Forum: Modern Military Aircraft

As the F-22 is the direct replacement for the F-15C, I thought this might be the most appropriate place to post this inquiry. Did the USAF ever proceed with its plans to refurbish/update selected F-15Cs to "Golden Eagle" configuration. Or did the series of accidents caused by structural failue put a damper on the program.. IIRC some of those airframes to be upgraded were actually found to be questionnable structurally.

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popcorn wrote:

As the F-22 is the direct replacement for the F-15C, I thought this might be the most appropriate place to post this inquiry. Did the USAF ever proceed with its plans to refurbish/update selected F-15Cs to "Golden Eagle" configuration. Or did the series of accidents caused by structural failue put a damper on the program.. IIRC some of those airframes to be upgraded were actually found to be questionnable structurally.

The upgrades won't all be done at once, but there is funding for the various systems.

popcorn wrote:

As the F-22 is the direct replacement for the F-15C, I thought this might be the most appropriate place to post this inquiry. Did the USAF ever proceed with its plans to refurbish/update selected F-15Cs to "Golden Eagle" configuration. Or did the series of accidents caused by structural failue put a damper on the program.. IIRC some of those airframes to be upgraded were actually found to be questionnable structurally.

I have read that while the plan still remains for 178 Eagles to recieve the AESA, some beyond those will recieve modest upgrades, such as JHMCS.

However, the AESA upgrading has begun, although for obvious reasons, those aircraft that have been uprgraded is not disclosed.

In case you haven't seen it, here is a little F-15C Golden Eagle With AESA eye candy for ya! Very Happy

Last edited by SpudmanWP on Mar 31, 2010 - 07:50 PM; edited 1 time in total

If you know where to look, the number and timeframe for F-15 upgrades is quite easy to find.

The place to look is part of the yearly USAF budget docs. More specifically, the Air Force Aircraft Procurement, Vol 2, FY11 (page 154). The doc includes AESA, JHMCS, IRST (yes, IRST), and other ongoing and planned upgrades.

There are two ongoing F-15 radar modernization programs, APG-63(v)3 and APG-82(v)1.

APG-63(v)3 will have 122 (with 1 additional spare) installed by 2017
APG-82(v)1 will have 54 installed by 2017

On the JHMCS, 168 installed by FY2011. No further buys listed after FY2010.

On the IRST, $227 million spent from FY2013 to 2015 without any details on units procured.

These numbers assume no more increases in buys or follow-on orders after 2015 (the last year projected).

Remember that when you look through it, the year that funds are approved and the year kits are installed are different (and listed separately).

SpudmanWP wrote:

If you know where to look, the number and timeframe for F-15 upgrades is quite easy to find.

The place to look is part of the yearly USAF budget docs. More specifically, the Air Force Aircraft Procurement, Vol 2, FY11 (page 154). The doc includes AESA, JHMCS, IRST (yes, IRST), and other ongoing and planned upgrades.

There are two ongoing F-15 radar modernization programs, APG-63(v)3 and APG-82(v)1.

APG-63(v)3 will have 122 (with 1 additional spare) installed by 2017
APG-82(v)1 will have 54 installed by 2017

These numbers assume no more increases in buys or follow-on orders after 2015 (the last year projected).

Remember that when you look through it, the year that funds are approved and the year kits are installed are different (and listed separately).

Gotta say that for a potato man (joking!) you do a hell of a good job keeping us all up to date with stuff like this, not just on this site but all others too.
Great stuff and really appreciate it and i'm sure others do too.

No insult taken... My friends (from WAY back) gave me the Spudman name because I ate a lot of well-done french fries. Smile

I have been using it since the mid-1990s.

btw, I added info on the JHMCS and IRST F-15 upgrades above.

SpudmanWP wrote:

If you know where to look, the number and timeframe for F-15 upgrades is quite easy to find.

The place to look is part of the yearly USAF budget docs. More specifically, the Air Force Aircraft Procurement, Vol 2, FY11 (page 154). The doc includes AESA, JHMCS, IRST (yes, IRST), and other ongoing and planned upgrades.

There are two ongoing F-15 radar modernization programs, APG-63(v)3 and APG-82(v)1.

APG-63(v)3 will have 122 (with 1 additional spare) installed by 2017
APG-82(v)1 will have 54 installed by 2017

On the JHMCS, 168 installed by FY2011. No further buys listed after FY2010.

On the IRST, $227 million spent from FY2013 to 2015 without any details on units procured.

These numbers assume no more increases in buys or follow-on orders after 2015 (the last year projected).

