Posted on 08/31/2023 3:13:12 PM PDT by Mariner
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Air Force announced Wednesday the F-15EX Eagle II fighter has finished a key test and evaluation phase with the successful launch of air-to-air and air-to-ground standoff munitions.
The data collected from the test could pave the way for a decision on full-rate production for the newest version of the Boeing-made fourth-generation fighter.
The Air Force’s two test F-15EXs launched Joint Direct Attack Munitions, Small Diameter Bombs and Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles during the Combat Hammer exercise that concluded Aug. 25, the 53rd Wing told Defense News. The wing carried out the exercise, meant to evaluation weapons systems, at Hill Air Force Base in Utah.
Capt. Lindsey Heflin, a spokeswoman for the wing, said the weapons were employed during a wide range of scenarios.
The Air Force said that the weapons used during the test represent the longest-range air-to-air and air-to-ground standoff munitions in the U.S. military’s arsenal, and mark the completion of the F-15EX’s first phase of integrated test and evaluation efforts.
During that phase, the fighter took part in 19 large-force events to test how well it could integrate with fifth-generation aircraft and fire other air-to-air and air-to-ground munitions, the Air Force said.
In November 2022, for example, the F-15EX test-fired AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles from two new weapons stations. The Air Force later said that test marked a step toward the fighter being able to carry up to 12 missiles — more than any other F-15 variant.
(Excerpt) Read more at yahoo.com ...
And we can't use 'em. Not even one.
Stay focused. Keep buying F-35s.
If they’re in range, you’re in range.
If the Ukraine war taught us anything, it’s that aircraft that are not stealth are little more than targets.
Hopefully your missiles have better range than theirs (AND your Rules of Engagement allow you to use that range)
I still see this as some indirect way of closing the F-22 gap.
In the 1970’s I worked for a retired USAF colonel who worked on the development for the F-15. He was enormously proud of this plane as well he should have been. He was a warrior and a patriot. As such he would not have done well in today’s military. He succumbed to a heart attack about a year after I met him but every time I read about the Eagle I think of him.
“I still see this as some indirect way of closing the F-22 gap.”
By putting the cream of our military, with millions in training...up in a coffin?
They are valuable as targets.
We won’t have any more fights where we have Air Supremacy. Every battle space will be contested.
Stealth is the only way.
They are good as long range missile platforms - but you don't need a fighter for that, an old ass bomber will work much better.
That’s what the B-1 and B-52 are for.
LRASM and land attack missiles.
And they do it from a couple hundred miles away from the action.
And the Serbia campaign demonstrated that supposed stealth is not invulnerable.
Frankly the cost of either of these gold plated junkers is a huge risk if Russian AD make them mostly unusable.
Just one jet pays for 600+ (grossly overpriced) Excalibur artillery rounds.
Whatever else happens, the Excaliburs will be able to be used, but these hanger queens may end up like WW2 battleships - too expensive and vulnerable to fly.
https://breakingdefense.com/2022/04/air-forces-math-on-the-f-15ex-and-f-35-doesnt-add-up/
According to a documentary on the F-15, the kill ratio for the fighter is 140:0
Somebody’s idea to keep McDonnell Douglas going.
I wonder how many JDAMs Musk’s Starship can carry? And how well they work from suborbital?
Breaking Defense holds the same opinion I do.
Skip the expensive and vulnerable F-15EX and buy more highly capable F-35s...cheaper.
Knowledgeable people do not think the F-35 is a “gold plated junker”. Air force pilots prefer it over everything except the F-22.
Serbia shooting down a first gen stealth aircraft is irrelevant. They, and Russia, cannot shoot down an F-35.
And the idea that artillery rounds with a 40 mile range could replace a deep interdiction stealth attack plane is laughable.
A modified 767 with a pair of rotary launchers would suffice. They only need to make the weapon system avionics modular.
“Serbia shooting down a first gen stealth aircraft is irrelevant. They, and Russia, cannot shoot down an F-35. “
That is what was claimed for the F117. Stealth has improved since then, and so has Russian air defence.
“And the idea that artillery rounds with a 40 mile range could replace a deep interdiction stealth attack plane is laughable.”
If you can’t use your aircraft, you got nothing but multi hundred million dollar hanger queens.
“Untouchable” stealth is a theory. If it is wrong, the USA has no chance of air superiority, hence no chance in a peer war with a country like Russia. You are betting the future of the country on a theory, where there is already some evidence (F117) that there is a vulnerability.
BTW, aircraft of any type can’t match artillery. Seventy percent of casualties in peer wars comes from artillery.
That is, artillery is more than missiles, bombs, rockets, machine guns, grenades, tanks, rifles, depth charges, flame throwers, torpedos... etc. COMBINED.
It’s not wrong.
Even today they can spot stealth aircraft in the sky, know their elevation and heading. And know how many.
They just can’t target them.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.