F-15X: USAF Seems Interested

[Corsair1963]

Potentially UAE. Their Mirage 2000 are due for replacement.

The UAE has expressed interest in the past for the F-35.

[Corsair1963]

We have any idea what will be the first unit or units to receive the F-15EX??? (frontline)


You would think that Lakenheath AFB in the UK and Kadena Air Base in Japan would be at the top of the list! Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if the USAF. Replace those units with the F-35A. While, keeping the F-15EX's for the ANG in the states...

[weasel1962]

1st 8 will be at Eglin.

On UAE F-35.
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/11/22/us-defe ... e-uae.html

[Corsair1963]

1st 8 will be at Eglin.

On UAE F-35.
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/11/22/us-defe ... e-uae.html

The F-15EX's assigned to Eglin will not be for a frontline combat coded squadron. Just development and testing......(maybe training?)


As for the UAE I've seen those stories. Yet, all are dated back to 2019 and things continue to change. As a matter of fact Trump would love to find a reason to sell more "American Made" F-35's. So, he could be persuaded....(especially in an election year)

[madrat]

Trump is pro-Israel, not exactly pro-Gulf Nations.

[marauder2048]

Since there was some discussion about Legion Pod upthread...

https://www.dvidshub.net/image/6274539/legion-pod-achieves-major-milestones

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, --
The Legion Pod, known for its advanced IRST (infrared search and track) capabilities, hit two major milestones at Eglin AFB with the first missile shot of an AIM-9X using the Legion Pod on an F-15C Eagle and the first-ever flight of an operational F-16 Fighting Falcon with the Legion Pod on July 8 and 13, 2020, respectively.

The testing process for the Legion Pod is managed by the Operational Flight Program Combined Test Force, a unique unit that reports to both Air Combat Command through the 53rd Wing and Air Force Material Command through the 96th Test Wing. Both test sorties were executed by the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron in the 53rd Wing.

“The OFP CTF’s work on the Legion Pod is done differently than the traditional acquisitions method,” said Lt. Col. Thomas Moser, commander, OFP CTF. “We actually started testing the pod in a Pre-Developmental Test (DT) phase in early 2019 and got it to an eighty percent solution before it ever entered the official developmental phase. This ultimately allowed us to go through the developmental and operational testing quicker. What would normally take several years has been reduced to eighteen months from the start of DT to expected fielding.”

Use of the Legion Pod and its IRST capabilities allows a pilot to have another sensor that integrates with the aircraft and builds a more complete picture of the battlespace. Because of its use of infrared, it provides the ability to identify, track and shoot enemy aircraft in a RADAR jamming environment to include stealth aircraft that a traditional radar may not see.

“COVID-19 has not slowed us down either,” said Moser, “Both the F-15C and F-16 teams have been doing phenomenal work under difficult conditions to rapidly field this new capability. These milestones are just one shining example of the synergies that can be achieved in a dual-MAJCOM unit that conducts integrated test management with a focus on the warfighter.”

The OFP CTF is known for its ability to significantly reduce the test timeline by integrating developmental and operational test from start to finish, requirements to fielding. This approach allows operational flight programs, and the hardware that integrates with them, like the Legion Pod, to be expeditiously fielded to the Combat Air Forces. The F-16 Legion Pod integration leveraged the previous achievements on the F-15C which reduced the test timeline on the F-16 from four years to only six months and saved the Air Force over $1 million in software design and integration costs, effectively “Bringing the Future Faster.”

My emphasis

[talkitron]

The legion pod lives!

[madrat]

Maybe they can attach it on the front of the wing pylons, rather than on a centerline tank, that would streamline with drop tanks but not drop with them.

[Corsair1963]

Trump is pro-Israel, not exactly pro-Gulf Nations.

Trump has had very friendly relations with a number of Gulf States. Especially, Saudi Arabia...


QUOTE:

U.S. Arms Sales To The Middle East Have Soared In Value This Year!

U.S. arms sales to the Middle East have more than doubled in value this year, after two consecutive years of falls.

According to data compiled by the Forum on the Arms Trade from the U.S. Foreign Military Sales program, some $25.5 billion in deals have been agreed with nine countries around the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) so far this year. That compares to just $11.8 billion in 2018, marking a 118% year-on-year rise.

Globally, U.S. arms sales have increased by 42% this year, to a total of $69.7 billion, the highest level since 2010. But sales to the Middle East are outpacing the overall trend and this year accounted for more than a third of the worldwide total.


https://www.forbes.com/sites/dominicdud ... 859f6dfea8

[weasel1962]

8 add 12, then 76. 144 max, then 144 min. Now maybe 200.

https://www.airforcemag.com/air-force-n ... 0-f-15exs/

[Corsair1963]

8 add 12, then 76. 144 max, then 144 min. Now maybe 200.

https://www.airforcemag.com/air-force-n ... 0-f-15exs/

I doubt they will ever reach the 144 let alone the 200....As future US Defense Budgets are going to become extremely tight over the next few years.

Remember, the F-15EX was sold on it would "never" impact the production numbers for the F-35. If, it did it would be the first to go.....

