Alsalam Aerospace Industries has been awarded an almost $59.7 million, fixed-price contract to convert six Boeing F-15S fighters to the enhanced SA-model configuration for the Royal Saudi Air Force.
Detailed by the US Department of Defense in a 24 July contract notice, the award covers conversion activities to be conducted at Alsalam's Riyadh facilities by August 2020, along with programme management and labour costs.
US Air Force
Alsalam is already a component supplier to its part-owner Boeing on the new-build F-15SA, manufacturing and assembling wings, forward fuselages, pylons and adapters.
Boeing rolled out Riyadh's first F-15SA in April 2013, describing the update as offering "improved performance and increased survivability at a lower life-cycle cost" than previous models of the twin-engined type. A total of 84 new aircraft are being produced, while 68 others will undergo modernisation.
Updates include the installation of a Raytheon APG-63(V)3 active electronically scanned array radar, BAE Systems digital electronic warfare suite, and the addition of two more under-wing weapon stations.
Flight Fleets Analyzer shows Saudi Arabia as currently operating 191 F-15s, with this total including 67 S-model examples, aged between 18 and 22 years, and 44 in the SA configuration, including three upgraded examples.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
