[i]The F-15SA is the second version (after Singapore) to be delivered with the APG-63(V)3 active, electronically scanned array (AESA) radar. It is the first to have BAE Systems’ digital electronic warfare system (DEWS), .....Like the Singaporean aircraft, it has a Lockheed Martin AAS-42 infrared search-and-track system, known as TigerEye on the F-15.
The Saudi variant is the first all-fly-by-wire F-15, which is expected to reduce maintenance requirements because the controls are self-rigging. It has a so-called PDM-free wing that does not require periodic depot maintenance on its structure. Another change is that the wing stores stations Nos. 1 and 9 are activated, mainly in order to carry a larger air-to-air load in conjunction with air-to-surface weapons. The Saudi order includes AGM-88B High-Speed Antiradiation Missiles from U.S. stocks.[i]
Are these F-15s better than any in the US inventory? Certainly they are the 1st all fly by wire ones. Though I am not sure that helps in combat.
KC135TopBoom From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 11705 posts, RR: 52 Reply 1, posted (1 year 1 month 2 weeks 4 days 23 hours ago) and read 3507 times:
None of the USAF F-15s are FBW, but all of the F-16s are.
connies4ever From Canada, joined Feb 2006, 3854 posts, RR: 13 Reply 2, posted (1 year 1 month 2 weeks 4 days 23 hours ago) and read 3498 times:
Quoting tommytoyz (Thread starter): Are these F-15s better than any in the US inventory? Certainly they are the 1st all fly by wire ones. Though I am not sure that helps in combat.
Well, it certainly should be better than any F-15 the USAF has. Life cycle costs go down with the PDM-free wing and the FBW FCS should reduce the line maintenance requirements before any mission. The AESA helps a lot as well.
tommytoyz From United States of America, joined Jan 2007, 1102 posts, RR: 5 Reply 3, posted (1 year 1 month 2 weeks 4 days 22 hours ago) and read 3481 times:
Weren't the USAF F-15s upgraded with new AESA radars? I think they were. But I am not sure if they are of the latest and greatest versions or up to the Saudi version.
The Saudi order includes AGM-88B High-Speed Antiradiation Missiles from U.S. stocks.
That's one thing the USAF F-15's don't carry. The F-16s do the Wild Weasel radar suppression work for the USAF.
This enables them to suppress Radars and carry bombs to target at the same time.
USAF F-15s also don't have anything like the AN/AAS-42 Infra-Red Search-and-Track (IRST) system. Or am I wrong? It's similar to the fact that the most advanced F-16s (Block 60) are not flown by the USAF.
connies4ever From Canada, joined Feb 2006, 3854 posts, RR: 13 Reply 4, posted (1 year 1 month 2 weeks 4 days 21 hours ago) and read 3458 times:
Quoting tommytoyz (Reply 3): Weren't the USAF F-15s upgraded with new AESA radars? I think they were. But I am not sure if they are of the latest and greatest versions or up to the Saudi version.
I believe this is an on-going program, not yet complete.
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