Replacing the F-15E

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13 years 5 months

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So far as I understand it the F-15E is not currently scheduled to be replaced in USAF service by the F-35A, which begs the question of what it will eventually be replaced by. As I see it the plausible possibilities are these:

1. More F-35s
2. Evolved F-35 (ala F-16 > F-16XL)
3. F/A-XX/NGAD
4. UCAVs

Thoughts? My instinct is that they'll hang around till F/A-XX/NGAD. Funding for a clean sheet aircraft will likely be tight, but faced with a requirement to replace three platforms (F-15E, F/A-18E/F, F-22A) I can see a JSF-esque program emerging. Minus STOVL tagging along to spoil the party. :rolleyes:

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15 years 2 months

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Here is a recent Fighter Recap graph showing that some of the F-15Es (more to the point, it's mission set) will likely be eventually replaced by the F-35.

My bet is on UCAVs.

http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt271/SpudmanWP/ForceStructure.jpg

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13 years 5 months

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with the F-35 numbers ever doubtfull (ref. F-22, B-2...) I'd say

- UCAVs for all out war and first-day warfare
- UAVs for once the enemy air defences have been beaten down (and even if not, they can win through sheer numbers)

the only reason they're not using UAVs right now over Lybia is because they're needed too much in Afghanistan and Iraq

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13 years 6 months

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What's the purple section up top of the F-22/F-X section starting in about 2026?

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24 years 2 months

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USAF has initiated a series of study contracts under the title Next Generation Tactical Air (NGT). IOC is tentatively planned for 2025.

Interesting Graphic

Interesting graphic as I read it the F15E is +/- going to stay in service as is, there will be a bit of attrition as would be expected, the F22 production line seems to be opening up again during the period of the graph as the number of F22s grows, assuming that unlike the F15 there is no attrition. It does show how much the USAF is going to rely on the F35, the question must then be can the USAF afford a) to purchase all those F35As and b) keep the fleet active, as I understand that the costs of maintenance will be higher not lower than that of legacy aircraft.

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20 years 5 months

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Who knows what is possible budgetwise. I'd say NGAD/FAXX as manned option, plus whatever results from the X-47B as unmanned companion. Not a single system, but also not a pure UAV solution. Or: No real replacement, but a combo of expanded ISR capabilities and hypersonic long range precision strike missile.

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17 years 11 months

Posts: 1,245

So far as I understand it the F-15E is not currently scheduled to be replaced in USAF service by the F-35A, which begs the question of what it will eventually be replaced by. As I see it the plausible possibilities are these:

1. More F-35s
2. Evolved F-35 (ala F-16 > F-16XL)
3. F/A-XX/NGAD
4. UCAVs

5. Buy some Su-34 and the licence to produce them as Made in USA? :rolleyes:

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13 years 3 months

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F/B-22,

two seats.

2 F-135/136 engines (I still root for F-136!)

compound delta, cranked arrow with plenty of internal fuel capacity.

big internal weapon bays.

tailless design. no need for high AOA manuevers.

update of F35's sensor systems.

F/E-22 Jammer/EW version.

Member for

13 years 1 month

Posts: 109

F/B-22,

two seats.

2 F-135/136 engines (I still root for F-136!)

compound delta, cranked arrow with plenty of internal fuel capacity.

big internal weapon bays.

tailless design. no need for high AOA manuevers.

update of F35's sensor systems.

F/E-22 Jammer/EW version.

It would be WAY TO EXPENSIVE.

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13 years 5 months

Posts: 3,381

Here is a recent Fighter Recap graph

Nice graph, thanks. Obviously it predates the truncation of F-22 production. Not to belabour the point, but again I can't help but wonder at the budgetary assumptions underlying these projections.

What's the purple section up top of the F-22/F-X section starting in about 2026?

The F-15A/B returns! :D

Seriously, I think that's "F-X'.

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20 years 5 months

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5. Buy some Su-34 and the licence to produce them as Made in USA? :rolleyes:

LOL. Support that idea!

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13 years 5 months

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What is more probable and doable as the next F-15E; developing 2 seat F-22 or developing derivative F-35 ?

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15 years 2 months

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What mission doe it need to perform that requires a "derivative F-35"?

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13 years 5 months

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F-35 derivative would be cheaper and thus more plausible. In the timeframe we're talking about (2025+) I think that if an even larger airframe was required the consensus would be to wait for F/A-XX rather than pursue an F-22 deriv. Indeed, the requirement could be used to advance the case/timeline for F/A-XX.

The question of the number of seats is a good one. On the one hand you've got the trend towards increasing automation - most FB-22 concepts were single-seaters IIRC - on the other, the nascent doctrine of having manned combat aircraft acting in concert with and coordinating UCAVs, something which would seem to require a back-seater to avoid overloading the pilot.

What mission doe it need to perform that requires a "derivative F-35"?

Greater range/persistence and payload than offered by the base F-35?

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5. Buy some Su-34 and the licence to produce them as Made in USA? :rolleyes:

What has the Su-34 got that the present day F-15E hasn't got?:confused:

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Armoured cockpit, a seating arrangement offering improved crew comfort and workload sharing, better low-level handling/ride characteristics and marginally greater range/persistence would be my guess. Of course the Strike Eagle has its own advantages...

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What's the purple section up top of the F-22/F-X section starting in about 2026?

The FX, F-22 replacement. For the F-15E replacement, how about a larger stretched F-35 with 2 engines and maybe some canards for stability ...

Oh wait.

http://www.chinatoday.com/arm/airppane/j20_a.jpg

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They should look at the idea of the F-35D I like it

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What has the Su-34 got that the present day F-15E hasn't got?:confused:

1. Armor
2. Looks
3. Armor
4. Looks

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18 years 2 months

Posts: 2,814

1. Armor
2. Looks
3. Armor
4. Looks

The USAF doesn't want armour on it's aircraft - not to the level of the Su-34 at least. As for looks, well...