QUOTE:

Lockheed CEO: Boeing’s F-15X won’t disrupt F-35 program


WASHINGTON — Lockheed Martin has been given assurances by top Pentagon leaders that the F-35 program will not be negatively impacted by a potential U.S. Air Force buy of Boeing’s F-15X, Lockheed CEO Marillyn Hewson said Tuesday.


“If they choose to have an order of the F-15, it won’t be at the expense of F-35 quantities,” she told investors during an earnings call.


“I'm hearing that directly from leadership in the Pentagon, and I think that's an important point for me to make. It's not just our suspicion, but I've been told that directly.”


The U.S. Air Force is expected to roll out a plan to begin buying new F-15s in its upcoming fiscal 2020 budget release. In December, Bloomberg reported the service intends to purchase 12 new F-15X aircraft in 2020 for $1.2 billion.


On Friday, Gen. Dave Goldfein, the Air Force’s chief of staff, confirmed to Defense News that the service will procure new F-15s if the budget grows enough to allow it, but that the F-35 program of record would remain the same with no slowdown to the buy rate.


“I’m not backing an inch off of the F-35” Goldfein said. “The F-35 buy that we’re on continues to remain on track. And I’m not interested in taking a nickel out of it when it comes to buying anything else in the fighter portfolio.”


Goldfein added that the Air Force wants to increase fighter procurement to 72 aircraft a year.

https://www.defensenews.com/industry/20 ... 5-program/

[mixelflick]

So the original F-15 was designed to counter the Foxbat.

What specific threat is the F-15EX being designed to counter? To defeat upgraded SU-27/30/35's on some future battlefield? Or alternatively, counter Chinese Flankers and J-10's? It must be as a carrier of large, hypersonic weapons with extreme range. Coupled with its radar, it's the only thing that makes sense to me?

It sounds like someone wasn't comfortable with the number of long range A2A weapons carried by the F-22/F-35, and here's your speedy (if non-stealthy), high persistence missile truck (with ginormous AESA)?

[marauder2048]

So the original F-15 was designed to counter the Foxbat.

What specific threat is the F-15EX being designed to counter? To defeat upgraded SU-27/30/35's on some future battlefield? Or alternatively, counter Chinese Flankers and J-10's? It must be as a carrier of large, hypersonic weapons with extreme range. Coupled with its radar, it's the only thing that makes sense to me?

It sounds like someone wasn't comfortable with the number of long range A2A weapons carried by the F-22/F-35, and here's your speedy (if non-stealthy), high persistence missile truck (with ginormous AESA)?

There's no hint of a deep threat analysis in the DODIG discussion of CAPE's future fighter mix study.
And the Air Force isn't buying the quad packs so the deep magazine argument isn't there.

There's no POR for hypersonics so quantities are completely up in the air beyond the small number of rapidly fielded
ARRWs which will go to the bombers.

CONUS and expeditionary airbase defense are the only places where it could contribute.
They've never talked about AIM-260 beyond the F-22, F-35 and Super Hornet.

[wrightwing]

So the original F-15 was designed to counter the Foxbat.

What specific threat is the F-15EX being designed to counter? To defeat upgraded SU-27/30/35's on some future battlefield? Or alternatively, counter Chinese Flankers and J-10's? It must be as a carrier of large, hypersonic weapons with extreme range. Coupled with its radar, it's the only thing that makes sense to me?

It sounds like someone wasn't comfortable with the number of long range A2A weapons carried by the F-22/F-35, and here's your speedy (if non-stealthy), high persistence missile truck (with ginormous AESA)?

The F-15EX was designed to counter an old fleet, that's not being recapitalized fast enough, while bringing capabilities that may not be easy (or desirable) to add on to F-22/35s. Nothing more, nothing less.

[wrightwing]

So the original F-15 was designed to counter the Foxbat.

What specific threat is the F-15EX being designed to counter? To defeat upgraded SU-27/30/35's on some future battlefield? Or alternatively, counter Chinese Flankers and J-10's? It must be as a carrier of large, hypersonic weapons with extreme range. Coupled with its radar, it's the only thing that makes sense to me?

It sounds like someone wasn't comfortable with the number of long range A2A weapons carried by the F-22/F-35, and here's your speedy (if non-stealthy), high persistence missile truck (with ginormous AESA)?

There's no hint of a deep threat analysis in the DODIG discussion of CAPE's future fighter mix study.
And the Air Force isn't buying the quad packs so the deep magazine argument isn't there.

There's no POR for hypersonics so quantities are completely up in the air beyond the small number of rapidly fielded
ARRWs which will go to the bombers.

CONUS and expeditionary airbase defense are the only places where it could contribute.
They've never talked about AIM-260 beyond the F-22, F-35 and Super Hornet.

Every US aircraft that currently carries AIM-120s, will receive AIM-260s once they're fielded. The AIM-120 is going to go out of production, and be replaced, so you'll absolutely see F-15s (and F-16s) carrying AIM-260s as well as Peregrine/CUDA once those enter service.