The Americans are puzzled: with such an F-15, there is no need for an F-35!
It's hard to talk about Boeing's F-15EX Eagle II. In general, the F-15 is such a phenomenon in the air stories world, which is difficult to approach as a regular aircraft. The point is not even that the F-15 aircraft has already exchanged its sixth decade and is not going to retire, but how effective a combat machine it is today.
Yes, it is clear that despite its age, the F-15 is quite effective. Today it is one of the best strike aircraft in its class, and it is important to understand that the difference between the F-15 that flew in 1972 and the F-15EX Eagle II (Advanced Eagle) is about the same as between the Su-27 (born in 1977) and the Su-35S. The term "completely different aircraft" can be applied to both pairs of aircraft.
A two-seat version of the aircraft, designed to replace the old F-15s produced in the 80s. Despite the external similarity, inside it is a completely new aircraft: new engines, radar with AFAR, defense system, cockpit with large color displays. The aircraft also has more suspension points and is equipped with a fly-by-wire control system.
Overall, the F-15EX Eagle II is the latest version of the now-legendary F-15, boasting advanced avionics, decent payload capacity, and advanced radar systems. However, its hefty price tag of $90 million per unit — higher than the F-35A — has raised concerns about cost overruns and value for money.
In fact, the concerns of some in Congress are understandable: While the F-15EX offers unmatched versatility and firepower, critics argue that its lack of stealth and high operating costs make it a poor investment. Does the Air Force really need this expensive upgrade, or would the money be better spent elsewhere?
And the second point: is the F-15EX really strategically necessary or is it just an expensive upgrade?
The F-15EX Eagle II is the latest addition to the F-15 family of fighters. This advanced multirole fighter is designed to replace the U.S. Air Force's aging F-15C/D aircraft and provides unprecedented flexibility in both air-to-air and air-to-ground combat. The F-15EX represents a significant leap forward in technology and capability, making it a critical asset for modern military operations.
What is the F-15EX Eagle II?
The F-15EX is an advanced version of the F-15E Strike Eagle that incorporates numerous upgrades to enhance performance and survivability. It features advanced avionics, digital flight controls, improved radar systems, and expanded weapons compatibility. The aircraft is designed to perform a wide range of missions, including air superiority, ground attack, and electronic warfare.
One of the distinctive features of the F-15EX is its impressive payload capacity. The aircraft can carry up to 13 kg of weapons, including missiles “air-to-air”, “air-to-ground” munitions and electronic warfare pods. This makes it one of the most heavily armed fighters in the world. In addition, the F-15EX is equipped with the latest AN/APG-82(V) active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, which provides excellent detection and tracking capabilities. A bonus is the ability to use part of the radar array to emit jamming signals. And it is a bonus, because there are separate antennas on the sides of the fuselage for the electronic warfare.
The F-15EX also features a modern cockpit with large displays, advanced mission systems, and an open architecture that allows for the rapid integration of new technologies. This ensures that the aircraft can adapt to changing threats and mission requirements.
Why is the F-15EX so expensive?
The F-15EX has a hefty price tag of around $90 million per unit, making it more expensive than the F-35A! What makes this aircraft so expensive? Well, there are actually a few factors that can explain why the F-15EX is so hefty in dollars.
The F-15EX Eagle II is equipped with state-of-the-art technologies, including advanced avionics, radar systems, and electronic warfare systems. The development and integration of these technologies requires significant investment in research and development (R&D). Although the F-15EX is not a stealth fighter, it still impresses with its capabilities.
The F-15EX production involves complex assembly processes and strict quality control measures. The aircraft's complex systems and components add to the complexity and cost of production.
Plus, the production itself is not as simple as we would like: the F-15 was already written off once, and some of the production facilities were repurposed for other tasks. Well, you understand that there was a time when the F-22 reigned in everyone's minds. The infrastructure necessary for the production of the F-15 was decommissioned, and its restoration for the production of new F-15 models required both time and resources.
Additionally, the F-15EX program relies on a global supply chain, with components sourced from multiple countries. Coordinating production and quality assurance across this vast network also adds to the cost. Importing parts from other countries that are still recovering from the COVID pandemic and other geopolitical factors is expensive, further increasing the cost of the F-15EX.
Beyond the initial acquisition cost, the F-15EX has high sustainment costs. This includes maintenance, upgrades, and operating costs, or what is known as the aircraft’s life cycle. The aircraft’s advanced systems require specialized training and support, which can add to defense budgets.
The positive thing is that the F-15EX has a much longer service life, but this comes at a significant financial cost. However, not everything is always measured in money.
Is the F-15EX Eagle II worth the cost?
Whether the F-15EX is worth its hefty price tag remains a subject of ongoing debate. Supporters argue that the jet's enhanced capabilities justify the investment, while critics point to cost overruns and technical problems.
Here are some of the benefits the F-15EX offers:
The F-15EX features significant improvements over its predecessors, including greater payload capacity, improved radar systems, and superior electronic warfare capabilities. These improvements make it a formidable weapons in modern combat conditions. Despite the lack of stealth technology, the F-15EX has significant striking power.
Moreover, this power is actually greater than that of the F-35. It is a paradox, but the F-15EX carries almost one and a half times more weapons than the F-35A, and twice as many as the F-35B. And its set of weapons is more diverse than that of the next-generation fighter!
Moreover, the F-35's payload was sacrificed for the same stealth. Anything placed on the external suspension nodes instantly negates all this stealth, which was mentioned at the wrong time, and 4 (four) suspension points in the internal compartment are not the 12 points of the F-15EX, which many today consider the most armed fighter in the world - one of its combat configurations involves equipping it with 22 air-to-air missiles (including AIM-120D missiles with a range of up to 180 km), and another - eight air-to-air missiles and 28 guided missiles. aviation 100 kg SDB (Small Diameter Bomb) bombs.
