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by Americae roma. . 16 reads.

F-15CX/F-15EX Super Eagle series

F-15CX/F-15EX Super Eagle series


Role: Multirole Air Superiority Fighter(F-15CX), Multirole Interdictor & Strike Fighter(F-15EX)

National origin:Imperial America

Manufacturer:Boeing Defense Systems

Introduction:2012

Status: In service

Primary users:
Imperial American Air Force
Israeli Air Force
Royal Saudi Air Force
Republic of Korea Air Force
Republic of Singapore Air Force
Among others

Produced:+1,500 built(Worldwide, both F-15CX and F-15EX)

Unit Cost:62 million dollars(F-15CX), 138 million dollars(F-15EX)

Developed From:F-15C Eagle/F-15E Strike Eagle

The F-15CX Super Eagle and F-15EX Super Strike Eagle is an American all weather multirole air superiority fighter and strike fighter manufactured by Boeing Defense, Space and Security respectively derived from the earlier F-15C Eagle and F-15E Strike Eagle which the F-15CX and F-15EX are modernized versions of. The F-15 Eagle fighter was originally developed as an air superiority fighter to replace the F-4 Phantom as America's primary fighter type making it's first flight in 1972 and inducted into operational service in 1976. The F-15E Strike Eagle was developed as an aerial interdictor and strike fighter variant of the F-15C Eagle as part of the Enhanced Tactical Fighter program to alongside the F-16E and F/B-111G Strike Raven replace the F-111 Aardvark. The F-15CX Super Eagle and F-15EX Super Strike Fighter are comprehensive upgrades to the F-15C and F-15E which incorporates new upgrades to greatly modernize the fighter line to include new AESA radar, enhanced datalinks, greatly improved avionic and computer suite, a higher payload capacity as well as the ability to carry new weapon systems such as hypersonic missiles pushing the F-15CX and F-15EX into being a 4.5++ generation fighter enabling the F-15 type fighter and strike fighter to better operate, compete and thrive in a more technologically sophisticated near peer threat environment. The F-15CX and F-15EX as well as derivatives and variants has been deployed or seen combat in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan and the Korean Peninsula.

Development


F-15 Eagle

The F-15 can trace its origins to the early Vietnam War, when the American Air Force and American Navy fought each other over future tactical aircraft. Defense Secretary Robert McNamara was pressing for both services to use as many common aircraft as possible, even if performance compromises were involved. In January 1965, Secretary McNamara asked the Air Force to consider a new low-cost tactical fighter design for short-range roles and close air support to replace several types like the F-100 Super Sabre and various light bombers then in service. Several existing designs could fill this role; the Navy favored the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk and LTV A-7 Corsair II, which were pure attack aircraft, while the Air Force was more interested in the Northrop F-5 fighter with a secondary attack capability. If the Air Force chose a pure attack design, maintaining air superiority would be a priority for a new airframe. During the Vietnam War, the American Air Force primarily employed the F-4 Phantom and F-105 Thunderchief in the air superiority fighter role, these aircraft featured big radars, a large payload capacity and powerful performance however notably lacked maneuverability, this put American fighters into a disadvantage when aerial combat occurs at a shorter range facing less expensive and nimbler Soviet fighters notably the MiG-21 flown by the Vietnam People's Air Force that while slower, more lightly armed and carried a less sophisticated avionics suite was much better suited to dogfighting, this problem was further exacerbated when early American F-4 phantoms did not come equipped with a gun. While later American F-4 phantoms would later be armed with a M61 Vulcan 20mm automatic cannon initially with a gun pod and later mounted integrally into the airframe, the Imperial American Air Force soon realized the need for a new class of high performance air superiority fighter to replace the F-4. What led to great impetus for a new air superiority fighter is the introduction of the MiG-25 interceptor by the Soviet Union. An official requirements document for an air superiority fighter was finalized in October 1965, and sent out as a request for proposals to 13 companies on 8 December. Meanwhile, the Air Force chose the A-7 over the F-5 for the support role on 5 November 1965, giving further impetus for an air superiority design as the A-7 lacked any credible air-to-air capability. In 1967, the Soviet Union revealed the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25 at the Domodedovo airfield near Moscow. The MiG-25 was designed as a high-speed, high-altitude interceptor aircraft, and made many performance tradeoffs to excel in this role. Among these was the requirement for very high speed, over Mach 2.8, which demanded the use of stainless steel instead of aluminum for many parts of the aircraft. The added weight demanded a much larger wing to allow the aircraft to operate at the required high altitudes. An aircraft with high speed and a large wing offering high maneuverability, leading to serious concerns throughout the Department of Defense and the various arms that America was being outclassed. The F-X program was thus greatly accelerated to rapidly push the development of a new high performance fighter to counter the MiG-25. Eight companies responded with proposals. Following a downselect, four companies were asked to provide further developments. In total, they developed some 500 design concepts, after a design competition, MacDonald Douglas finally won the contract with their YF-15 design that the Air Force saw as offering both high performance and good maneuverability and the F-15 entered service in 1978 finally replacing the F-4 Phantom.

