McDONNELL DOUGLAS (MDC) says that a soon-to-be-completed study for the US Air Force will show that the F-15E Strike Eagle's service life, which is certified for 8,000 flight hours, can be extended to 12,000h. A second evaluation is expected to show that the F-15C/D's life can also be lengthened. Retirement of F-15s was set to begin in 2015, but officials believe that they could continue flying for an additional decade.
MDC is therefore proposing that 125 newer F-15C/Ds be given limited air-to-ground roles to supplement the more capable F-15E Strike Eagles.
The US manufacturer, is developing new avionics for the F-15, including an advanced display/core processor and programmable communications/navigation/identification system, using funding from the company and the US Department of Defense.
MDC expects to have wrapped up flight-testing of an F-15 equipped with the Litton precision direction-finding (PDF) system by the end of September.
The Congressionally ordered flights, are designed to evaluate the F-15's ability, to locate and attack enemy radars. Short of providing suppression of enemy air-defence missions, the PDF could be used by F-15 pilots to keep track of hostile radars. The PDF may also be used to upgrade Grumman EA-6B electronic-warfare aircraft as part of the Joint Emitter Targeting System programme.
Source: Flight International
