F-16.net

Corsair1963 wrote:

"aaam"
To be fair, when those decisions were made the F-15EX did not exist as an option. Let's see what happens now.

"marauder2048"
The 125th Fighter Wing decision was made in August of 2020.

Yes, Florida has been fighting hard for sometime to acquire the F-35A to replace its F-15C's and never wanted the F-15EX.

Further, my guess is California (194 FS) and Louisiana (122nd) will get the F-35A. While, Massachusetts (131st) will get the F-15EX. This would split the types between each coast. Of course I am just speculating....

Also, as long as I am "speculating" I believe the USAF will replace their F-15C's at Lakenheath (UK) and Kadena (Okinawa Japan) with the F-35A too!

If, the F-15EX survives over the next couple of defense budgets. I would assume they would replace some of the A-10 and/or F-16 Squadrons.

mixelflick wrote:

Corsair1963 wrote:

"aaam"
To be fair, when those decisions were made the F-15EX did not exist as an option. Let's see what happens now.

"marauder2048"
The 125th Fighter Wing decision was made in August of 2020.

Yes, Florida has been fighting hard for sometime to acquire the F-35A to replace its F-15C's and never wanted the F-15EX.

Further, my guess is California (194 FS) and Louisiana (122nd) will get the F-35A. While, Massachusetts (131st) will get the F-15EX. This would split the types between each coast. Of course I am just speculating....

Also, as long as I am "speculating" I believe the USAF will replace their F-15C's at Lakenheath (UK) and Kadena (Okinawa Japan) with the F-35A too!

If, the F-15EX survives over the next couple of defense budgets. I would assume they would replace some of the A-10 and/or F-16 Squadrons.

Good guess. I wouldn't mind the F-15EX being assigned to MA, that's for sure. They'll soon be more F-35's flying than you can shake a stick at. The EX will be by comparison, rare. Does anyone know the USAF timetable for a decision??

charlielima223 wrote:If the F-15EX is supposed to replace remaining F-15Cs and F-15Es, this new weapons certification could give it a momentary edge over the F-35. From my understanding the F-15EX are supposed to carry pretty much anything the current F-15E can now.

https://www.military.com/daily-news/202 ... tions.html

https://www.airforcemag.com/f-15es-can- ... ker-bombs/

charlielima223 wrote:If the F-15EX is supposed to replace remaining F-15Cs and F-15Es, this new weapons certification could give it a momentary edge over the F-35. From my understanding the F-15EX are supposed to carry pretty much anything the current F-15E can now.

https://www.military.com/daily-news/202 ... tions.html

https://www.airforcemag.com/f-15es-can- ... ker-bombs/

madrat wrote:Would it make more sense to push F-15EX to replace F-15E and when F-15C retires put older E's in to replace them? The A2A loads would be less stress on the older E airframes. The F-35A should do a better A2A role than any F-15 version for the frontlines. F-15EX wouldn't even play a frontline role in A2G against a near peer but they would do well for CONUS protection until the early F-35A can be relegated to the role. F-15EX would provide plenty of coverage to patch holes in the lines and could swing role to drop bombs in lower threat environments. I'd realistically rather have them burn hours on F-35A for most roles once the numbers get substantial because it is the standard airframe we need to build support for any future conflict.

marauder2048 wrote:
The F-15EX can't get close enough to high-end threats to deploy SDB II.
For the F-15, SDB II is for more of a post-SEAD target rich/IADS poor environment scenario like GW1.

madrat wrote:Would it make more sense to push F-15EX to replace F-15E and when F-15C retires put older E's in to replace them? The A2A loads would be less stress on the older E airframes. The F-35A should do a better A2A role than any F-15 version for the frontlines. F-15EX wouldn't even play a frontline role in A2G against a near peer but they would do well for CONUS protection until the early F-35A can be relegated to the role. F-15EX would provide plenty of coverage to patch holes in the lines and could swing role to drop bombs in lower threat environments. I'd realistically rather have them burn hours on F-35A for most roles once the numbers get substantial because it is the standard airframe we need to build support for any future conflict.

Northrop Grumman announced that its AN/APG-83 SABR (Scalable Agile Beam Radar) Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar has reached the Full Operational Capability (FOC) on the U.S. Air Force Air National Guard F-16s. The fielding of the new radar began in January 2020, following a U.S. Northern Command Joint Emergent Operational Need (JEON) for homeland defense.

The JEON resulted in a first contract in 2017 for 72 SABR radars and another one this year for 15 Engineering, Manufacturing and Development (EMD) and 90 production radars. Up to 372 radars could be procured by 2027 if all options are exercised. Currently the District of Columbia ANG (Joint Base Andrews), South Carolina ANG(McEntire JNGB) and another unspecified base completed the radar upgrade, while South Dakota ANG (Joe Foss Field, Sioux Falls) started the upgrade in September.

charlielima223 wrote:
No real debate here about high-end threats. Having a heavy bomb truck like the F-15EX could lessen the work load on the F-35A. Last I checked the SDB-2 wont be clear and certified on the F-35 until midway into the block 4 upgrade path.

charlielima223 wrote:As stated earlier if the F-15EX is supposed to carry everything current F-15Es can, the ability to strike multiple moving targets with SDB-2 gives it more capability than the prior. With F-35s making larger holes in IADs and sticking around "quarter backing" other assets, this would mean F-15EX with 2 racks SDB-2s could be a valuable asset.

charlielima223 wrote:
Why use the F-15EX on CONUS duties? Wouldnt ANG F-16s be more than enough for that now that they're getting newer AESA radars?

https://theaviationist.com/2020/10/16/t ... nal-guard/

Northrop Grumman announced that its AN/APG-83 SABR (Scalable Agile Beam Radar) Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar has reached the Full Operational Capability (FOC) on the U.S. Air Force Air National Guard F-16s. The fielding of the new radar began in January 2020, following a U.S. Northern Command Joint Emergent Operational Need (JEON) for homeland defense.

The JEON resulted in a first contract in 2017 for 72 SABR radars and another one this year for 15 Engineering, Manufacturing and Development (EMD) and 90 production radars. Up to 372 radars could be procured by 2027 if all options are exercised. Currently the District of Columbia ANG (Joint Base Andrews), South Carolina ANG(McEntire JNGB) and another unspecified base completed the radar upgrade, while South Dakota ANG (Joe Foss Field, Sioux Falls) started the upgrade in September.

Corsair1963 wrote:Of course it would but acquiring the F-15EX had little to do with merit and everything to do with giving Saint Louis (i.e. Boeing) work......

charlielima223 wrote:
Why use the F-15EX on CONUS duties? Wouldnt ANG F-16s be more than enough for that now that they're getting newer AESA radars?

charlielima223 wrote:
Why use the F-15EX on CONUS duties? Wouldnt ANG F-16s be more than enough for that now that they're getting newer AESA radars?