Posted on 03/24/2019 5:57:52 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
A Saudi F-15SA on the flight line at Nellis during Red Flag 19-2. The aircraft have been flying in the U.S. since handover and will be delivered to the Kingdom after the exercise. (Photo: DVIDS)
The Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) deployed six of its new Boeing F-15SA Advanced Eagles to participate in the latest Red Flag exercise (Red Flag 19-2) at Nellis AFB, Nevada. This afforded the U.S. Air Force its first close-up view of the latest variant of the second-generation F-15 Advanced, since the decision to include the similar F-15EX in the Pentagon’s Fiscal Year 2020 budget request.
The F-15K Slam Eagle for Korea marked the first step on the road to the F-15 Advanced. A derivative of the F-15E Strike Eagle, the F-15K introduced an AAS-42 IRST (infrared search and track) system, an enhanced Tactical Electronics Warfare Suite, and the Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System, and was fitted with an AN/APG-63(V)1 radar that incorporates digital processing. This made it upgradable to APG-63(V)3 standards via an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) antenna modification. The F-15SG for Singapore was fitted with an AN/APG-63(V)3 AESA radar and a BAE Systems Digital Electronic Warfare System (DEWS), among other enhancements.
The F-15SA for Saudi Arabia was the first variant to formally use the F-15 Advanced/Advanced Eagle name. It introduced a fully digital cockpit and featured a digital fly-by-wire flight control system that permitted the reactivation of two outboard underwing hardpoints, known as Stations 1 and 9, which had been deactivated early in the F-15 program due to stability issues.
In 2010, the RSAF requested 84 new-build F-15SA jets and an upgrade/remanufacturing program to bring 70 (later reduced to 68) existing F-15S aircraft to the same standard. The rebuilt aircraft are sometimes referred to as F-15SRs. The first four F-15SAs ordered by the Royal Saudi Air Force (two new-builds and the first pair of F-15SR conversions) were delivered to King Khalid Air Base at Khamis Mushayt on December 13, 2016. Qatar ordered 36 further improved Advanced Eagles under the designation F-15QA, with large area displays and other improvements.
In early 2017 the U.S. Air Force approached Boeing, inquiring about the acquisition of a similar F-15 variant, dubbed F-15X. The USAF wanted to boost its shrinking force structure and to reinforce its air defense capabilities, but without disrupting the larger F-35 program. The proposed F-15X for the USAF (known as the F-15CX in single-seat form or as the F-15EX in two-seat form) combines the advanced features of the F-15SA and F-15QA with an AN/APG-82 AESA radar—as used by upgraded F-15E Strike Eagles. The new aircraft would offer a 20,000-hour service life as well as a dramatic reduction in hourly operating costs compared to the legacy F-15 or to the F-35A.
Procurement would likely start with eight aircraft that have been requested in the FY20 budget. There is a stated plan for a total of 80 through 2024, with roughly 18 each year from 2021 to 2024. A tranche of 144 aircraft would “initially refresh” squadrons that fly Cold War-era F-15C Eagles designed for air-to-air combat. The USAF might eventually hope to directly replace the USAF's entire 235-strong F-15C/D fleet and could eventually refresh the 218-aircraft F-15E fleet.
The budget request for new F-15s is, however, likely to face political headwinds in Congress, where there is opposition to any procurement that diverts funds that could be potentially spent on more F-35s.
Note that India used souped-up Migs in its recent tussle with Pakistan, and that they performed well.
Those are at least 20 or more years old.
Even old planes equipped with modern electronics can perform well.
And as Stalin said, “Quantity has a quality all its own”.
Saudi fighter bombers flying over United States. What could possibly go wrong?
Nothing, the saudis are “our dear friends”...
It was at a Red Flag prior to the First Gulf War that I got the first part of the answer to the question: Are the Israelis really that good or are the arabs really that bad?The arabs are really that bad. The F-15E is an incredible aircraft. The F-15EX jumps that to a whole new level. But it is still the pilots and the tactics that make the difference. The AESA radar should really be capable of pivoting left and right so the field of regard could be 105 degrees to either side (210 degrees). Important to multiple tactics.
What wonderful airplanes. It is a shame we can’t afford them.
I thought India lost two aircraft. I can’t remember the details.
Forgot to add that... Isn’t the F-15 about 40 years+ old? With a bunch of upgraded stuff?
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