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By: - 20th October 2010 at 22:03 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
AESA and AMRAAM C7 is good.
LANTRIN and no Sniper pod seems strange, maybe Israeli pressure.
Anyone know the difference between a Saudi F-15S and the F-15SA? Just the radar?
By: - 20th October 2010 at 22:17 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
You missed it
158 AN/AAQ-33 Sniper Targeting Systems
By: - 20th October 2010 at 22:22 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
That's still covering a lot of spare radars and IRSTs! The weapon package is impressive as well, I'm surprised to see the Harpoon. Hasn't it been stated that there won't be long range weapons or was that limited to air-to-surface (SLAM ER)? It at least confirms that the APG-63(V3) AESA is selected, the rest looks like what has been stated before (similar to the F-15K). Its also interesting that they are selling them the dated AGM-88B only, whereas the US already operates the E variant!
Anyway interesting. Thanks for sharing it Spudman.
By: - 20th October 2010 at 22:44 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Now thats an order. Really interested to see all F-15 upgraded and the sniper pods.
By: - 20th October 2010 at 23:49 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
193 F-110-GE-129 Improved Performance Engines
I am surprised by this line, they went for the F110-GE-129. P&W is probably pretty hot about not getting F100-PW-229 orders. I think F-15SK and F-15SG are the only others flying with this F110 engine in their F-15's. UAE was probably hoping they'd go for GE F110-GE-132 to help their Block 60 engine parts price.
By: - 20th October 2010 at 23:53 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
F-15SK? It's F-15K if you mean the Korean examples and only the first batch is powered by the F110, the second batch is powered by F100s and afaik the F-15SG for Singapore uses the F100 as well.
By: - 21st October 2010 at 00:26 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Scorpion82, Singapore's F-15SG uses the GE F110 for both the first and second batches of aircraft.
http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/singapore-chooses-ges-f110-for-its-f15-strike-eagles-01731/
http://www.geae.com/aboutgeae/presscenter/military/military_20071025.html
And pictures of the F-15SG's exhausts confirm it:
http://www.mountainhome.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/photos/100324-F-2449R-%20161.jpg
By: - 21st October 2010 at 01:16 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Thats 150+ (full on) F15SAs, 70+ EF. EF numbers can go upto 130+ if i am not wrong. That's pretty awesome firepower. :cool:
Maybe only thing Royal Saudi AF lacks now are any plans for future stealth fighter.
By: - 21st October 2010 at 01:42 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
@TheBaseLeg,
so memory fooled me on that:o Thanks for the correction.
By: - 21st October 2010 at 07:23 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
AESA and AMRAAM C7 is good.The (low level) navigation pod is LANTIRN; the targeting pod is Sniper. The IR/optical suite is similar the Singaporean F 15.LANTRIN and no Sniper pod seems strange, maybe Israeli pressure.
Anyone know the difference between a Saudi F-15S and the F-15SA? Just the radar?
By: - 21st October 2010 at 07:39 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Having a mixture of high/low range of equipment is good. Interesting with the sale of 193 LANTIRN Pods and 158 Sniper Pods now these are some heavy duty equipment enough targeting pods to go around for every aircraft.
By: - 21st October 2010 at 07:40 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
That's still covering a lot of spare radars and IRSTs! The weapon package is impressive as well, I'm surprised to see the Harpoon. Hasn't it been stated that there won't be long range weapons or was that limited to air-to-surface (SLAM ER)? It at least confirms that the APG-63(V3) AESA is selected, the rest looks like what has been stated before (similar to the F-15K). Its also interesting that they are selling them the dated AGM-88B only, whereas the US already operates the E variant!Actually, it's better than the F 15 K!
Anyway interesting. Thanks for sharing it Spudman.
The "K" has a mechanical-scanned APG 63(V)1. The first export F 15 with the AESA APG 63(V)3 is the Singaporean F 15 SG. But the "SA" will be different (if not better) than the "SG". The reason is the Digital Electronic Warfare Systems (DEWS) proposed for the "stealthy" F 15 Silen Eagle. The EW suite made by BAE Systems NorthAmerica:
Another key feature of the F-15SE is the electronic warfare system. Boeing has selected the BAE Systems digital electronic warfare system (DEWS), which includes a digital radar warning receiver, digital jamming transmitter, integrated countermeasures dispenser and an interference cancellation system. The aircraft could continue to jam enemy radars even as its own radar and RWR continues to operate, Boeing claims(http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2009/03/17/323962/pictures-boeing-unveils-upgraded-f-15-silent-eagle-with-fifth-generation.html)
By: - 21st October 2010 at 07:42 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Having a mixture of high/low range of equipment is good. Interesting with the sale of 193 LANTIRN Pods and 158 Sniper Pods now these are some heavy duty equipment enough targeting pods to go around for every aircraft.And what would be the "low" part of the mixture here?
