2015, Boeing had rolled out a menu
of options under the 2040C proposal.
One senior USAF oicer called 2040C a
‘signiicant upgrade’ that tapped into
the Advanced F-15, giving the jet the
ability to carry up to 16 air-to-air missiles
thanks to the addition of the advanced
missile and bomb ejector rack (AMBER).
It was a move designed speciically to
counter the F-35’s weak air-to-air it of
just four internally mounted AIM-120
Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air
Missiles (AMRAAMs) and an increasing
acknowledgement within USAF circles
that the Lightning II is best suited to
strike missions. Plans to equip 235 F-15Cs
with new wings from the F-15E did not
include the new outer wing stations 1
and 9, a feature of the Advanced F-15
that is only facilitated by the new digital
light control system (DFCS).
Retroitting the AN/APG-63(v)3
advanced electronically scanned array
(AESA) radar continued, but in 2017
reports suggested that the USAF was
canceling the F-15C element of the Eagle
Passive Active Warning Survivability
System (EPAWSS). Its removal leaves the
Eagle without a credible electronic warfare
capability. However, Boeing oicials told
Combat Aircraft that development ofEPAWSS
for 217
F-15Es
and 196
F-15Cs is on track.
‘The FY19 National
Defense Authorization Act
authorizes funding for four F-15C
production kits,’ it says. Indeed, the
F-15 System Program Oice states, ‘The
Air Force plans to fund and execute
the EPAWSS F-15C program through
development and testing. This will
preserve the option to deploy EPAWSS
on the F-15Cs should funding and
priorities change in the future.’
Boeing has now selected and ordered
the Lockheed Martin Legion Pod for the
F-15C, giving a passive infra-red search
and track (IRST) capability. The wing
upgrade has melted back to being a
small subset of units for some higher-
fatigue index aircraft. Eagles were
originally ‘lifed’ to 4,000 hours, but with
many up around 10,000, the USAF was
looking to extend the igure to 18,000.
The USAF’s lukewarm approach to
F-15C upgrades is clearly budget-driven
but could either mean the type will
indeed be retired or that new Eagles
might be an option.F-15QAADVANCESBoeing is developing structural
upgrades for the new Qatari F-15QA
aircraft that will have read-across
for prospective USAF service life
extension programs or procurement.
‘We are redesigning the nose barrel
on the F-15QA for more space
and provision for other sensors,’
Steve Parker of Boeing told CA in
2017, noting that the F-15QA will
be equipped with the AN/APG-82
radar as opposed to the APG-63(V)3
in the Saudi F-15SA. ‘We are also
remastering the Qatari wing with
proprietary technology, which takes
cost out. That will also be available
for the [US] Air Force for the F-15C
and E.’ The new wing reportedly adds
strength to the internal structure
without changing the aerodynamics.A number of
upgrades have
been developed
for the F-15C, and
earlier this year
Louisiana ANG
Eagles test-
flew conformal
fuel tanks to
help extend
mission times
for homeland
defense.
Jamie HunterINDUSTRY REPORT // F-15X
48 November 2018 //^ http://www.combataircraft.net