Re: F-16 Falcon Thread
There you go, Jeff. First three should be single-seaters, including an israeli one. The last is an E with CFT detached.
The E certainly is a very capable A-A platform as well. Actually, I always thought there's no structural differences between these anyways. But that the E is a D with those conformal fuel tanks as standard, as well as new radar and avionics / software to suit it's new mission.
Thanks!
Wow, great pics. I knew Isreal had added CFTs, and am glad to see them on other single seat aircraft as well! Learn something new every day...but it makes perfect sense.
However, the only modified F-15s of any sort that were used as a part of the F-15E program was the technology demonstrator in 1980, which was a modified F-15A with CFTs and a Pave Tack laser designator, and the first prototype, which was a modifed F-15B.
These was in response to the USAF Tactical All Weather Requirement Study in 1979 I believe, followed by the Enhanced Tactical Fighter (ETF) program to replace the F-111s in 1980, I believe. The F-15E proposal won, and all F-15Es thereafter were new builds.
This is because the follow on prototypes and production aircraft had to meet the ETF requirements which required some significant structural changes.
The aft fuselage was redesigned to accommodate the much more powerful engines. This required all new engine bays and access panels that used new, lighter, but strong Superplastic forming and diffusion bonding technologies.
In addition, the forward fuselage was redesigned to accommodate the new Weapons System Officer back seat station which was very much changed over the B and D training configuration.
The new station had to accommodate the ability or the WSO to operate the new air-to-ground avionics, using multiple MFDs to check radar, electronic warfare, infrared sensors, aircraft & weapons status and threats. He also selects targets, and navigates with an electronic map display. Finally, they retained the ability for the WSO to fly the aircraft with his own stick and throttle if necessary
The two conformal tanks are carried on all F-15Es and each can carry an additional 750 gallons of fuel, I believe. Those tanks are removable for service and maintenance, just as you show...but I do not believe any F-15E, to my knowledge, flies any mission without them.
Six additional hard points were added, in two tandem rows of three for more weapons, and strengthening measures were taken in the wings and fuselage to accommodate the heavier weapons load and provide safety margins for them.
All of this is in addition to the tactical electronic warfare system (TEWS), an externally mounted ALQ-131 ECM pod when required, the APG-70 radar system allowing the crew to detect ground targets from longer ranges (which is being replaced by the AN/APG-82(v)1 Active Electronically Scanned Array Radar (AESA) radar, the low-altitude navigation and targeting infrared for night (LANTIRN) system mounted under the intakes, etc., etc.
Great aircraft...and also able to still handle all the air to ir duties!