By: - 21st October 2010 at 08:41 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Sorry, missed the Sniper pod line!
Wow, if the Saudis go for the extra Typhoons that will give them what?
156 F-15SAs
72-144 Typhoons
100 odd upgraded Tornado IDS variants
That does not even take into account their 70 odd F-15C/Ds.
Thats 470 top end fighters. Equipment wise that probably makes them the 3/4th most powerful air force in the world....
By: - 21st October 2010 at 09:01 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Sorry, missed the Sniper pod line!Wow, if the Saudis go for the extra Typhoons that will give them what?
156 F-15SAs
72-144 Typhoons
100 odd upgraded Tornado IDS variantsThat does not even take into account their 70 odd F-15C/Ds.
Thats 470 top end fighters. Equipment wise that probably makes them the 3/4th most powerful air force in the world....
1. The 82 old F-15C/Ds shall be replaced by the 84 new F-15SA.
2. If Royal Saudi Airforce decides to buy more Eurofighters after 2010, they shall be used to replace the Tornado IDS today.
3. The manned fighters for Royal Saudi Airforce at the time of near 2020 should be:
A. 72 Tranche II and III Eurofighters:
* Air-defense and Air-dominance.
* Introducing advanced A2G capability (Storm Shadow etc.) after 2015.
B. 154 F-15SA :
* 84 newly-built fighters and 70 upgrading F-15S.
* Air-defense, long range striker and bomber, SEAD/DEAD, and anti-ship.
* I think the 70 upgrading F-15S shall be replaced by F-35 or something else at the time around 2030.
C. 80 Upgrading Tornado:
* For firing long range cruise missile and smart weapons like Storm Shadow, SPEAR, and Brimestone etc.
* I think it may be replaced by more EF-2000 and / or F-35 at the time around 2025.
By: - 21st October 2010 at 09:11 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Having a mixture of high/low range of equipment is good..
But the Saudis are getting a high/high mixture.
Wow, if the Saudis go for the extra Typhoons that will give them what?156 F-15SAs
72-144 Typhoons
100 odd upgraded Tornado IDS variantsThat does not even take into account their 70 odd F-15C/Ds.
Thats 470 top end fighters. Equipment wise that probably makes them the 3/4th most powerful air force in the world....
What extra Typhoons? 72 is the number ordered so far. Also, the F-15 C/Ds will be retired. They're the oldest aircraft in the inventory.
By: - 21st October 2010 at 09:13 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
That's still covering a lot of spare radars and IRSTs!.
16 spare radars when you've allowed for the upgrading of the old F-15s.
By: - 21st October 2010 at 09:28 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
But the Saudis are getting a high/high mixture.What extra Typhoons? 72 is the number ordered so far. Also, the F-15 C/Ds will be retired. They're the oldest aircraft in the inventory.
I did say IF in case you missed that on the extra Typhoons. I know another 72 is being bandied around in the press.
Also, any real source for the retirement of the C/D Eagles?
In fact, the 462 JHMCS order leads me to believe that the AIM9Xs and helmets can also be for the C/Ds. Even if you divide the number by 2 (for the two seater Es) you still have alot left over
By: - 21st October 2010 at 10:01 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
If anything, it would appear someone is confident Oil will remain north of say, $75 bucks forever, no?
And have to say those 5,100x 2k pounders listed, could really nail somebody back to the stone age, sheesh.
But I'm be curious if the -15S is getting any sort of CFT too? Or would they remain mostly as Air Defense? You'd think with SA's budget they'd at least have the AMRAAM holding "FASTpack" CFT on their F-15S (maybe integrating twin internal IRSTs or something, mounted - 1 each) and delete the big wing tanks?
With that upgrade kit though, they're basically getting 70x Golden Eagle!@% Or better! (better power upgrade for sure) :eek: One could wonder if USAF will have to wait in line now for it's own (V)3?
FASTpack CFT -
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By: SpudmanWP - 20th October 2010 at 21:45
http://www.dsca.mil/PressReleases/36-b/2010/Saudi_Arabia_10-43.pdf
A couple of big points:
1. All existing F-15S fighters are to be upgraded to F-15SA.
2. IRST Included
3. Harm and Harpoons included