The Israeli air force (IAF) is continuing with the upgrade of its Boeing F-15I Ra’am, and has selected the Raytheon APG-82(V)1 radar to provide a new active electronically scanned array (AESA) capability.
The upgrade has been on the table for some time, and includes structural work and installation of new systems including the new radar.
The APG-82(V)1 AESA radar is the same one that was installed on the US Air Force’s F-15Es, and was introduced on the type to replace the ageing APG-70 system.
Israeli air force
The IAF considers its F-15 fleet as the backbone of its current attacking capability until the Lockheed Martin F-35 enters service, and it is considering buying more F-15s.
Boeing’s F-15 production line will remain open until at least until 2020 as a result of a recent contract with Qatar, so a potential contract from Tel Aviv could be supported.
If the IAF decides to buy additional F-15s, this could be made possible under the allocation of recently approved funding granted by Washington. The new 10-year, $38 billion military aid package will come into effect from 2019.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
