USAF News and Discussion

Millennium7

Member
This somewhat dated article provides some further details on the F-15x. There is a suggestion this jet will be aggressively priced and should be similar to the F-35. Perhaps Boeing should be pitching this jet to Canada in addition to the F-18. Seems it might be a better jet for Canada than the SH but the F-35 is still a better long term investment.

Exclusive: Unmasking The F-15X, Boeing's F-15C/D Eagle Replacement Fighter
Actually there is, in principle, no reason why you couldn't update an older but very successful machine with some of the F35 sensor fusion stuff and obtain something even more effective any time when you don't need stealthiness.
 

Millennium7

Member
I put together a short video with some curious B2 footage.
have fun!

Mod Edit: Embedded link promoting a YouTube channel deleted.

-Preceptor
 
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Todjaeger

Potstirrer
Actually there is, in principle, no reason why you couldn't update an older but very successful machine with some of the F35 sensor fusion stuff and obtain something even more effective any time when you don't need stealthiness.
Actually there is.

The Block I F/A-18F Super Hornets have slightly different air frames and shaping than the F/A-18F Block II and later Super Hornets, as well as the EA-18G Growler. This was done to provide a common air frame for the future Super Hornets and Growlers to ease the potential logistics burden by having a single air frame able to accommodate the wiring harness for Super Hornets and Growlers.

To take an older design and do the same thing but make it compatible with the avionics suite of an F-35... That would require a fair amount of redesign work to fit a compatible wiring harness (fibre optic in the F-35 IIRC) as well as the various sensors and avionics. Fitting EODAS for instance, would require that the E/O cameras be fitted to provide all-aspect coverage of the air frame, and yet the air frame could have other components or structural members installed where an EODAS camera would need to be mounted. Unless the nose of the older fighter was a match in terms of shape and size for the F-35, it would be highly unlikely that an APG-81 AESA radar could be fitted. Again using the Super Hornet as an example, the nose of the early Block I Super Hornets can fit an APG-73 radar, but not an APG-79 AESA radar like is fitted on board new Super Hornets and the Growler.

It might be possible for an older fighter design to be modified to take either the senors and avionics systems of an F-35 or and equivalent, it would be a very significant redesign which would take considerable time and resources to accomplish. The end result of that would deliver a 4.5 gen fighter which would like at least approach if not already exceed the purchase price of a full rate production F-35, which would have all the advantages of the redesigned aircraft and then more on top.

If the idea is instead not modify an existing design for new production, but to fit the F-35's systems to existing aircraft already in inventory, then I would have to say that is not possible IMO. Some systems could possibly be fitted to older aircraft, not all the systems would be able to be installed.
 
I put together a short video with some curious B2 footage.
have fun!

Mod Edit: Embedded link promoting a YouTube channel deleted.

-Preceptor
That is some great footage of one hellova aircraft. Still so futuristic looking even after all these years.

Thanks for putting that together.
 
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Millennium7

Member
That is some great footage of one hellova aircraft. Still so futuristic looking even after all these years.

Thanks for putting that together.
Thank you very much! My pleasure!
I have some more videos like this on the channel, if you are interested


Mod Edit: Link promoting a YouTube channel deleted.

-Preceptor
 
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Millennium7

Member
Actually there is.
...
No doubt that the operation would be extensive and expensive, I agree.
I was thinking about stealth data links and sensor fusion on a more capable airframe, like the F15 or the European Typhoon and Gripen.
It might be an interesting combination and it is mostly software and cockpit modification.
 

John Fedup

The Bunker Group
A short piece on Heather Wilson, Sec of the Airforce, who just resigned. As the author suggests, she was very qualified and was not likely forced out. That being said, it is another example of talent fleeing from WH chaos and stupidity. Expect another “temp” in order to avoid the confirmation process for as long as possible along with inferior qualifications.

Heather Wilson Was Uniquely Qualified To Be Air Force Secretary. So Why Is She Leaving?
 

pkcasimir

Member
A short piece on Heather Wilson, Sec of the Airforce, who just resigned. As the author suggests, she was very qualified and was not likely forced out. That being said, it is another example of talent fleeing from WH chaos and stupidity. Expect another “temp” in order to avoid the confirmation process for as long as possible along with inferior qualifications.

Heather Wilson Was Uniquely Qualified To Be Air Force Secretary. So Why Is She Leaving?
Nonsense. Heather Wilson left the Pentagon because she lost a bureaucratic struggle and realized that that there was no way Donald Trump would appoint her Secretary of Defense. It has absolutely nothing to do with so called White House stupidity and chaos. That's just Trump Derangement Syndrome talking.

