C acquisition if they aren't careful? just like the F-22, the C is the Navy bird, but they are being more than a little re-calcitrant in purchasing their bird, so NO, the F-15 is still a solid 4 gen at best, no way will it match up to the F-35A, anymore than the old F-18s, Typhoons, or Flankers??

I should say that part of that reluctance likely stems from the difficulty in maintaining a 5 gen in the salt spray?? but those Growlers aren't going to be fond of the ship-board environment either??? So I really like the F-15SE, and would love to see it with the "canted" vertical stabilizers?? I'm guessing it would be gorgeous, and very smart? but a 4+ gen aircraft is just gonna be in a lot of trouble, even with jamming in the hostile anti-aircraft environment of the future?? with-out a very L/O airplane, you will be a "dog on a stick".

 

[Air Force Brat]

Don't ever tell that to an eagle driver buddy.

I like the F-15SE as originally conceptualized, and it will be very good against a Flanker or Mig-29. Eurofighter??? I really don't know???, In a WVR with a real JOCK in the seat, no HMS, No super duper computer, the Eagle driver can beat anybody, its aerodynamics are very good, you can see, you can turn, you can climb, but the SE is still 4+ at best, aint gonna cut it in the real world on day one, unless somebody in a 5 gen has "nocked the door down", F-18 same story, Flanker, ditto.

 

[FORBIN]

First for Israel, to my knowledge actually no plans for a modernisation with AESA radars, make sense later for F-15i, for Eagles ?

USAF

About 10 years ago there are yes 18 F-15C/D based to Elmendorf ( one of two Sqns ) which had been modernised with APG-63(v)2 the first AESA radar operationnal this F-15 replaced by F-22 I do not know where they are now.

F-15 front line fleet modernisation have begin last year.

Now planned a part of F-15 C/D modernised with APG-63(v)3, only C in combat units, remains 240 thinking about half, 100, the 3 active combat Sqns with some.
Not necessary modernized all because budget ofc but mainly will be replaced by F-35A.

For F-15E all the 220 modernised with APG-82(v)1, yes, same range, performance as APG-63(v)3 only electronic a little different.

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The 18 F-15C/D with APG-63(v2) were transferred after to Kadena.
I put after with the fleet units equiped with AESA.

I add a thing APG-63(v2) AESA is a APG-63(v1) modified no new, 180 APG-63(v1) build in 1990s which was basically an analog-to-digital upgrade of APG-63.
F-15 with AESA radars named Golden Eagles.

F-15C/D armed soon with the new AIM-120D with a range of 180 km vs 100 for C a little difference...

 

[Jeff Head]

The F-15SA that the Saudis have is the most advanced production F-15 on the market. With their new engine, new AESA radar, their new fly-by-wire, and Tiger Eyes, they have an amazing weapon carrying capability.

Here's a Saudi F-15SA loaded with am incredible:

8 x AIM-120AMRAAMs
8 x AIM-9X Sidewinders



Here's a mulit-role loadout of a Saudi F-15SA loaded with an incredible:

2 x AIM-120AMRAAMs
2 x AIM-9X Sidewinders
2 x AGM-84 SLAM-ERs
2 x AGM-88 HARMs
6 x GBU-54/B Laser JDAMs
8 x GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bombs

 

[Scratch]

This is a carry-over and partial re-post from the World-Military-Pictures Thread:

The F-15SA that the Saudis have is the most advanced production F-15 on the market. With their new engine, new AESA radar, their new fly-by-wire, and Tiger Eyes, they have an amazing weapon carrying capability. Plus the latest Sniper XR targeting pod that they have. In the pic above under the left intake, just beneath the Tiger Eye sensor.

These two systems is what the SA has in common with the South Korean K - Slam Eagle. The first K batch also has the new GE engines.
The Singaporean SG also has the GE engines and the APG-63(v)3 radar the SA carries, but I think it lacks the Tiger Eye IRST / FLIR. I'm not sure on the pod.
So the SA is the only version to incorporate all those features plus a fully digital EW suite.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

A good 4.5++ Air Superiority aircraft like this with that very robust sensor suite and sixteen A2A missiles is going to be a handful for any peer opposition.

