Eagles learn to fly! The last reincarnation of the F-15 Eagle fighter
One of the main differences between the Advanced Eagle version is the engagement of the extreme underwing points of the armament suspension, the number of which has increased from 9 to 11
With 1972 year aviation Boeing’s plant (formerly McDonnell Douglas) has built more than 1600 F-15 Eagle fighters. The production of this aircraft lasts longer than the production of any other fighter in stories aviation.
Over the past 45 years, the F-15 fighter has been the backbone of the combat capabilities of the US Air Force, it has served and continues to serve in the air forces of Israel, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Singapore and South Korea. However, Boeing completely disagrees with the fact that the Eagle time has passed and it should give way to the younger and more ambitious competitors of the “fifth generation”, in connection with which it is actively promoting its Advanced Eagle concept (“improved eagle”) to the market.
F-15 fighter program manager at Boeing, Steve Parker, said that “The Advanced Eagle that we developed and deliver today is not the Eagle 70's. We want to break this view and show everyone that the F-15 is absolutely consistent with today. The new version is almost the same at first glance, but it’s a completely different machine. ”
During an interview in the assembly shop of the F-15 fighter aircraft of the St. Louis aircraft factory, Parker noted that the first F-15 fighters are different from those offered today, just as family cars are different from racing cars. “We should have given the name of this aircraft a long time ago; this is really what Boeing is actively promoting. The “problem” is that Eagle has a very strong reputation, although the machine that we supply today has only the outer lines, and everything else has changed dramatically. ”
“When we talk to potential customers, it turns out that the 9 of 10 cases, some of the assumptions that they make regarding the capabilities of the Eagle, are not quite correct,” Parker continued. - They think with the past aircraft and from the point of view of brand promotion, renaming is something that would definitely be worth considering. Not a single serially produced fighter of air superiority compares today with the F-15 - nothing flies so fast, nothing flies high, nothing carries so much. ”
According to the Jane's World Air Forces directory, the current Eagle fleet is distributed as follows: F-458C / D / E 15 fighters from the US Air Force; 59 F-15C / D / I from Israel; 201 F-15J / DJ from Japan; 165 F-15C / S / SA from Saudi Arabia (deliveries of the newest SA model continue); 40 F-15SG from Singapore; and 60 F-15KS in South Korea. Recently, a contract was also signed for the supply of X-Fighter F-36QA Qatar fighters.
The F-15 fighter is still the basis of the US Air Force combat capabilities, where two options are deployed: the F-15C airborne fighter and the F-15E two-seat fighter.
Home upgrades
As the largest operator of Eagle airplanes, the United States Air Force has three variants of this fighter: the F-15C air superiority fighter with enhanced airframe design, the F-15D two-seat combat training aircraft and the F-15E Strike Eagle two-seater fighter.
Boeing is currently upgrading the F-15C and F-15E aircraft of the US Air Force and the National Guard Air Force. The need and desire to modernize the Eagle is such that the USAF has already invested over 12 billions of dollars (the largest amount in history allocated for an aircraft of this type) with the aim of extending its service life to 2040 of the year.
Air Force plans provide funding for upgrading to 2025 year. To date, a number of improvements to the parts of the aircraft have already been carried out, after which they were transferred to combat units. For example, pilots have already received helmet-mounted targeting systems at the JHMCS (Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System) target, which, when connected to the latest AIM-9X Sidewinder air-to-air missile, can direct and accompany this rocket with only head movements. In addition to the single-seat version of the F-15C, JHMCS systems are also integrated into the front and rear cabins of the two-seater F-15E.
The last (in time) stage of modernization is based around a new advanced flight management computer. The F-15C fighter and F-15E Eagle strike fighter will be equipped with a new set of equipment and software Suite 9, which is designed to enhance the combat capabilities of these aircraft. In this regard, Parker said that “Suite 9 is the first software that significantly enhances the capabilities of the new Advanced Display Core Processor II computer. This is the fastest flight control computer in the world. It can process up to 87 billion instructions per second. This is very important, since it is possible to use the electronic warfare complex currently being supplied with it at full capacity. ”
This is the newest EW EPAWSS system (Eagle Passive / Active Warning and Survivability System - a system of passive / active warning and combat stability for the Eagle platform). The EPAWSS complex is designed to analyze the radio frequency spectrum, identify threats, determine priorities and create radio frequency interference. The complex will be replaced by the Tactical Electronic Warfare Suite (TEWS), which was created in 80's, and is equipped with US Air Force Eagle airplanes.