F-15E Strike Eagle

The F-15 Eagle was originally developed as an air superiority fighter and fighter-interceptor and unlike the F-4 Phantom was initially given little consideration for ground attack with the F-15 Special Project Office famously stating "Not a pound for air-to-ground". Despite initial lack of interest MacDonald Douglas did quietly start working on a F-15 derived interdictor or strike fighter to replace the F-111 Aardvark and remaining F-4s. In 1978, the American Air Force initiated the Tactical All-Weather Requirement Study, which looked at McDonnell Douglas's proposal and other options such as the purchase of further F-111Fs. The study recommended the F-15E as the USAF's future strike platform.
Later in March 1981, the Imperial Air Force announced the Enhanced Tactical Fighter program to procure a replacement for the F-111 Aardvark and F-4 Phantom in the strike fighter role. The program called for an aircraft capable of performing deep interdiction and strike missions without requiring additional support in the form of fighter escort or electronic warfare support while also possessing secondary aerial supremacy capabilities making it multirole. Two companies submitted two major designs for the Enhanced Tactical Fighter program, MacDonald Douglas submitted a variant of the F-15 modified for strike fighter role while General Dynamics submitted the F-16XL, a variant of the F-16 extensively modified as a strike fighter with a larger fuselage and a notably distinct cranked delta arrow wing.
both the F-15E and F-16XL offered unique advantages compared to the competing design, the F-16XL has a very high weapons payload capacity of up to 15,000lb(6,800kg) while the cranked delta arrow wing design offered several aerodynamic and maneuverability performance advantages while the F-15E is considered a more cheaper aircraft to produce being based on the two seater advanced trainer variant of the F-15 requiring little additional modification compared to the F-16XL which is a major redesign of the basic F-16 airframe, the two-engine configuration of the F-15E was also seen as an advantage providing redundancy which can be very useful for an aircraft whose mission involves operating within the reach of anti-aircraft artillery and surface-to-air missiles. Because both designs offered unique advantages compared to the other, the Imperial Air Force was unable to decide on a winner and in February 1984, the Enhanced Tactical Fighter program ended with the Air Force awarding the EFT contract to both MacDonald Douglas and General Dynamics. The F-15 strike variant entered into service in 1988 designated as the F-15E Strike Eagle.

