GBU-10 hit on an airborne Iraqi Mi-25 on
February 14, 1991.
The USAF has constantly updated the
F-15E, and the Raytheon AN/APG-82
AESA radar now forms the core of the
Radar Modernization Program (RMP). The
Advanced Display Core Processor (ADCP)
II is also coming online, while AIM-9X and
the AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Stand-
off Missile Extended-Range (JASSM-ER)
have now been fielded, with the GBU-53/B
Small Diameter Bomb II (SDB II) following.
Unlike the F-15C, the F-15E will receive
the new Eagle passive/active warning
survivability system (EPAWSS).
Through service life extension projects,
the F-15E looks set to remain in service
with the USAF until at least 2050, with no
obvious direct replacement waiting in
the wings.ISRAEL
Israel placed its first order for 23 new
F-15As and two Bs in 1975 under the
Peace Fox I and II programs. These aircraft
(known locally as Baz, meaning Buzzard)
were delivered from 1976. A further 18
F-15Cs and eight F-15Ds followed under
Peace Fox III, while Peace Fox IV involved
five additional F-15Ds (actually built as
F-15E airframes). Following the 1991 Gulf
War a further batch of 18 ex-USAF F-15As
and six F-15Bs was transferred.
More recently, the USAF transferred
a batch of 10 two-seat F-15Ds to Israel
in September 2016 as excess defense
articles. At that time it was expected
the F-15Ds would be used as a source
of spares, but upon inspection it
was decided to induct them into the
operational inventory, to add conformalfuel tanks, and to enable retirement of its
remaining F-15As.
The Baz fleet populates two front-line
units, 133 ‘Twin Tail’ and 106 ‘Spearhead’
Squadrons, both stationed at Tel Nof air
base. They were credited with shooting
down more than 30 Syrian MiGs during
the First Lebanon War between 1982-85.
The lack of a successor to the F-15
drove the Israeli Air Force to initiate the
first F-15 Baz upgrade program — Baz
Meshupar (Improved Baz) — in the 1990s.
Among the improvements were new
avionics, new cockpit and radar displays,
replacement of the fire control computer,
introduction of a GPS-based navigation
system and more. During the 2000s a
satellite communication (SATCOM) system
was added, and the aircraft qualified to
use Israel’s latest air-to-ground munitions
including the Rafael AGM-142 Popeye
stand-off missile and the Joint Direct
Attack Munition (JDAM).
The Baz is considered a multi-role
platform and its secondary ground attack
role notably saw a formation of eight
F-15s attacking the Palestine Liberation
Organization (PLO) headquarters in
Tunis in 1985. Operation ‘Wooden Leg’Above: Since
the aircraft are
devoid of modern
electronic warfare
protection at
present, F-15E
crews still rely
on low-level
flight in high-risk
environments.
Ben Stacey
Above left: This
1996-vintage
F-15E shows wear
and tear during a
2017 deployment
for Operation
‘Inherent Resolve’.
USAFhttp://www.combataircraft.net // May 2018 45
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