In February, 2017 of the year, Boeing completed a critical analysis of the system, which followed a similar analysis of the EW complex conducted by BAE Systems at the end of the 2016 of the year. “This will be the most up-to-date EW system, which implements some proven technologies already integrated into fifth generation airplanes,” said Parker. - This program is an exemplary example of the process of arms procurement by the Ministry of Defense, we were ahead of each checkpoint by two months. Boeing began modifying some aircraft at the end of 2017, and flight tests began this year. We will begin a broader upgrade of the entire fleet at the start of the 2020's. ” The media reported in March that the EPAWSS upgrade for the F-15C aircraft was rejected by the US Air Force, although the launch notification for the F-15C and F-15E, issued around the same time, states that the installation of the complex is in full swing.
In addition to the computer Suite 9 / Advanced Display Core Processor (ADCP) II and the EW EPAWSS complex, another item in the Eagle aircraft modernization plan is the replacement of the radar with mechanical scanning (M-Scan) with a new radar with AFAR (active phased antenna array). The United States Air Force is installing these radars on F-15C (Raytheon AN / APG-63 [V] 3 for air-to-air) fighters and F-15E (Raytheon AN / APG-82 [V] 1 for air-to-ground work "). "AFAR qualitatively enhances the capabilities of the aircraft regarding the range and protection against cruise missiles and the like," said Parker.
The work carried out under the RMP (Radar Modernization Program) program includes the refinement of M-Scan radars by adding transceiver modules from AFAR AN / APG-79 radars that are already installed on the F / A-18E / F Super Hornet fighter-bombers . At the moment, the new AFAR has upgraded more than X-NUMX F-125C fighters, but the modernization of the F-15E also continues and will last until the beginning of the 15-s.
In order to platform Eagle is not lost among the modern combat systems of the fifth generation. Phantom Works, a research division of Boeing, has developed a new "internetwork" communication system Talon HATE. This container-type system allows fourth-generation fighter aircraft, such as the Eagle, to exchange information with fifth-generation fighter aircraft, such as the F-22 Raptor and Lockheed Martin's F-35 Lightning II, via Link 16, Common Data Link (CDL) and broadband satellite channels.
The Talon HATE Finishing Flight Test was completed at the start of the 2017 of the year. This system was deployed at the North Eagle exercise in Alaska, where the feedback was positive. Boeing and the United States Air Force, however, do not disclose information about Talon HATE. “Proceeding from the secrecy of this program, there is nothing more to add to what has been said,” said Parker, as he said.
The Talon HATE central suspension container is also equipped with an infrared search-and-track IRST system. This IRST system, however, is only an intermediate solution before the deployment of an integrated system. Boeing chose Lockheed Martin’s Legion Pod suspension container to fulfill this requirement and is expected to issue a contract to finalize and manufacture it by the end of 2018. “In January of this year, the main contractor Boeing and his partner Lockheed Martin worked together with the Air Force at Eglin Air Base, where 11 test flights were conducted to test the new system. The Legion Pod gives the F-15 the ability to search and track targets in a radio jamming environment. ”
The Legion Pod pod houses the IRST21 long-wave infrared sensor (official designation AN / ASG-34), which is already installed on the US Navy's Super Hornets as part of a temporary dropable fuel tank / IRST sensor combination. According to Jane's C4ISR & Mission Systems: Air, the Legion Pod is equipped with advanced networking and data processing technologies and is also compatible with the latest Multi-Domain Adaptable Processing System. According to the company, the Legion Pod is capable of receiving additional sensors and thus acts as a multifunctional sensor station, which eliminates the need for expensive aircraft modifications.
The ability of IRST to detect and accompany planes according to their thermal signatures has generated a lot of rumors and speculation about it, as about the killer of the stelah technology. An aircraft with low unmasking signs can avoid radio detection due to the combination of the airframe design and special airframe coatings, but at the same time it cannot hide its thermal signatures. The nature of special coatings and surfaces used in stealth planes is such that they actually increase their thermal visibility (unlike previous generations), making it easy for IRST systems to detect such systems.