From F-15C and F-15E to F-15CX and F-15EX

The F-15CX and F-15EX is the latest variant of the F-15C Eagle and F-15E Strike Eagle respectively. The F-15CX and F-15EX was developed as part of an comprehensive modernization upgrade program to significantly enhance the capabilities of both the F-15C Eagle and F-15E Strike Eagle especially to enable the F-15C Eagle and F-15E Strike Eagle to better perform in a near peer high intensity high technological threat environment as the nation's military orients it's doctrinal focus back towards great power competition with near peer strategic rivals namely the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China with both of these nations making substantial effort to greatly modernize their Air Force and military as a whole to challenge American military preeminence. Among the many modernization upgrades introduced to the F-15CX and F-15EX, notable ones include the addition of an advanced Actively Electronic Scanned Radar system similar to fifth generation aircraft, upgraded electronic warfare suite, a missile approach warning system(MAWS), a Distributed Aperture System, an Infrared Search and Track system(IRST) to enable the F-15CX and F-15EX to be able to defend against fifth generation threats such as the Chinese Chengdu J-20 "Mighty Dragon" and Russian SU-57 "Felon". The F-15CX and F-15EX also features the ability to be equipped with the Talon HATE communication pod to allow communication with fifth generation fighters like the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning while the datalink has been given Tactical Targeting Networking Technology among other avionics and systems upgrades in the F-15CX and F-15EX among other major upgrades to the F-15 system. The F-15CX and F-15EX also are equipped with newer more powerful engines giving the aircraft some super cruise capabilities as well, in addition, both the F-15CX and F-15EX have their payload capacity enhanced with the AMBER Advanced Missile and Bomb Ejection Rack, a hardpoint system that allows the aircraft to carry up to 4 munitions increasing the payload capacity of the aircraft. The Imperial Air Force has plans to continuously procure new F-15EXs and F-15CXs while upgrading all older F-15Cs and F-15Es into the F-15C+ and F-15E+ variant respectively.

