This is a discussion on USAF F-15 fleet grounded within the Air Force & Aviation forum, part of the Global Defense & Military category; US Air Force ground ageing F-15 fighter jets
15 hours ago
WASHINGTON (AFP) — The US Air Force has grounded ...
WASHINGTON (AFP) — The US Air Force has grounded all its F-15 fighter planes after an accident in Missouri triggered concerns about the ageing fleet, officials said Tuesday.
The decision comes after Japan on Sunday grounded its F-15 fleet after it was informed by US forces that an Air National Guard F-15 fighter jet had crashed.
"The cause of that accident is still under investigation," the US Air Force said in a statement.
"Preliminary findings indicate that a possible structural failure of the aircraft may have occurred. The suspension of flight operations is a precautionary measure."
The Air Force has more than 700 F-15s in its fleet. But until further notice, they will only be used for emergency missions in Iraq or Afghanistan, while F-16s will be used for all routine operations.
"They have some concerns about structural issues with the F-15 that went down," said Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman.
"The Air Force is looking at its operational requirements and where they have the newer aircraft and are making some of those available for missions while they take a look at the F-15 and see if they have a more systemic problem throughout the fleet," said Whitman.
"They will still be flying F-15 in support of troops and when there are no other aircraft available."
The plane that crashed on Friday was a 27-year-old F-15C built in Hazelwood, Missouri.
Around 500 of the total F-15 fleet are older models with an average age of around 25 years, Air Force spokesman Cristin Marposon told AFP.
There are also around 223 of the later F-15E models, which are mostly the ones used in Iraq.
The Air Force is trying to replace its oldest F-15s with the F-22 Raptor made by Lockheed Martin, but due to budgetary constraints it has so far only been able to purchase half of the aircraft it has asked for.
The US Congress has given approval for the Air Force to purchase 183 F-22s, although military officials have said they need 381 aircraft. A total of 97 F-22s have already been integrated into the fleet.
But Friday's accident may help step up the replacement program.
"The chief of staff directed the grounding for safety concerns. We will see what comes out of the investigation," Marposon said.
The US Air Force stopped buying F-15s in 2004, but Boeing has continued to produce them for clients in South Korea and Singapore, which ordered 12 new craft at the end of 2005.
In Japan, Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba told reporters that Tokyo has also suspended flights of F-2 fighter jets after one crashed on takeoff and burst into flames at an airport in central Japan last week.
"We will deal with the task of preventing airspace incursions with our F-4 fighter jets," the oldest model among Japan's fighter jets, Ishiba said.
The Japanese Air Force had 203 F-15s, 68 F-2s and 91 F-4s as of March 2006, a Japanese defence ministry spokesman said.
i presume that the saudi and israeli air force will be following suit.
this problem has left a gaping hole in the allied air defence systems.....
This issue if handled by the spin doctors can be used for increasing funding for F-22 procurement. After all with a few more failures what options will exist.
Could some one explain some things in the article above
1
Quote:
The plane that crashed on Friday was a 27-year-old F-15C built in Hazelwood, Missouri.
2
Quote:
Around 500 of the total F-15 fleet are older models with an average age of around 25 years, Air Force spokesman Cristin Marposon told AFP.
wats up with this?
Last edited by funtz; November 7th, 2007 at 01:15 PM.
What do you mean whats up with this? These are simple facts. The US F15 fleet is OLD.
I believe we might see the USAF accelerate the retirement of the older C/D model F15's in light of what happened, once the planes return to flight status.
The USAF has stated that it intends to 178 F15 C/D's(the so called 'Golden Eagles'). I think we should see the fleet decreasing faster now to this goal than originally anticipated.
Even with just 178 older F15's(upgraded with AESA radars) and 224 F15E plus 183 Raptors, the USAF should remain relatively unchallenged in the air to air environment(leaving F16's etc. out of the picture for a minute).
Other countries(read China) can put up similar numbers, however not enough of these will be in the SU30MK class any time soon.
What do you mean whats up with this? These are simple facts. The US F15 fleet is OLD.
I believe we might see the USAF accelerate the retirement of the older C/D model F15's in light of what happened, once the planes return to flight status.
The USAF has stated that it intends to 178 F15 C/D's(the so called 'Golden Eagles'). I think we should see the fleet decreasing faster now to this goal than originally anticipated.
Even with just 178 older F15's(upgraded with AESA radars) and 224 F15E plus 183 Raptors, the USAF should remain relatively unchallenged in the air to air environment(leaving F16's etc. out of the picture for a minute).
Other countries(read China) can put up similar numbers, however not enough of these will be in the SU30MK class any time soon.
