Parabat Posted December 18, 2015 Share Posted December 18, 2015 Looking at a series of photos of some Lakenheath F-15C's, I noticed a small bulge above the rear of the radome. It looks too small to be any sort of IRST, could it be a navigation light or gps antenna? Pics here http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234991240-embedded-with-the-493rd-fs-new-batch-151115/page-1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Benner Posted December 18, 2015 Share Posted December 18, 2015 (edited) radar warning receiver there is one on the underside too Edited December 18, 2015 by Benner Quote Link to post Share on other sites
achterkirch Posted December 18, 2015 Share Posted December 18, 2015 (edited) Looking at a series of photos of some Lakenheath F-15C's, I noticed a small bulge above the rear of the radome. It looks too small to be any sort of IRST, could it be a navigation light or gps antenna? Pics here http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234991240-embedded-with-the-493rd-fs-new-batch-151115/page-1 I believe it's a rwr installed during the MSIP update sometime in the late eighties early nineties Edited December 18, 2015 by achterkirch Quote Link to post Share on other sites
31Tiger Posted December 19, 2015 Share Posted December 19, 2015 I believe it's a rwr installed during the MSIP update sometime in the late eighties early nineties started mid-nineties Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Parabat Posted December 19, 2015 Author Share Posted December 19, 2015 Brilliant, thanks guys, don't know how I never noticed it before this. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
achterkirch Posted December 19, 2015 Share Posted December 19, 2015 (edited) started mid-nineties Some aircraft that served in the gulf war had it http://www.dstorm.eu/pictures/nose-arts/f-15/usa/85-0105_1.jpg https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/da/33d_Tactical_Fighter_Wing_-_F-15s_Desert_Storm.jpg Edited December 19, 2015 by achterkirch Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Murph Posted December 19, 2015 Share Posted December 19, 2015 (edited) Some aircraft that served in the gulf war had it http://www.dstorm.eu/pictures/nose-arts/f-15/usa/85-0105_1.jpg https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/da/33d_Tactical_Fighter_Wing_-_F-15s_Desert_Storm.jpg Eglin was the only ops unit that had it at that point; the rest of the C model fleet had it fitted in the early to mid-90s. It wasn't part of MSIP, but was a separate upgrade that ran in parallel with it. Regards, Murph Edited December 19, 2015 by Murph Quote Link to post Share on other sites
achterkirch Posted December 19, 2015 Share Posted December 19, 2015 Eglin was the only ops unit that had it at that point; the rest of the C model fleet had it fitted in the early to mid-90s. It wasn't part of MSIP, but was a separate upgrade that ran in parallel with it. Regards, Murph well you learn something every day. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
11bee Posted December 19, 2015 Share Posted December 19, 2015 radar warning receiver there is one on the underside too It's definitely part of the Eagle's EW gear but I didn't think it was a radar warning device. Somewhere I saw a post that described it in more detail. If I can find it, I'll provide a link. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Parabat Posted December 19, 2015 Author Share Posted December 19, 2015 It's definitely part of the Eagle's EW gear but I didn't think it was a radar warning device. Somewhere I saw a post that described it in more detail. If I can find it, I'll provide a link. That'd be great, thanks. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Airfixer Posted December 20, 2015 Share Posted December 20, 2015 These bumps represent the forward fuselage antennas of the ALQ-135 Internal Countermeasures Set which provides active radio frequency jamming against air-to-air and surface-to-air threats. Close-up Ken Middleton's F-15 walkaround details Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Parabat Posted December 20, 2015 Author Share Posted December 20, 2015 That is a great walkaround, thanks for the link. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
11bee Posted December 20, 2015 Share Posted December 20, 2015 These bumps represent the forward fuselage antennas of the ALQ-135 Internal Countermeasures Set which provides active radio frequency jamming against air-to-air and surface-to-air threats. Not 100% sure about that. The F-15E has the same system and doesn't have those bumps. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Airfixer Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 (edited) Not 100% sure about that. The F-15E has the same system and doesn't have those bumps. The forward teardrop antennas added "Band 3" (medium to high frequencies) coverage to the F-15C's EW suite in order to counter pulse-Doppler radar threats from the forward hemisphere. And if it's a vital part of your job description to engage your pulse-Doppler radar equipped opponents head-on, it's not a bad idea to have best possible forward hemisphere coverage. In contrast, an E-model crew may have different priorities...more likely fretting about their rear hemisphere. E-models, however, were the first to be upgraded with "Band 3 capability" and can be recognised by the chisel shaped fairing on the starboard tail boom., whereas very early "pre-Band 3" Dark Greys featured the rounded fairings on both booms. Edited December 22, 2015 by Airfixer Quote Link to post Share on other sites
31Tiger Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 Does anyone now if the black boxes in bay 5 are of the later type ( one of them sticks out) when they have these antenna's fitted?? Or is that a later upgrade? Just asking because when looking at some detail books its obvious the boxes are different when eagles get older Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Airfixer Posted December 22, 2015 Share Posted December 22, 2015 Compared with the other Bay 5 ALQ-135 LRU's, the Band 3 Control/Oscillator black box protrudes quite significantly. Bay 5 #1 Bay 5 #2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