Design


The F-15CX and F-15EX has an all-metal semi-monocoque fuselage with a large-cantilever, shoulder-mounted wing. The wing planform of the F-15 suggests a modified cropped delta shape with a leading-edge sweepback angle of 45°. Ailerons and a simple high-lift flap are located on the trailing edge. No leading-edge maneuvering flaps are used. This complication was avoided by the combination of low wing loading and fixed leading-edge camber that varies with spanwise position along the wing. Airfoil thickness ratios vary from 6% at the root to 3% at the tip. The empennage is of metal and composite construction, with twin aluminium/composite material honeycomb structure vertical stabilizers with boron-composite skin, resulting in an exceptionally thin tailplane and rudders. Composite horizontal all-moving tails outboard of the vertical stabilizers move independently to provide roll control in some flight maneuvers. The F-15 has a spine-mounted air brake and retractable tricycle landing gear. It is powered by two Pratt & Whitney F100 axial compressor turbofan engines with afterburners, mounted side-by-side in the fuselage and fed by rectangular inlets with variable intake ramps. The cockpit is mounted high in the forward fuselage with a one-piece windscreen and large canopy for increased visibility and a 360° field of view for the pilot. The airframe began to incorporate advanced superplastically formed titanium components in the 1980s. The low wing loading (weight to wing area ratio) and a high thrust-to-weight ratio gives the F-15CX and even the F-15EX good maneuverability, enabling the aircraft to turn tightly without losing airspeed. The F-15 can climb to 30,000 feet (9,100 m) in around 60 seconds. At certain speeds, the dynamic thrust output of the dual engines is greater than the aircraft's combat weight and drag, so it has the ability to accelerate vertically. The F-15CX and F-15EX is equipped with the Advanced Missile and Bomber Ejection Rack which is capable of quad packing munitions in a single hardpoint which increases the ordnance capacity of the F-15CX and EX, as a result, the F-15CX is capable of carrying up to 16 munitions and the F-15EX capable of carrying up to 22 munitions depending on type. Both the F-15EX and F-15CX are equipped with conformal fuel tanks on the top of the aircraft near the wing roots to increase the combat range of the fighter, while the conformal fuel tank of both the F-15CX and F-15EX are mounted in a similar configuration, the F-15EX's conformal fuel tanks are slightly larger than that of the F-15CX due to the strike and interdictor role of the F-15EX.
The F-15CX is powered by two General Electric F110-GE-130 afterburning turbofan engine, which is a slight modification to the General Electric F110-GE-129 engine designed for the F-15E Strike Eagle with each engine rated at approximately 30,000 pound force or approximately 133 kilonewtons of thrust at full afterburner. The F-15EX Super Strike Eagle is powered by two General Electric F110-GE-132 afterburning turbofan engine with each rated at 32,500 pound force or 145 kilonewton of thrust at full afterburner. Both the F-15CX and F-15EX's engines have been modified to allow for supercruise capabilities with the F-15CX able to supercruise at Mach 1.2 and the F-15EX able to supercruise at Mach 1.3 to 1.4. Both the F-15CX and F-15EX have been equipped with digital fly-by-wire controls to enhance the controllability of the aircraft especially when conducting complex maneuvers and is among the first F-15 variants equipped with digital fly by wire controls, the digital fly by wire control of both the F-15EX and F-15CX is loosely based on that of the F-16V and F-16EV. The F-15EX and F-15CX has a quadruplex (four-channel) fly-by-wire (FBW) flight control system (FLCS). The flight control computer (FLCC) accepts pilot input from the stick and rudder controls, and manipulates the control surfaces in such a way as to produce the desired result without inducing control loss. The FLCC conducts thousands of measurements per second on the aircraft's flight attitude to automatically counter deviations from the pilot-set flight path. The FLCC further incorporates limiters governing movement in the three main axes based on attitude, airspeed and angle of attack (AOA); these prevent control surfaces from inducing instability such as slips or skids, or a high AOA inducing a stall. The F-15CX is a single seat fighter while the F-15EX is a two seater fighter(with pilot and weapon systems officer), the crew(s) of the F-15CX and F-15EX are each provided with a zero-zero Martin-Baker Mk16 ejector seat also designed for the F-35 Lightning II, in the two seater F-15EX, the the seats are arranged in tandem with the rear weapon systems officer seat raised to increase his/her visibility. The Martin-Baker Mk16 ejector seat is capable of storing a pilot survival kit containing food, water, survival equipment as well as the GAU-5A 5.56mm Aircrew Self Defense carbine and spare ammunition. The F-15CX and F-15EX features a glass bubble canopy designed to provide good all round visibility to the crew(s) of the aircraft, the cockpit of the F-15CX and F-15EX has been upgraded similar to the Advanced Cockpit System(ACS) of the Block III F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and F-14E Super Tomcat to simplify crew interface and increase situational awareness, Center Pedestal Display (CPD) is equipped in the F-15CX and F-15EX cockpit, which provides critical tactical imagery to pilots on a high-resolution 6”x 8” screen. The high-resolution display allows pilots to take full advantage of AESA and targeting pod data. The new CPD enables color moving maps, larger and easier to manage air-to-air Situation Displays, zoom functionality with the ability to switch information. Other upgrades to the pilot interface includes color moving maps, larger and easier to manage air-to-air Situation Displays, zoom functionality with the ability to switch information among displays, and a digital display of Flight Instrument Data, making the F-15CX and F-15EX cockpit a full glass cockpit. To enhance the pilot's degree of control of the aircraft during high-g combat maneuvers, various switches and function controls were moved to centralized "hands on throttle-and-stick (HOTAS)" controls upon both the controllers and the throttle. The F-15EX and F-15CX are equipped with the Boeing Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS) for targeting based on where the pilot's head faces, unrestricted by the HUD, using high-off-boresight missiles like the AIM-9X.The F-15CX and F-15EX is also compatible with the Gen III HMDS helmet system originally designed with the F-35, which replaces the cockpit mounted Heads Up Display with a helmet mounted heads up display while software in the helmet provides the capability to rapidly filter incoming information to remove clutter for the pilot and ensure rapid knowledge of necessary info, enhancing pilot decision-making, the HMDS is also networked with the aircraft's avionics to increase pilot situational awareness, just like the JHMCS, the Gen III HMDS is capable of high angle bore locking useful for deploying weapons like the AIM-9X Sidewinder.