Remember that when you look through it, the year that funds are approved and the year kits are installed are different (and listed separately).

Remember that the F-15E is also getting an AESA across the fleet. The numbers you cite above, are those F-15C-specific upgrades or do they include the F-15E? Apparently, there is little doubt the F-15E will be updated as it will be around past 2020. However, the "Golden Eagle" program is not a done deal, at least not yet, last I heard.

sextusempiricus wrote:

Remember that the F-15E is also getting an AESA across the fleet. The numbers you cite above, are those F-15C-specific upgrades or do they include the F-15E? Apparently, there is little doubt the F-15E will be updated as it will be around past 2020. However, the "Golden Eagle" program is not a done deal, at least not yet, last I heard.

The APG-82(V1) is actually the version the F-15E will get therefore 54 F-15E should have been upgraded with that radar by 2017 as Spudmans listing shows. What interests me is whether there are any EW upgrades planned?

I looked closer and the APG-82(v)1 is slated for the F-15E (page 160), while the APG-63(v)3 is for the F-15C/D (page 177).

Thanks for catching that.

Thanks all for your responses.. very informative and reassuring at the same time to know the Eagle will remain relevant for a long time to come.
I was looking at the picture and was expecting the AESA array to be tilted upwards.. but then the F-15 isn't stealthy so tilting the radar to reduce RCS really isn't going to make a difference.
The IRST capability is a nice addition.
I didn't notice any provision for any structural upgrades; is this covered by a separate budget provision? Hopefully the finished product will be nimble and tough, just like new.

I wouldn't be surprised to see some of Golden Eagle's projected 120 some odd APG(V)3 units to be reduced, maybe down to 75 or so at best, in part to help pay for the actual fleet's upgrade plan. Old C/D airframes slated to serve through 2025 will indeed be more expensive to sustain than most probably want to think about. Perhaps some of the (V)3 units could furthermore be transferred to 'other Eagle' operators as an FMS. (Beyond F-15SG customer).

APG-82 variant is also anticipated of being F-15SE's initial suite. (perhaps angled (?) on the -SE variant, to answer that question, popcorn). Then again, my 'fictional' F-15x (Super) Eagle has been slated to receive the (V)5 1.1m upgrade Smile

Scorpion82 - re: EW upgrades... perhaps the SE's EW suite (or configuration thereof) could eventually find its way to some of the F-15E ? But the APG-82 mod apparently includes 'Radio Frequency Tunable Filters' which in part might answer part of your question. (Perhaps such an RFTF could find its way back as a Growler fix, hmmm).

Regarding IRST: this is most likely part of the same AAS-42/SniperAT combo 'FLIR/IRST' pod adapted for F-15SG and as probably proposed for initial F-15SE a/c. A similar if not same IRST expected in the centerline fuel tank IRST and Shadow pod?

p.s. Popcorn - your envisioned 'like new', nimble and tough Eagle would come in the 'new' F-15SE. Whistle

The F15SE is a nice idea from Boeing, but who is buying?

JetTest wrote:

The F15SE is a nice idea from Boeing, but who is buying?

Well, if one believes everything they see and hear, then the Royal Saudi Air Force is allegedly in negotiations for around 72 aircraft. Although, when one considers the pwer that the pro-Israeli lobby in the US Government has wielded in preventing some sales to the RSAF, including forced changes to the first F-15E purchase, it may never come together. I'm all for seeing new Eagles roll off the line though. A world without Eagles and Vipers will be a sad one indeed...

Those would most likely be SA's, not SE's.

HaveVoid wrote:

popcorn wrote:

As the F-22 is the direct replacement for the F-15C, I thought this might be the most appropriate place to post this inquiry. Did the USAF ever proceed with its plans to refurbish/update selected F-15Cs to "Golden Eagle" configuration. Or did the series of accidents caused by structural failue put a damper on the program.. IIRC some of those airframes to be upgraded were actually found to be questionnable structurally.

I have read that while the plan still remains for 178 Eagles to recieve the AESA, some beyond those will recieve modest upgrades, such as JHMCS.

However, the AESA upgrading has begun, although for obvious reasons, those aircraft that have been uprgraded is not disclosed.

In case you haven't seen it, here is a little F-15C Golden Eagle With AESA eye candy for ya! Very Happy

That's not a Golden Eagle. That's one of the F-15Cs w/ the APG-63(v)2 AESA that are based in Alaska. The Golden Eagles will be receiving considerably more upgrades.

Forum: Modern Military Aircraft

Golden Eagle question?