31Tiger Posted December 22, 2015 Share Posted December 22, 2015 Compared with the other Bay 5 ALQ-135 LRU's, the Band 3 Control/Oscillator black box protrudes quite significantly. Bay 5 #1 Bay 5 #2 Thx for the input In 1/32 the black box cockpit set has this configuration, the 1/32 aires " late" cockpit set has them all in the same location/size. Looks like a simple aircraft in modeling terms but there sure are a bunch off details to get right depending on the time frame Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ken Middleton Posted December 23, 2015 Share Posted December 23, 2015 those bumps are starting to be removed, as well as the back part of the left tail top antennae. This was taken in October 2015 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
achterkirch Posted December 23, 2015 Share Posted December 23, 2015 those bumps are starting to be removed, as well as the back part of the left tail top antennae. This was taken in October 2015 Do you happen to know why? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jefropas Posted December 23, 2015 Share Posted December 23, 2015 (edited) The C model Eagles are slowly being upgraded with a new ECM suite, as I expect the E's will be also. Jeff Edited December 23, 2015 by jefropas Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Airfixer Posted December 23, 2015 Share Posted December 23, 2015 (edited) First signs that the Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability System (EPAWSS) program is underway? I don't think so... The F-15's legacy ALQ-135 EW suite is indeed slated to be replaced by an all-digital, state-of-the-art EW system under the EPAWSS program, and Boeing has just been selected by the USAF as prime contractor. The system itself is going to be manufactured by BAE Systems based on BAE's experiences with the F-15SA's Digital Electronic Warfare System (DEWS) currently in production. The program has just entered its fiscal year 2015 pre- EMD (Engineering & Manufacturing Development) phase. System development is scheduled for FY 2016, a production contract is planned to be awarded in FY 2018. On October 1st Boeing announced that the company has selected BAE Systems as subcontractor to develop EPAWSS. Edited December 23, 2015 by Airfixer Quote Link to post Share on other sites
11bee Posted December 24, 2015 Share Posted December 24, 2015 those bumps are starting to be removed, as well as the back part of the left tail top antennae. This was taken in October 2015 That's a very interesting picture Ken (and a great one as usual). I'm not sure what to make of it, would love to get more info. Were you told by folks in the unit that this was a new program? Otherwise, I'm wondering if this was just either an F-15 that still hadn't been upgraded (as of a few years ago, I think there were still some F-15C's around that didn't have this upgrade) or maybe it was just "demodified" prior to going to the boneyard? Can't imagine the AF / ANG is simply taking away EW gear without replacing it with something better until that new upgrade program comes on line in a few years (hopefully). The reason I'm skeptical is that I've seen pictures of Lakenheath F-15C's as only a few weeks back that were deployed in Turkey and still had those fittings. Being that those F-15's were very much "at the tip of the spear", one would think that they would have the latest equip fit, not a non-deployed ANG aircraft. Anything is possible though, the ANG is able to fund some upgrades that the AF isn't able to partake in, maybe this is one of them. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ken Middleton Posted December 24, 2015 Share Posted December 24, 2015 That's a very interesting picture Ken (and a great one as usual). I'm not sure what to make of it, would love to get more info. Were you told by folks in the unit that this was a new program? Otherwise, I'm wondering if this was just either an F-15 that still hadn't been upgraded (as of a few years ago, I think there were still some F-15C's around that didn't have this upgrade) or maybe it was just "demodified" prior to going to the boneyard? Can't imagine the AF / ANG is simply taking away EW gear without replacing it with something better until that new upgrade program comes on line in a few years (hopefully). The reason I'm skeptical is that I've seen pictures of Lakenheath F-15C's as only a few weeks back that were deployed in Turkey and still had those fittings. Being that those F-15's were very much "at the tip of the spear", one would think that they would have the latest equip fit, not a non-deployed ANG aircraft. Anything is possible though, the ANG is able to fund some upgrades that the AF isn't able to partake in, maybe this is one of them. thanks 11bee - I just looked back at other pics of 168, and they were gone in January 2015 but they were there in February 2014. 168 is still active at the 104th. 78-0544 has just the top one removed, also October 2015 I was simply told they were being removed, and didn't get a chance to inquire why Quote Link to post Share on other sites
11bee Posted December 24, 2015 Share Posted December 24, 2015 (edited) Another semi-related question - what's is the purpose of that light colored rectangular panel aft of the radome? Barely noticeable in some pics, more evident in others, including the pic above. Edited December 24, 2015 by 11bee Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Parabat Posted December 24, 2015 Author Share Posted December 24, 2015 Sorted! I'll make mine a 'future' F-15C and not put the ECM on it! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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