Boeing expects the US Air Force to decide within "a month" which, if any, of its F-15C radar upgrade proposals have been accepted. The first could be in service by late 2006.
The company has presented separate bids based on retrofitting half or all the fleet remaining in service beyond 2010 - the USAF expects to retain around 180 F-15s until 2020. Proposals include fitting the Raytheon APG-63(V)3, a derivative of the currrent radar with a scaled-up version of the APG-79's active electronically scanned array (AESA) (Flight International, 1-7 October).
Boeing is hoping for a positive decision as the radar proposal is part of a series of upgrades needed to keep the F-15 competitive.
Australia is believed to have requested data on the APG-63(V)3-equipped F-15, also on offer to Singapore. Boeing says South Korea "retains the option" to upgrade to the (V)3 for follow-on F-15K purchases and possibly retrofit.
Boeing admits that the budget for an F-15C upgrade is not secured and it is not optimistic about a proposed AESA upgrade for the F-15E fleet, which is equipped with the APG-70 radar.
The USAF, Boeing, Raytheon and Modern Technology Solutions are, meanwhile, developing a third operational flight program (OFP) update for the AESA-equipped APG-63(V)1 radars flying in 18F-15Cs at Elmdorf AFB, Alaska. OFP-2 was completed in May, adding air combat modes, improved short-range tracking, Raytheon AIM-9X compatibility and incorporating a helmet-mounted cueing system. OFP-3 is expected to include support for the Raytheon AIM-120 AMRAAM.
Source: Flight International