As the F-15 fighter jets are increasingly working in conjunction with fifth-generation aircraft, such as the F-22 Raptor, the United States Air Force installed a Talon HATE outboard container so that different platforms can maintain full communication with each other
In addition to upgrading F-15 fighter systems, the US Air Force intends to increase its capabilities by installing additional conformal fuel tank (CFT) conformal fuel tanks on National Guard aircraft that perform most of the tasks of protecting the airspace of the United States. This work is carried out in cooperation with NATO’s Procurement and Procurement Office, and not with traditional American contractors, since this is the fastest way for a customer to get new opportunities. The CFT tanks themselves are manufactured by a subcontractor of Boeing, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). The first aircraft (F-15C of the 159-th aviation wing of the National Guard of Louisiana), equipped with these tanks, made its first flight in February of this year. Evaluation flights are currently ongoing.
However, all these improvements can only be implemented on a serviceable glider, the operational life of which was originally installed 9000 flight hours for F-15C and 8000 flight hours for F-15E. These numbers were later increased to 15000 flight hours for both options, and Boeing considers it possible to further increase these numbers, if necessary, to 30000 flight hours. “We can do this because we have full-scale F-15C and F-15E aircraft for fatigue testing at the St. Louis plant. Both aircraft have long exceeded the 30000 hours of flight, so we know how the fatigue degradation on airplanes and the ways to solve these problems manifest themselves, ”said Parker.
In their current plans, the United States Air Force plans to extend the life of the F-15E variant to about the 2045 year. For the F-15C option, the future is less clear; there is talk of determining, in connection with funding problems, an earlier decommissioning date in the middle of 2020's. However, Parker noted that it would be relatively easy to extend the operation of the F-I5C aircraft to the mid-2030-s, at least for fairly modest money.
“In order to prolong the life of the F-15C after the 2040 of the year, the United States Air Force assigned a sum of 30-40 million dollars per aircraft. This money should go to the construction of a new fuselage, wings and chassis, where Boeing could simply build in existing functional systems and let it fly for 40 years. ”
“We believe that this is the most expensive scenario and there is no special need for it. In fact, we don’t even think that the Air Force is counting on this development, since Boeing’s company can extend the life of most of the fleet of 230 machines to the middle of 2030’s for just one million per plane, ”said Parker, adding,“ Why write off gliders F -15C, when they can still serve, it makes no sense. We believe that extending the service life will give the United States Air Force time to decide what they want to get with its promising Penetrating Counter-Air concept. ”
After completing the contract for an unnamed customer, Boeing is currently building F-15SA aircraft for Saudi Arabia (see photo) and will soon be building F-15QA aircraft for Qatar. The company identified another potential customer in the Middle East, and, most likely, this is Israel
Advanced eagle
The US Air Force provided most of the funding, which allowed the Eagle fighter to "live" to the present day, but its future will undoubtedly ensure further sales abroad. To this end, Boeing took the F-15E as the basis for a multitasking option for the export market, called the Advanced Eagle. The previous draft of the invisible F-15SE Silent Eagle was not interested in foreign customers and was closed at the concept stage, although many of its technologies were used in the Advanced Eagle project.
“The Advanced Eagle is based on what the United States Air Force has been doing for the last 10-15 years. We do the same for overseas customers. These are routine upgrades and upgrades that the customers themselves want, first of all, this concerns radar systems and electronic warfare systems, said Parker. “We have slightly modified the airframe design and integrated some new technologies into the fuselage and wings.”
“From the perspective of cooperation with other countries, it should be borne in mind that they exploit a combination of single-seater F-15C and twin-seater F-15E. In the past 10 years, Boeing has been actively introducing new technologies, so the Advanced Eagle variant is quite consistent with modern needs. For existing F-15 aircraft, the life of the airframe is limited to about 9000 hours, while Advanced Eagles will boast more 20000 hours. ”
The following systems and equipment are offered for foreign customers: radar with AFAR: GE F-110-129 engine as the base (already installed on the supplied aircraft); JHMCS digital systems in the front and rear cabs; Digital EW Digital EW System (DEWS), which Boeing has taken as the basis for the development of the EPAWSS complex in order to reduce costs and risks; Lockheed Martin AN / AAQ-33 Sniper target designation and targeting container; IRST; missile attack warning system; VRAMS video recording and mapping system; digital instrument flight system; increase the number of nodes external suspension to 11; modern crew jobs with large LAD displays; ADCP II computer; display information on the windshield; and the EPAWSS complex.