The F-15CX and F-15EX are both equipped with the AN/APG-82(V)2 Actively Electronically Scanned Array Radar, the AN/APG-82(V)2 is part of the AN/APG-63 and AN/APG-70 series of airborne radars designed for the F-15 Eagle of fighters and is an upgrade over the AN/APG-82(V)1. The AN/APG-82(V)2 notably uses many design features from the F-35's AN/APG-81 radar which itself borrows elements from the F-22 Raptor's AN/APG-77 radar. The AN/APG-82(V)2 is designed to be a multirole radar and in addition to it's advanced air to air mode, like the AN/APG-81 of the F-35, also incorporates features for air to ground roles such as high resolution mapping and the ability to track multiple moving ground targets in addition to having some electronic warfare features. The AN/APG-82(V)2 has demonstrated the ability to track approximately 20 targets within 100 miles of the aircraft with 10 seconds with much of the targets detected and tracked within 3 seconds. The large cockpit display of the F-15CX and F-15EX enables the the air to air mode and air to ground mode of the radar to be run simultaneously enabling the fighter to rapidly transition from aerial combat to ground strike. In addition to the AN/APG-82(V)2 for detection, the F-15EX and F-15CX can also be equipped with a centerline mounted IRST21 Infrared Search and Track module which has a detection range of 100 miles, allowing the F-15CX and F-15EX to better confront fifth generation threats like the SU-57 "Felon" and J-20 "Mighty Dragon".
The mission computer of the F-15EX and F-15CX has been greatly enhanced compared to earlier F-15C and F-15E variants with the Advanced Display Core Processor (ADCP) II, the computer is based on commercial technology and provides multi-core processing capabilities, high-speed processing and interface designs enable advanced systems integration. The ADCP II also features open architecture and the ability to run AI software among other upgrades. The F-15EX and F-15CX utilizes the LINK-16 datalink which has been enhanced with Tactical Targeting Network Technology(TTNT) which gives more capacity in communication and data transmission with other aircraft and platforms and the aircraft can function as a "mini-AWACS" as the F-14 is capable of transferring information from it's sensors and avionics to other units via it's datalink providing "quarterback" capability. The F-15EX and F-15CX can optionally be fitted with the Talon HATE communication pod which combines information coming from fighter networks, national sources and joint command and control assets transmitted over data-links. This system integrates the Intra Flight Data Link (IFDL) used on F-22 aircraft within a proven flight communications system, called the Multifunctional Information Distribution System-JTRS (or MIDS-J) and is intended to improve inter-operability with 5th generation aircraft. Some F-15EX and F-15CX units are equipped with the AN/ASQ-242 Communications, Navigation, and Identification (CNI) suite which further enhances the "quarterback" capability of the F-15CX and F-15EX. The F-15EX and F-15CX uses a Tactical Electronic Warfare System(TEWS) which integrates all countermeasures on the craft: radar warning receivers, radar jammer, radar, and chaff/flare dispensers are all tied to the TEWS to provide comprehensive defense against detection and tracking. The central electronic warfare suite of the F-15EX and F-15CX is the AN/ASQ-239 Barracuda Electronic Warfare Suite, equipped with offensive and defensive electronic warfare options for the pilot and aircraft, the suite provides fully integrated radar warning, targeting support, and self-protection, to detect and defeat surface and airborne threats. The system provides the pilot with maximum situational awareness, helping to identify, monitor, analyze, and respond to potential threats.
The F-15CX and F-15EX is equipped with the AN/AAQ-37 Distributed Aperture System, the DAS system consists of 6 infrared cameras mounted around the aircraft which sends a stream of HD imagery directly to the pilot's helmet, providing a high resolution 360-degree view of the environment regardless of day, night or weather conditions, DAS is networked with the wider avionic suite of the F-15CX and F-15EX as part of the TEW and thus can enhance the operations of other systems like the radar to build a clearer threat profile to provide recommendations for pilot decision-making, complementing the DAS is the Super Tomcat's missile approach warning system (MAWS), with apertures on the upper nose, lower nose pod, leading-edge gloves, upper fuselage, lower fuselage, and atop the Super Eagle's twin tails, this system provides total situational awareness of incoming missiles and other threats and is tied into the aircraft's defensive suite. While the AN/ASQ-239 Barracuda system is capable of providing jamming capabilities, the F-15CX and F-15EX is able to be equipped with the AN/ALQ-165 Self-Protection Jammer, in addition, the F-14E Super Tomcat has the hardpoints to mount either a AN/ALQ-131 ECM Pod or a AN/ALQ-184 ECM Pod, the F-15CX or F-15EX can further be equipped with towed decoys such as the AN/ALE-50 towed decoy system or the Rafael X-Guard. The flare and chaff system of the F-15EX and F-15CX is integrated with the Missile Approach Warning System and the Distributed Aperture System via the Tactical Electronic Warfare System which can thus be automatically triggered by the RWR when receiving threat data from the MAWS and DAS system, the jammers of the aircraft can also be similarly activated by the RWR via links to the TEWS. To utilize air to ground munitions, the F-15EX and F-15CX can equip the LANTIRN pod but the F-15CX and especially the strike and interdictor variant F-15EX more commonly utilizes hardpoint mounted targeting pods namely the LITENING II targeting pod or the Sniper XR targeting pod. Some Super Eagle units especially the F-15EX are integrated with the AN/AAQ-40 Electro-Optical Targeting System(EOTS) designed originally for the F-35 to increase the targeting capabilities of the aircraft. The F-15EX and F-15CX are equipped with the Advanced Missile & Bomber Ejection Rack(AMBER) system, a weapons carriage and release system that can carry 2 to 4 munitions in a single hard-point which greatly boosts the payload capacity of the F-15CX and F-15EX compared to earlier variants. The Advanced Missile & Bomber Ejection Rack allows the F-15CX to carry up to 16 AAMs and the F-15EX to carry up to 22 AAMs. Plans exist to equip the F-15CX and F-15EX with a centerline mounted Tactical Airborne Laser Weapon System pod designed to destroy or confuse incoming missiles.

