Follow-On Wild Weasel.
An F-15 Wild Weasel variant I suspect wouldn't be difficult as most of the mission specific avionics I suppose could be packed into the F-15's two FAST-packs.
Follow-On Wild Weasel.
The antennas would still need to be routed elsewhere, but yes, the FAST packs were definitely the primary volume people had in mind when that was being proposed.An F-15 Wild Weasel variant I suspect wouldn't be difficult as most of the mission specific avionics I suppose could be packed into the F-15's two FAST-packs.
It’s all X these daysBut that would mean admitting that the USAF needed a new F-15 in the age of the F-35 . An EX sounds like an upgrade--much less threatening PR-wise.
Last month, the Pentagon’s Director of Operational Testing and Evaluation released its massive 2024 report — a nearly 500-page tome detailing the testing, performance, and results of dozens of Defense systems, including Boeing’s upgraded Eagle variant, the F-15EX.
The antennas would still need to be routed elsewhere, but yes, the FAST packs were definitely the primary volume people had in mind when that was being proposed.
You know, I was just thinking about this the other day, so giving gen 4-4.5 fighters 5th gen capabilities... Have glass fared well, could the Raptor and Lightning II "mirror tiles" play a part in direct applique stealth?Alex Hollings from Sandboxx has just put out this video about the latest Eagle variant after the Pentagon's director released its 2024 OT&E report:
It would appear that it might be able to go toe-to-toe with the likes of the J-20.
You know, I was just thinking about this the other day, so giving gen 4-4.5 fighters 5th gen capabilities... Have glass fared well, could the Raptor and Lightning II "mirror tiles" play a part in direct applique stealth?
Insufficient range for the Pacific.Within the context of NGAD, I've been thinking the same. If the Raptor is the unanswerable weapon of the skies (per DCS experts), why are we reinventing the wheel? Add those "stealth" fuel tanks and a one-time ECM for the real-deal... like everyone else. If it's expense to maintain, put NGAD-$$$ into making your logistics/servicing footprint better + cheaper. Yes, restarting the production line is expensive, but to the layman it would appear on paper to be much less expensive than starting from scratch.
It feels like they're "throwing the baby out with the bathwater." I mean, with all due respect to the F-15, She has never been shot down. Why is She obsolete again? We still use Viper-Cs in many capacities, etc. I would love for an expert to articulate for a layman why the F-22 is suddenly useless. Even if She isn't invincible like before (in theory*) is there really Zero confidence that the F-22 can be dominate in a competitive fight? Same goes for the F-15. The IDF still makes very effective use of the Ra'am.
Insufficient range for the Pacific.
The F-22 was designed for fighting over Europe, basically flying from London to Berlin and back. As was the F-15 before it.
Not for flying from Hawaii or Midway or Alaska to Taiwan and back, which is what the current need is.
I mean, F-22 has a longer range with full weapons load than an F-15, just because all the weapons are internal. So the F-22 is better than the F-15 by that measure.Fair enough. But now I'm confused... I recall reading numerous commentaries over the years about how ending the F-22 line prematurely has led to terrible circumstances for Pacific Pivot capability sets. If I recall correctly, I've been reading that argument for the better part of a decade, and how ending production was a big mistake, etc. Is this talk nonsense?
Fair enough. But now I'm confused... I recall reading numerous commentaries over the years about how ending the F-22 line prematurely has led to terrible circumstances for Pacific Pivot capability sets. If I recall correctly, I've been reading that argument for the better part of a decade, and how ending production was a big mistake, etc. Is this talk nonsense?
Out of curiosity, could an EX Eagle be made to carry HARMs?The antennas would still need to be routed elsewhere, but yes, the FAST packs were definitely the primary volume people had in mind when that was being proposed.
Probably. HARMs do need a dedicated guidance computer on the plane (see the F-4G and F-16CJ), but the airframe has volume available for it. Pretty sure they speak 1760 data bus just fine, but the Eagle in general is only carrying 2 HARMs. One under each wing. The CFTs would be carrying other stuff like JSOWs and SDBs.Out of curiosity, could an EX Eagle be made to carry HARMs?