The key option in the Advanced Eagle version is separate LAD displays for the front and rear cabins. LAD, developed by Elbit Systems under the designation CockpitNG (Next Generation), is based on a multifunctional touch display technology. The color touch screen takes up most of the display space available in the cockpit and provides the pilot with basic flight information and sensor data. Using technology developed for the latest generation of smartphones, the touchscreen display allows the pilot to drag and zoom the displayed information according to their preferences. Interestingly, the Saudi Air Force did not choose to install LAD on their new F-15SA (Saudi Advanced) fighter jets, instead choosing to save the traditional cockpit. Qatar will become the first customer of this option when it receives its F-15QA (Qatar Advanced) aircraft.
Another new element of the Advanced Eagle variant is the AMBER (Advanced Missile Bomb Ejector Rack) armament holder system, developed by Boeing in a proactive manner. According to Parker, the flight tests began at the end of the 2017 of the year, and negotiations are currently underway with a potential customer. After integration into the Advanced Eagle fighter, the AMBER system allows you to increase its equipment from 16 to 22 missiles.
“The armament complex for the Advanced Eagle is designed not only to combat modern threats, but also against persistent threats. When performing an escort mission, I can take AIM-16 Advanced Air-to-Air Missile [AMRAAM] Air-to-Air missiles on board an Advanced Eagle 120 fighter; four short-range missiles ATM-9X Sidewinder; and two High-Speed Anti-Radiation Missile [HARM] high-speed anti-radar missiles. For precision strikes, I can take the 16 Small-Bomb Bomb [SDB]; four AMRAAM; one 2000-pound Joint Direct Attack Munition [JDAM]; two HARM; and two discharged fuel tanks. For anti-ship missions, I can take two Harpoon missiles; four false targets Miniature Air-Launched Decoy [MALD]; two sidewinder missiles; and two HARM rockets. ”
By ordering Saudi Arabia, Boeing provided aircraft production by the end of 2019, and if Qatar’s order was taken into account, production could go to the end of 2022. Another order from an unnamed customer will allow us to keep the production line until the end of 2020's, and this is a solid portfolio for the long term, providing jobs. Currently, aircraft production rates are 1,25 machines per month, but Boeing can increase production volumes and plans to do this if it receives another contract.
Over the past 10 years, together with foreign partners, Boeing has invested more than 5 billions of dollars in the Eagle platform. However, a headache for Boeing and its future plans for the Advanced Eagle platform is the newest F-35 fighter.
It seems that the F-35, declared as the only fifth-generation combat aircraft in service (except the inaccessible F-22 Raptor), can successfully compete for foreign markets. However, such aircraft as the Eagle are still in demand, mainly in the Middle East, where the F-35 fighter cannot yet be sold due to objections from Israel. This situation cannot last forever, and as soon as F-35 receives permission to export to this region, it will undoubtedly be sold there.
However, Boeing is optimistic about the prospects of the Advanced Eagle model, competition in general, and competition with F-35 in particular. Parker noted on this point that “the F-35 fighter may well cost 2020 millions by the 80 year. Today it is worth more than 100 millions and is aiming for the mark 94 million. Of course, in the future, with mass production, the price will drop to 80 millions, but I am sure that our prices for our aircraft will provide us with a decent future. ”
The F-15 fighter has some stealth characteristics, but it is a defective low-profile aircraft. Parker believes that this is not an obstacle, since this aircraft can complement the low-profile platforms. "We do not need to engage in fierce competition and break into closed doors, but if the competitors before us open these doors, then we will be able to offer our Eagle with such firepower that you immediately want to have."
“The F-15 fighter has a long range, it can perform a task for a long time in a given area, carrying an excellent weapon system on board. In addition, it has modern EW systems, a modern search-tracking system, from which airplanes with stealth technology and, finally, a system for exchanging information with fifth-generation airplanes cannot hide. We believe that for a reasonable price it is worth thinking about buying this proven machine. ”
On the materials of the sites:
www.nationaldefensemagazine.org
www.faa.gov
avia.pro
www.boeing.com
www.janes.com
www.airforce.com
aviationweek.com
www.avionews.com
pinterest.com
en.wikipedia.org
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