13,2 tons of weapons for the F-15EX versus 8,1 tons for the F-35A/C – and what’s the point of the F-35’s suspension capabilities if you can’t use the external ones because the F-35 starts to “glow” on radars like a Christmas tree. But if you spit on stealth and hang the 35th with everything you can… But why? There’s the F-15, with which all these manipulations are much easier to do!
About the future
The F-15EX has an open architecture, the Open Mission System (OMS), which allows for the rapid incorporation of new technologies. This adaptability ensures that the aircraft remains relevant as new missions in the sky and developments on the ground emerge. Additionally, the F-15EX’s multi-role capabilities allow it to perform a wide range of missions, from air superiority to ground attack. This makes it highly versatile and valuable to the U.S. Air Force and its allies.
An additional, but very important, capability is the control of a wingman unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), such as the Australian Boeing Loyal Wingman. Similar drones capable of not only carrying out reconnaissance, but also carrying missiles, significantly increasing the capabilities of the lead aircraft.
Criticisms of the F-15EX
Critics of the jet’s modernization program have been quick to point out some potential problems. The F-15EX program has been plagued by cost overruns and delays, raising concerns about its affordability. Dissenters argue that money spent on the F-15EX could be better spent on other defense priorities.
The F-15EX has encountered various technical problems, including software bugs and integration issues. New technologies have yet to be integrated into the platform. These problems raise questions about the reliability and readiness of the aircraft, but this is a completely normal course of events. All new aircraft without exception have encountered such problems, and this, by the way, once again confirms the opinion that the F-15EX is practically a new aircraft.
The high operating and maintenance costs of the F-15EX are the biggest concern for many of the project's opponents. It should be noted that most of the critics are from the stealth camp, which means that for them, apart from the F-22 and F-35, there are no modern aircraft at all.
Of course, the new aircraft's advanced systems require specialized support, which could strain defense budgets. Especially with so many other expensive projects eating into the budget, many are wondering whether a major airframe overhaul of an older aircraft is really necessary.
And the most seasoned proponents of stealth aircraft generally argue that existing aircraft, such as the F-35A, can perform many of the same tasks at a (relatively) lower cost.
Here, however, regarding the low cost, we need to count three times and understand why NATO countries that bought the F-35 practically do not operate them. Is this somehow connected with the stunningly low cost of operating the 35th?
So what if the F-35A is stealthy? That's it! In every other way, from its advanced avionics to its range, speed, and payload, the F-15EX is head and shoulders above.
Is the game worth the candle at all?
Let's look. Let's just look at the flight characteristics that determine the combat value of the aircraft.
Take-off weight. The planes are roughly equal.
Engine power. The F-135A's F100-PW-35 and the F-110EX's General Electric F129-GE-15 engines are roughly equal in their capabilities and characteristics, but the F-15 has two…
Maximum speed. The F-15 is significantly (2,5M vs. 1,6M) faster, and the F-35 is required to fly at subsonic speeds. The coating is damaged.
Combat radius of action. The F-15 has 200 km more.
Ceiling. The F-15 can climb 3 meters higher.
The weapons have already been mentioned above; the F-15 takes on more and is more diverse, carries further, at a higher speed and at a higher altitude (which is useful, since no one has cancelled the enemy’s air defense systems).
What's up with the F-35? Oh yeah... stealth... and a truncated complex EW a fighter that is capable of jamming in the X-band (8–12 GHz) in the forward sector of its radar, because it is the radar that is the main on-board jamming device on this aircraft.
By the way, the F-15EX has an AN/ALQ-214(V)3 jamming station that provides all-round jamming.
In general, if you close your eyes to the very beautiful contours and lines of the F-35, and think about which aircraft you would prefer to go into battle on, I think the choice is obvious. And I am sure many will agree with me in the sense that to hell with this low visibility, they are not so invisible, these "invisible" aircraft, but a couple of fuel tanks and a dozen air-to-air missiles will not be superfluous in any case.
Yes, the F-35B has a wonderful feature – VTOL and short takeoff.
This is really useful for aircraft that operate from the decks of aircraft carriers. The F-35B has been assigned not only to aircraft carriers, but also to UDCs, which has really expanded the capabilities of the Marine Corps Air Force. And it can be a very effective aircraft in its own right.
Otherwise, and even American experts themselves admit this, even with a higher cost and some “distrust,” the F-15EX is superior to the F-35. And then, if we talk about money: can the difference be considered significant? The cost of the F-15EX is $90 million per unit. The F-35A costs about $85 million, the F-35B – $115 million, the F-35C – $108 million.
Well, it's not prohibitive, our Su-35S is valued at the same 100 million dollars, and this is the same 4th generation aircraft as the F-15! Where is the "high cost" of the F-15EX, especially considering that an hour of F-35 flight costs about 45 thousand dollars, which is much more expensive than F-15 fighters (29 thousand). In addition, servicing the aircraft during operation will cost a very decent amount, plus training pilots.
In fact, by all parameters, the F-15EX is the best aircraft in the US Air Force today. And surprisingly, not the most expensive. Capable of solving almost any combat mission and solving it, as in previous decades, quite successfully.
In general, it must be said that America is extremely lucky to have such a plane. And also the F/A-18 Hornet. If the US air defense capability was based on the F-22 and F-35, it would be simply laughable. However, everyone understands this anyway.
And so it turned out that the F-35 is an object of trade around the world, the F-22 is an object of bragging without demonstrations, and the F-15, F-16 and F/A-18 will ensure the safety of American skies. Inexpensively and effectively.
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