I believe the outer wing pylons that the EX and the other latest models have can technically each carry one HARM as well. So in-theory an F-15EX could carry four.Probably. HARMs do need a dedicated guidance computer on the plane (see the F-4G and F-16CJ), but the airframe has volume available for it. Pretty sure they speak 1760 data bus just fine, but the Eagle in general is only carrying 2 HARMs. One under each wing. The CFTs would be carrying other stuff like JSOWs and SDBs.
I was honestly assuming that there'd be a pair of AMRAAMs on them, Sidewinders on the inner pylon shoulders, A2G on the CFTs.I believe the outer wing pylons that the EX and the other latest models have can technically each carry one HARM as well. So in-theory an F-15EX could carry four.
Post in thread 'McDonnell-Douglas F-15 Projects' https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/mcdonnell-douglas-f-15-projects.2/post-388876
That "Chin" pod looks like it was taken from an F-4E.
That "Chin" pod looks like it was taken from an F-4E.
They'd still have to either remove the gun (as happened with the F-4G) or stick all the Weasel bits into the FAST Packs.Given the massive advances in avionics and related electronics since 1983 if the USAF decided to develop and F-15G Wild Weasel would it avoid the need to have an underslung nose-pod?
stick all the Weasel bits into the FAST Packs.
The F-15 has the gun in the wing root while the F-4E had the gun under the nose in the same spot that seemed to be ideal for the ESM gear the Wild Weasels had. So maybe the F-15 could keep it unless they needed that space in the wing root for something else.They'd still have to either remove the gun (as happened with the F-4G) or stick all the Weasel bits into the FAST Packs.
Worth noting that the F-15SA, which the EX is based on, is capable of using HARM without as far as I can tell a dedicated system.
That was certainly part of the initial concepts for them, but only the "full of fuel" versions got paid for.IMO I think they'd go with that option as the FAST-packs can be removed so perhaps there'd be more than one FAST-pack configuration tailored for different needs.
but only the "full of fuel" versions got paid for.
To be honest, F-15 is big enough that its RCS is huge with or without AMRAAM, and it is so big that drag of AMRAAM is negligible. I see no point for internal carrier of AMRAAM on F-15Unfortunate and shortsighted but on the other hand didn't some years ago a South Korean outfit for the Silent Eagle programme develop a modified FAST-pack that instead carried AIM-120s internally in a sort of add-on weapons-bay?
Fair point.The F-15 has the gun in the wing root while the F-4E had the gun under the nose in the same spot that seemed to be ideal for the ESM gear the Wild Weasels had. So maybe the F-15 could keep it unless they needed that space in the wing root for something else.
Delicious space is arguably ammo drum, which is quite big.The F-15 has the gun in the wing root while the F-4E had the gun under the nose in the same spot that seemed to be ideal for the ESM gear the Wild Weasels had. So maybe the F-15 could keep it unless they needed that space in the wing root for something else.
Good point. The F-15E and the later generation of Eagles used a smaller ammo drum than the very generous 940 round drum of the original A-D variants, but I'm not actually sure what they did with the space gained from that change. Probably more avionics I'd guess.Delicious space is arguably ammo drum, which is quite big.
As a mind exercise, I wonder if it's possible to make midband jamming/weapon bay(ARGM-sized) FAST packs, moving additional fuel mostly to the central drop tank.
It largely resolves the array obstruction issue, producing very clean escort/suppression aircraft.
Delicious space is arguably ammo drum, which is quite big.
As a mind exercise, I wonder if it's possible to make midband jamming/weapon bay(ARGM-sized) FAST packs, moving additional fuel mostly to the central drop tank.
It largely resolves the array obstruction issue, producing very clean escort/suppression aircraft.
Good point. The F-15E and the later generation of Eagles used a smaller ammo drum than the very generous 940 round drum of the original A-D variants, but I'm not actually sure what they did with the space gained from that change. Probably more avionics I'd guess.