Variants


F-15C+ and F-15E+: The F-15C+ and F-15E+ are earlier F-15C and F-15E variant airframes respectively that have been modernized and upgraded to near X specifications as part of the American Air Force's policy of enhancing the sophistication of the fighter fleet. The F-15C+s and F-15E+s features several features notable in the X specification including the Advanced Missile & Bomber Ejection Rack(AMBER) system to increase the payload carrying capacity of the aircraft, IRST 21 Infrared Search and Track System, AN/APG-82(V)2 advanced AESA radar, missile approach warning system(MAWS) and distributed aperture system. While some F-15C+ and F-15E+ unit are equipped with the AN/ASQ-239 Barracuda Suite, but most F-15C+s and F-15E+s are instead equipped with the Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability System(EPAWSS) electronic suite instead

F-15IAX/F-15IX: The F-15IAX and F-15IX are Israeli made variants of the F-15EX and F-15CX respectively and are modernized from Israeli F-15IAs(Israeli Advanced) Strike Eagle variants and Israeli F-15Cs. Like other Israeli aircraft several American components replaced with Israeli ones such as the use of Rafael armaments and avionics to tailor them to Israeli usage.

F-15XSA: The F-15XSA is the Royal Saudi Air Force variant of the F-15EX, most F-15XSAs are created by converting F-15SAs.

F-15KX: The F-15KX "Advanced Slam Eagle" is a variant of the F-15EX for the Republic of Korea Air Force with most being created by converting F-15Ks. Like other South Korean American based aircraft, the F-15KX is produced under an offset agreement having a shared manufacturing chain in both America and South Korea. Under the offset agreement, many of the advanced avionics and other components are manufactured by Korean companies like Samsung Techwin, Samsung Thales, Hanwha Corporation and the Korean Aerospace Industries. Like the earlier F-15K, the F-15KX has specifically been designed to integrate the AGM-84K SLAM-ER.