Yeh thats what the Air Force says they need, but right now the F-15 fleet will be grounded for a few weeks at least, an investigated report is due in 60 days. I don't think this should interfear with the upgrade program since the so called golden eagles are the young ones in good shape. I think the Air Force should have 381 F-22, 220 FB-22, and 1763 F-35 but they just can't because of budget problems.
It's pretty major that they've grounded the whole fleet but expect they will be all up again shortly, especially those on deployment, time will tell though.
FB-22's can't recall it even got past concept and haven't heard of any call for it from AF circle I think they will have their hands full getting the 381 Raptors though events like this improve the likelihood of this arising.
What do you mean whats up with this? These are simple facts. The US F15 fleet is OLD.
I believe we might see the USAF accelerate the retirement of the older C/D model F15's in light of what happened, once the planes return to flight status.
The USAF has stated that it intends to 178 F15 C/D's(the so called 'Golden Eagles'). I think we should see the fleet decreasing faster now to this goal than originally anticipated.
Even with just 178 older F15's(upgraded with AESA radars) and 224 F15E plus 183 Raptors, the USAF should remain relatively unchallenged in the air to air environment(leaving F16's etc. out of the picture for a minute).
Other countries(read China) can put up similar numbers, however not enough of these will be in the SU30MK class any time soon.
what i meant was, if the average age is 25 years and the Plane in question was a '27-year-old F-15C', this must have been expected so what is the problem, or is 27 years actual time in the sky.
Even if all the F15's (C/D/E) are taken out of the USAF they still have a lot of fire power left.
what i meant was, if the average age is 25 years and the Plane in question was a '27-year-old F-15C', this must have been expected so what is the problem, or is 27 years actual time in the sky.
Current USAF fighter/attack inventory, age very roughly, as far as i'm aware of it:
119 A-10 (plus 72 in ANG); average age 26 years
586 F-16C/D (plus 433 in ANG); average age 18 years
381 F-15C/D (plus 110 in ANG); average age 23 years
212 F-15E; average age 17 years
~16 F-22A; average age 1 year
Average age of the entire fleet is around 20-21 years iirc. Traditional airforce "retirement goal" once used to be 22 years (with average at 11-13 years).
Even if all the F15's (C/D/E) are taken out of the USAF they still have a lot of fire power left.
Why on Earth would they ever do that? And keep in mind that the AF has certain Requirements for the number of fighter jets it uses and F-16 are wearing out fast too. This whole incident will help the AF get 381 F-22's and 220 FB-22's sounds good to them as well. And they will definably stick with 1763 F-35 Lightning II's.
It's pretty major that they've grounded the whole fleet but expect they will be all up again shortly, especially those on deployment,
Yea in 60 days at least when the report is finished! Until then there all grounded. As I said in my other post thats why they need at least 381 F-22 to replace the F-15C and 220 FB-22 to replace the F-15E.
Well no one is replying on this forum anymore so I will give it a try to restart it again. I saw that Air Force said that the F-15E Strike Eagle will be flying again by Wendsday so the F-15C's should be up in the air again soon. I don't know much more about it though.
well in the news section on this site there are reports of strike eagles flying combat missions in afghanistan in the last couple of days.. so i presume the air force meant it when they said essential combat missions would go ahead regardless..
it was reported on defence news that there is talk by senator(or is it congressman? cant remember) murtha(chairman of the house appropriations committee).. of buying 20 more F22 in light of the F15 groundings.. using about $500 million earmarked to shut down the F22 line as a downpayment on the aircraft..
I believe that the F-22 needs to be procured in large numbers, such as 381 originally hoped for. The reason I say this is because I am unaware of what will happen when the "Golden Eagles" reach the end of their life. By that time, AFAIK, the F-22 line will be closed and the F-35 is not in my eyes a sufficient replacement for the F-15.
I also wonder what will replace the F-15E. AFAIK, the FB-22 concept has been ruled out in favour of funding for a 2018 bomber. I wonder whether the Strike Eagle will not be directly replaced at all and instead, the F-35 and 2018 bomber will be indirect replacements.
The F-15E's just started flying again today in Afganistian, the F-15C should be soon after they figure out what caused the crash, as for the replacement for the F-15E, its hard to say who knows what plans they will have in 2035 as that is the retirement date for the F-15E, it could be anything plans change but only time will tell. And for getting 20 more F-22's, that is not going to help much at all, now if they get 200 more F-22 than thats when we can replace the F-15C. The Air Force Says they need 381 F-22, well 183 F-22 and 178 F-15C is only 361 jets, but if you get 203 F-22 and 178 F-15C then you get 381 jets though that is still not as good as 381 F-22.
