The South Korean F-15K
Posted on 10/02/2006 11:27:24 PM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
'Not your father’s Oldsmobile’: F-15E+ Super Eagle unveiled
By Guy Norris
New-build aircraft would cover any significant service-entry delays for F-35 JSF
Boeing has revealed details of the proposed F-15E+ “Super Eagle”, which is being offered as a “fourth-generation plus” fighter stopgap to the US Air Force in case of significant delays to the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF).
The new-build proposal, expected to be offered at a target price of $59 million (2006 US dollars) versus roughly $60 million-plus for the baseline F-35, would be available in 2012-13 assuming an authority to proceed decision in 2009. “That would butt-up against when the last F-15SGs [for Singapore] come off the line,” says Boeing USAF programmes business development director, Dick Banholzer. Although acknowledging the lukewarm reception the proposal has so far received from USAF chief Gen Michael Moseley, Banholzer says the F-15E+ is being offered “in the event of a catastrophic event like JSF being delayed. We have an option available to him that fits the needs of today.”
Boeing is detailing the proposed aircraft’s capabilities to underscore that the “F-15E+ is not your father’s Oldsmobile. The chief of the air force says: ‘I like F-22, F-22 and F-22’. That’s his first, second and third priority. That’s his party line and he’s got to say that. But we have to educate people to let them know what this aircraft is, and what it could do,” Banholzer says.
The F-15E+ package extends both weapons and sensor capabilities, he adds. Equipped with the Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System and a yet-to-be-determined active electronically scanned array radar, the aircraft would have smart weapons carriage capability on up to 19 stations. Advanced weapons options include LJDAM, Brimstone, HSSW and an extended-range, powered small diameter bomb.
Offered with an enhanced electro-optic sensor suite including navigation and targeting pods, as well as an infrared search and track system embedded in the pylon, the Super Eagle would also have a more sophisticated self-protection suite. Comprising an emitter locating system, ALE-50 towed decoy, and AAR-57 missile warning system along with jammers, chaff-flare and radar-warning receivers, the make-over is designed to allow the Super Eagle to “survive in a modern high-threat environment”, he adds.
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The South Korean F-15K
PING!!
It's smart to bet against the J35 being delivered on time...
If you want on or off my aerospace ping list, please contact me by Freep mail.
good question.
They want a stopgap, not high additional cost. Vectored thrust would mean redesigning the airframe to handle the additional stress (since you're no longer using centerline thrust), essentially a new engine series, new aircraft control systems. Easier and less expensive to simply upgrade the avionics suites.
IMHO, because it adds significantly to the cost and would be redundant to the integrated helmet and cross circle weapons.
Top speed on fighter aircraft hasn't changed since 1954, and instantaneous/continuous rate of turn will always be limited in manned aircraft to 12g.
Engine development is bound to continue to improve over time, but the significant technological edge will be electronics. They knew this going into Vietnam, but the technology wasn't ready to support it yet. The F-15/16/18 were designed to backfill into gaps.
Having said that, electronics can always be countered, while a ballistic 20mm cannon round up the tail can't be shrugged off. So I'll add an addendum to my original statement, Boeing wants to sell the F-22 and the USAF wants to buy it. Putting too many upgrades on the F-15 not only increases the price beyond the marketing target being discussed here, but it makes it a competitor (granted not the equal) to the F-22, thus making it tempting for Congress to cancel the F-22. I'm convinced this is the reason that the cross-circle weapons and smart helmets haven't yet been fielded in the current fleet.
That's their mind set all right. Boeing learned their lesson on their version of the JSF. It's time to move on to the Super Eagle. Hooah!
My guess is that this is going to be marketed to our less close allies to whom we are unwilling to sell JSF planes.
However, I suspect they would love for the US Defense Department to help fund there development costs as a hedge against delays in the F-35 program.
It's also politically incorrect for Boeing to say they are doing development for the foreign arms market.
The only advantage the JSF would have over an aircraft like this would be it's stealth.The proposed Super-Eagle has more range,payload,agility than the baseline F-35.
Sounds good. The F-15 is still an excellent inteceptor. I just wish they could navalize it somehow. We need something to take the F-14's place. BTW your link isnt working for me.
Oops-it's not showing on the flightglobal website too-Sorry!!
Interceptor typo~
We need more photos...I came here fore the "plane-porn"! :)
Regards,
I undestand these new models come with flux capacitors.
Maybe they can go back to 1979 and take out Iran.
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Boeing's JSF design never had a chance after it got nicknamed the "Monica".
After removing the flexshafts, and using a speedhandle to open the augmentor nozzle, I put on a bunnysuit, and slowly climbed in, determined to remove the flameholder...
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