ThePhantomTwo Posted June 22, 2006 Share Posted June 22, 2006 Guard may add new F-15 fightersBy PETER JOHNSON Tribune Staff Writer The U.S. Air Force intends to transfer 18 top-of-the line "C" model F-15s to the National Guard Bureau and will add ultra-modern radar, U.S. Sen. Conrad Burns announced Monday. The Montana Republican said getting some of the new fighters will "help guarantee a long-term future for the 120th Fighter Wing," the Montana Air National Guard headquartered at Great Falls International Air -port. Burns spokes-man Matt Mackowiak said Burns, a member of the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, lobbied the Pentagon hard during the last 10 days of budget work to assign some of the more modern fighters to the Air Guard. Since a Montana senator was influential in getting the Air Force to agree to transfer 18 of the F-15Cs to the Guard Bureau, the MANG unit is likely to get "its fair share," or five or six of the jets, Mackowiak said. Currently, most state Air Guard units flying F-15s around the country are assigned older "A" model F-15s built in the 1970s with few updates since, Burns said. Assigning the Air Guard the more modern "C" models known as "Golden Eagles" is a "huge step forward" for Guard units, he said. The Air Force also agreed to spend $73 million to buy advanced radar, known as Active Electronically Scanned Array Radar, for those 18 jets, Burns said. Pilots flying with that radar are capable of shooting down incoming cruise missiles, he said. "Anything that our congressional delegation can do to help solidify the missions of the 120th Fighter Wing is really appreciated," said Col. Mark Meyer, MANG commander. About $22 million of construction work starts next year to ready MANG facilities for the twin-engine F-15s, which are expected to start arriving in 2008 to replace single-engine F-16s. MANG officials say they will need 76 more full-time personnel and 39 more part-timers to fly, maintain and protect the F-15s. The unit now has nearly 1,000 personnel, including 300 full-time employees. Reach Tribune Staff Writer Peter Johnson at (406) 791-1476, (800) 438-6600 or pejohnso@greatfal.gannett.com. Squadrons return Two groups of airmen from the Montana Air National Guard and Malmstrom Air Force Base return to Great Falls this week after seven months in Afghanistan and Iraq. Altogether, more than 300 were deployed. Airmen with MANG's 219th Red Horse Squadron and from Malmstrom's 341st unit return today. Airmen from Malmstrom's 819th Red Horse Squadron return Thursday. Note the reporter calls the F-15 the "Golden Eagle" :D Link to post Share on other sites
Murph Posted June 22, 2006 Share Posted June 22, 2006 Note the reporter calls the F-15 the "Golden Eagle" :D That's an actual term; it's used to refer to F-15C's that will receive a series of upgrades to remain in service through at least 2020. Regards, Murph Link to post Share on other sites
Vesper Posted June 22, 2006 Share Posted June 22, 2006 As oppose to "Moldy Eagle"? Where's the door? Ves :D Link to post Share on other sites
ThePhantomTwo Posted June 22, 2006 Author Share Posted June 22, 2006 Thought they were being called "Super Eagles"?Hmm, so the MANG will get the V5 radars, plus some C-models. Wow, and the active duty still manages will old-*** plain Eagles, with no real replacement in the works for years. Splendid I imagine the funding for the AESA radars will come out of the ANG budget and not from the USAF's budget. Link to post Share on other sites
A6ETRAM Posted June 22, 2006 Share Posted June 22, 2006 I imagine the funding for the AESA radars will come out of the ANG budget and not from the USAF's budget. Yeah, Those are the F-15C's from my unit (131st FW) of the MoANG. Just as we got rid of our A's and acquired the C's, we get placed on the BRAC list. So, by 2009 our jets have to be gone. Chris Link to post Share on other sites
ThePhantomTwo Posted June 23, 2006 Author Share Posted June 23, 2006 Yeah,Those are the F-15C's from my unit (131st FW) of the MoANG. Just as we got rid of our A's and acquired the C's, we get placed on the BRAC list. So, by 2009 our jets have to be gone. Chris At least you guys have planes until 2009,we(181st FW) start scooting ours out the door in a few months to the guys in Atlantic City. Link to post Share on other sites
A6ETRAM Posted June 23, 2006 Share Posted June 23, 2006 At least you guys have planes until 2009,we(181st FW) start scooting ours out the door in a few months to the guys in Atlantic City. I hear ya' and feel your pain. Chris Link to post Share on other sites
ThePhantomTwo Posted June 23, 2006 Author Share Posted June 23, 2006 I hear ya' and feel your pain.Chris How are things over there?I did a two month stint on your flightline working on your F-4E's while your crew chiefs were at Luke for F-15 training.Had some fun times Link to post Share on other sites
ReccePhreak Posted June 23, 2006 Share Posted June 23, 2006 (edited) Note the reporter calls the F-15 the "Golden Eagle" ;) Is that anything like the "Golden Fleece"? :blink: Larry Edited June 23, 2006 by ReccePhreak Link to post Share on other sites
A6ETRAM Posted June 24, 2006 Share Posted June 24, 2006 How are things over there?I did a two month stint on your flightline working on your F-4E's while your crew chiefs were at Luke for F-15 training.Had some fun times :D Well PhantomTwo, aside from the BRAC thing, we are doing well here at St. Louis. Still busy and now about to get busier since we will be transitioning to work on the Spirit when our jets leave. Chris Link to post Share on other sites
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