With that load-out, a 4-ship should be able to conduct their own saturation attack. Even though I wonder a bit how much that is foto-op vs operational loadout. While the jet does carry CFTs here, there's no drop tanks. (Though there should still be a place at the centerline station?) With the ranges involved in that region perhaps a little gutsy.

However with AESA, IRST, -120C-7 and -9X able to deal a real blow. There's no sneaking up with those jets really. More likely brute force. There's a JHMCS to fully utilize the -9X, and the radar can do the same with the AMRAAM, as is likely capabale to do that with the "D" as well.

With the older F-15S modernized to the same standart, SA should now have 154 of those jets. Plus Eurofighters and Tornados. Outside of Israel the most powerful AF in the middle east?

 

[Jeff Head]

With the older F-15S modernized to the same standart, SA should now have 154 of those jets. Plus Eurofighters and Tornados. Outside of Israel the most powerful AF in the middle east?

Yes...most definitely.

There is no doubt that the F-15SA is as good a 4.5++ Air Superiority aircraft as you can get. And with that very robust sensor suite and sixteen A2A missiles it is going to be a complete handful for any peer opposition.

 

[Jeff Head]

Scratch, this is pretty close:

Israel:
058 x F-15C/D
025 x F-15E
343 x F-16C/D/I
Total = 426 (I believe some of the newer F-16s will phase out older F-16s)

Saudi Arabia:
84 x F-15SA
67 x F-15S
80 x F-15C/D
72 x Eurofighter
80 x Tornado IDS
Total = 383[/U]

 

[FORBIN]

Very good ! but yes 320 Israeli F-16 with Reserve : 100 I, 130 C/D Bl 30 and 90 A/B Bl 10 except USAF the more big customer and operator then Turkey, Egypt.
A/B would be the first replaced by F-35 but i think in long term they can't replace one by one F-15/16 by F-35. But the number will still be very correct 300/350.

For Saudi Arabia Jeff you have forget the 68 S modernised in SA then new SA replace C/D and total 300 fighters.

F-15 is a big good boy and this lasts variants are very efficient especialy SG/SA after E of USAF with AESA radars which have the range of APG-81 the kings are APG-77 and Irbis.
Heavy fighters with a big range in more carry 11 t the more big load for actuals fighters after F-35, Rafale etc... 9 t a pretty load also !

 

[Air Force Brat]

Very good ! but yes 320 Israeli F-16 with Reserve : 100 I, 130 C/D Bl 30 and 90 A/B Bl 10 except USAF the more big customer and operator then Turkey, Egypt.
A/B would be the first replaced by F-35 but i think in long term they can't replace one by one F-15/16 by F-35. But the number will still be very correct 300/350.

For Saudi Arabia Jeff you have forget the 68 S modernised in SA then new SA replace C/D and total 300 fighters.

F-15 is a big good boy and this lasts variants are very efficient especialy SG/SA after E of USAF with AESA radars which have the range of APG-81 the kings are APG-77 and Irbis.
Heavy fighters with a big range in more carry 11 t the more big load for actuals fighters after F-35, Rafale etc... 9 t a pretty load also !

Thank you Gentlemen for your very astute assessments and those great pictures Jeff? very pretty airplane, and set up A2A likely very fast as well, or lower fuel consumption if you pull the throttles back and go high?

 

[Jeff Head]

Thank you Gentlemen for your very astute assessments and those great pictures Jeff? very pretty airplane, and set up A2A likely very fast as well, or lower fuel consumption if you pull the throttles back and go high?

I knew you would like this discussion my friend.

Having sixteen A2As on that advanced F-15 with all the new toys is simply awesome IMHO.

I am about to build a 1/72 scale F-15 for the US Air Force (latest upgrades to the F-15C) and I think I am going to make believe the USAF upgraded it further to a similar capability...and then maybe add the same 16 missiles to her.