Boeing delivers four upgraded F-15Cs to US Air Force

[News_Editor]

Boeing delivers four upgraded F-15Cs to US Air Force

2010-11-05 03:46:13 GMT+7 (ICT)

KADENA AIR BASE, JAPAN (BNO NEWS) -- Boeing on Thursday delivered four F-15Cs upgraded with the PG-63(V)3 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar. The new aircraft will join the 44th and 67th Fighter Squadrons to provide combat power for the defense of Japan.

The upgrades were installed and tested at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia. Boeing received a contract to upgrade 27 Air Force and 18 Air National Guard F-15C/D aircraft with the APG-63(V)3 AESA over the next 10 months. A total of 54 AESA-equipped F-15C/Ds are expected on station at Kadena by September 2013.

"The fielded APG-63(V)3 air-to-air capabilities put the F-15C/D in a class by itself and ensure that the Air Force and Air National Guard F-15C/D fleets remain capable, maintainable and affordable," said Todd Burns, F-15C AESA program manager for Boeing. "Delivery of these four aircraft on schedule demonstrates Boeing's commitment to ensuring the F-15 remains a world-class multirole fighter."

Boeing also provides sustainment services such as ground support equipment, spares and retrofit programs, contractor field teams and a full range of training systems and services for the U.S. Air Force F-15s.

The fighters were upgraded with the Raytheon APG-63(v)3, a highly reliable and affordable high-performance AESA for the F-15 air-to-air variant. The AESA radar antenna is 50 times more reliable than the mechanically scanned antenna that was installed in the fighters.

"This system improves our capabilities and lethality as a combat air force. We will fly our missions equipped with the world's most powerful air- to-air radar," said Brig. Gen. Ken Wilsbach, commander at Kadena. "This capability strengthens our ability to carry out our mission to provide unmatched combat power, provide a forward power projection platform, and provide for the common defense of Japan."

The installation of the APG-63(V)3 radar is the latest in a series of planned upgrades for the F-15Cs that will ensure its combat air supremacy in the 21st century. The upgrades include a fighter-to-fighter data link, GPS navigation and the Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System, which enable the warfighter to conduct network centric operations while employing the latest air-to-air weapons.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2010-11-05

[cdnvic]

Is there any new military hardware that isn't named "joint" these days?

[geriatrickid]

^^ Yes. Great Leader Detection Device to Identify Imperialist Militaristic Evil Foreign Aircraft.

[mca]

What's going on? TVF proudly sponsored by Boeing? Hardly " World News " is it?