Heather Wilson joined with the USAF Chief of Staff to try to thwart Donald Trump's desire to have a separate US military service dedicated to Space. They felt that Space would be taken out of the USAF's hands and thus lose a critical mission. Rather than working with Trump, Wilson butted heads with him and you don't butt heads with Donald Trump and last very long. Trump has asked Congress for funding for a new Space Force in the 2020 DOD budget and there is little doubt it will be approved. Wilson decided that it was time to go back to Academia from whence she came before becoming Secretary of the Air Force. That's what happened. The rest is pure nonsense.
 

John Fedup

The Bunker Group
As an apparent Trump loyalist you will spin it how you want to. I am not knowledgeable enough about the pros and cons of space force and agree that was likely incentive for her to leave. I welcome other member inputs as to the merits of space force. There has been some serious talent that have dumped on Trump and that is a concrete fact. Trump can’t stand that so departure of critics is a given. Bet you money job experience with the Donald won’t look good on a application in a couple of years from now.
 

ngatimozart

Super Moderator
Staff member
Verified Defense Pro
Nonsense. Heather Wilson left the Pentagon because she lost a bureaucratic struggle and realized that that there was no way Donald Trump would appoint her Secretary of Defense. It has absolutely nothing to do with so called White House stupidity and chaos. That's just Trump Derangement Syndrome talking.
@pkcasimir That is not acceptable conduct on this forum and is a political statement. Politics are verboten as Col Klink used to say.
 

ngatimozart

Super Moderator
Staff member
Verified Defense Pro
As an apparent Trump loyalist you will spin it how you want to. I am not knowledgeable enough about the pros and cons of space force and agree that was likely incentive for her to leave. I welcome other member inputs as to the merits of space force. There has been some serious talent that have dumped on Trump and that is a concrete fact. Trump can’t stand that so departure of critics is a given. Bet you money job experience with the Donald won’t look good on a application in a couple of years from now.
@John Fedup Time to refrain from political and sarcastic comments regarding the present incumbent of the White House and his associates. It is politics and politics are verboten as Col Klink used to say.
 

pkcasimir

Member
As an apparent Trump loyalist you will spin it how you want to. I am not knowledgeable enough about the pros and cons of space force and agree that was likely incentive for her to leave. I welcome other member inputs as to the merits of space force. There has been some serious talent that have dumped on Trump and that is a concrete fact. Trump can’t stand that so departure of critics is a given. Bet you money job experience with the Donald won’t look good on a application in a couple of years from now.
If you aren't knowledgeable of what's going on in the White House and DOD then you shouldn't be making comments about things you admitted you know nothing about.
I'm not a Trump loyalist. I'm just interested in facts and reality.
 

ngatimozart

Super Moderator
Staff member
Verified Defense Pro
If you aren't knowledgeable of what's going on in the White House and DOD then you shouldn't be making comments about things you admitted you know nothing about.
I'm not a Trump loyalist. I'm just interested in facts and reality.
Give it a rest or you will face the wrath of the Moderators. Don't try us.
 

Ranger25

Active Member
Staff member
USAF five year plans now call for the purchase of up to 80 new F-15X aircraft, up from the 8 originally proposed.

Thought is that it will work in conjunction with fifth gen aircraft as an aresenal plane of sorts with wings points for up to 22 AAMs


Bloomberg - Are you a robot?
 

MickB

Well-Known Member
USAF five year plans now call for the purchase of up to 80 new F-15X aircraft, up from the 8 originally proposed.

Thought is that it will work in conjunction with fifth gen aircraft as an aresenal plane of sorts with wings points for up to 22 AAMs


Bloomberg - Are you a robot?
Can see this operating in two ways, the F35 as a mini AWAC in air to air or the F35 clearing a path through defences for the F15 to exploit.
Can see the merit in this for a service with the size and budget of the USAF.
Article sites lower operating costs and longer life.

Is it also about keeping Boeing in the fast jet business.
 

Ranger25

Active Member
Staff member
Can see this operating in two ways, the F35 as a mini AWAC in air to air or the F35 clearing a path through defences for the F15 to exploit.
Can see the merit in this for a service with the size and budget of the USAF.
Article sites lower operating costs and longer life.

Is it also about keeping Boeing in the fast jet business.


Agreed. The AAM internal capacity is lower for the F35. They can designate targets at range and using Link 16 guide AAMs from other platforms to the target ideally while minimizing their exposure.

The F15X could be a large increase in capacity in such a scenario.
 
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