F-15QAX: The F-15QAX is a variant of the F-15EX made for the Qatari Air Force and is an upgrade on the F-15QA Qatari Advanced, with most F-15QAX intended to be made from converting F-15QAs. The F-15QAX differs little from the American made F-15EX.

F-15SGX: The F-15SGX is the Singaporean Air Force variant of the F-15EX and is created mostly by converting F-15SGs to X specification. The F-15SGX features a mix of both American and Singaporean components.

F-15JX: The F-15JX is the Japanese Aerospace Self Defense Force variant of the F-15CX. The F-15JX is an upgrade of the F-15J with most F-15JXs created by converting F-15Js to X specifications. The F-15JX is manufactured under an offset agreement with both Japanese and American components. To allow the F-15JX to perform maritime strike, the aircraft has been designed to be integrated with the ASM-3 and ASM-2 anti ship missiles.

Combat History


The F-15 family of fighters and strike fighters served continuously since 1976 and participated in several major American military actions such as the Gulf War, Iraq War and the NATO Air Campaign over Yugoslavia. The F-15EX and F-15CX first reached initial operational capacity in 2012 around the same time that the F-16V and F-16EV also achieved operational status. The F-15CX and F-15EX were first used in combat in Afghanistan under Operation Enduring Freedom launching airstrikes against Taliban positions, F-15CX and F-15EX fighters continued to be used in Operation Freedom Sentinel, the mission succeeding Operation Enduring Freedom. F-15EXs and F-15CXs were widely used in Operation Inherent Resolve, a multinational coalition operation to defeat the jihadist terrorist group the Islamic State, during Inherent Resolve, F-15CXs frequently provided fighter escort for coalition aircraft while F-15EXs were widely used as a strike aircraft. The F-15CXs and F-15EXs also have been forward deployed as part of America's overseas military presence to deter near peer and regional level threats with the aircraft being notably forward deployed in potential hotspots like NATO's Eastern Flank in Eastern Europe, Japan and the Korean Peninsula.

Foreign Use

The F-15EX and F-15CX or more specifically foreign made licensed copies of the F-15EXs and F-15CXs have seen combat uses outside of Imperial America. The Royal Saudi Air Force has notably uses the F-15XSA derivative of the F-15EX since 2013 in Operation Decisive Storm and later Operation Restoring Hope in Yemen launching airstrikes on the Houthi insurgency in support of the Hadi government. The Israeli Air Force has used both the F-15IX and F-15IAX in various combat operations. The Israeli Air Force first used the F-15IX and F-15IAX in Operation Protective Edge, an Israeli military operation against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the nation would use F-15IAXs to launch airstrikes on Syrian and Iranian positions in Syria in Operation Chess

Operators


- Imperial American Air Force: 612 F-15EXs, F-15CXs, F-15C+s and F-15E+s in service, conversion of F-15Cs and F-15Es to C+ and E+ variants ongoing

- Republic of Korea Air Force: 20 F-15KXs in service, converted from F-15Ks, plans exist to convert all F-15Ks to F-15KX(similar to F-15E+), 10 new F-15KXs on order

- Japanese Aerospace Self Defense Force: 46 F-15JXs(similar to F-15C+_=) in service, converted from F-15Js, plans exist to convert all F-15Js to F-15JXs.

- Israel Air Force: 12 F-15IAX and 22 F-15IXs in service, converted from F-15IAs and F-15Is respectively, plans exist to convert all Israeli F-15s to X and "+" specifications

- Republic of Singapore Air Force: 18 F-15SGXs in service, , plans exist to convert all F-15SGs to F-15SG+ variant(similar to F-15E+).

- Royal Saudi Air Force: 42 F-15XSAs in service, converted from F-15SAs, plans exist to convert at least 60% of the F-15SA fleet to X or "+" specification, 16 new F-15XSA on order.

Potential/Future Operators

- Qatari Emiri Air Force: 34 F-15QAXs on order and awaiting delivery as part of a 72 F-15 sale from Imperial America

- Hellenic Air Force: The Hellenic Ministry of Defense has expressed interest in ordering the F-15EX to modernize the nation's air force

- Indian Air Force: The F-15EX has been offered to the Indian Air Force as part of the MMRCA competition

Specification


General Characteristics

Length: 20m(F-15CX), 21.2m(F-15EX)

Crew: 1(F-15CX), 2(Pilot and Weapon System Office, F-15EX)

Wingspan: 13.06m(F-15CX), 13.045m(F-15EX)

Wing Area: 56.5 m^2(F-15CX), 56.5 m^2(F-15EX)

Power Plant: 2x General Electric F110-GE-130 generating 133kN of thrust(F-15CX), 2x General Electric F110-GE-132 generating 145kN of thrust(F-15EX)

Performance

Maximum Speed: Mach 2.5+

Cruise Speed: Approximately 800km

Super-cruise: Mach 1.2(F-15CX), Mach 1.3-1.4(F-15EX)

Range: 1,980km(interdictor mission, F-15CX), 2,450km(F-15EX)

Armaments

Guns:1x M61A1 Vulcan 20mm 6 barrel rotary cannon

Hardpoints: 14 hardpoints on fuselage and wing pylons, bomb racks on CFT with a total capacity of 10,800kg of external fuel and ordnance(F-15EX); 12 hardpoints on fuselage and wing pylons, bomb racks on CFT with a total capacity of 8,000kg of external munitions and fuel(F-15CX)
Advanced Missile and Bomb Ejection Rack system in use by both F-15CX and F-15EX

Maximum Munitions Quantity:
- Up to 16 munitions(F-15CX)
-Up to 22 munitions(F-15EX)

Air to Air Missiles
- AIM-9X Sidewinder
- AIM-120 AMRAAM
- Python 4
- Python 5

Air to Surface Missile
- AGM-65 Maverick
- AGM-88 HARM
- AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon
- AGM-142 Have Nap ER
- AGM-158 JASSM-ER
- AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon
- AGM-84H/K SLAM-ER

Anti-Ship Missiles
- AGM-84 Harpoon
- AGM-158C LRASM
- Naval Strike Missile

Bombs
- GBU Paveway series laser guided bombs
- GBU-39 SBD
- GBU-28 Bunker Buster
- Mark 84 General Purpose Bombs
- Mark 83 General Purpose Bombs
- Mark 82 General Purpose Bombs
- CBU-97 Sensor Fuzed Weapon
- CBU-100 Cluster Bomb
- Mark 77 Incendiary Bomb
- CBU-87 Combined Effects Munitions
- CBU-89 Gator Mine
- BLU-107 Durandal
- Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser
- B61 Thermonuclear bomb
- B83 Thermonuclear bomb
- JDAM series
- SPICE series

Avionics

Radar: AN/APG-82(V)2

IRST: IRST21 Sensor System

Countermeasures:SUU-42A/A Flares/Infrared decoys dispenser pod and chaff pod

Electronic Warfare Suite:AN/ASQ-239 Barracuda Suite, Tactical Electronic Warfare System( TEWS)

Datalinks:LINK-16 with Tactical Targeting Network Technology

Warning Systems: Missile Approach Warning Systems(MAWS), AN/AAQ-37 Distributed Aperture System

Jammers:
- AN/ALQ-165 Self-Protection Jammer
- AN/ALQ-131 ECM Pod
or
- AN/ALQ-184 ECM Pod

Towed Decoys:
- AN/ALE-50
- Rafael X-Guard

Targeting Pods/Systems:
- LANTIRN
- LITENING II
- Sniper XR
- AN/AAQ-40 Electro-Optical Targeting System(EOTS), Fitted on some F-15EX units

Americae roma

Edited:

RawReport