Originally Posted by Croppyking
The biggest advantage to the F15T/SG/E is that apart from the AESA radar, everything else (EP,EA, Networked, weapon commonality) are current, proven and operationally successful systems.
Not necessarily. Alot of what Boeing was offering on the F-15SG for Singapore is quite advanced from what the USAF currently runs in their F-15Es and is likely to plug in to them down the track.
Originally Posted by Croppyking
To plug into US Navy's production and support should be just as easy as plugging into the USAF's (probably easier as any base down range that the RAAF may find themselves in will have a greater probability of having a USAF unit rather than a USN unit stationed there).
The support I spoke of isn't necesarily in a deployed environment, rather in that we would tie in with any block upgrades that the US Navy is doing. This is something we've been doing for 21 years with the classics and is a system with which we're already very familiar and comfortable.
Originally Posted by Croppyking
Other advantages include the greater range and larger radar dish offered. (not to mention the fact that AGM-142 is also not supported...)
Range differences between F-15SG and Super Hornet are almost negligible (830nm combat radius vs 780 respectively). Also, don't believe everyting you read about bigger radar dishes meaning more grunt (AESA doesn't have a "dish" anyway) - it's the back end that gives the radar most its power. The latest APG-63(v)3 just being introduced to ANG F-15Cs now uses technology handed down from the Super's latest APG-79 and the APG-63(v)3 is about as far as you can take the F-15's radar, whereas APG-79 has much growth and development potential left in it.
Other advantages of the Super; it has networkable systems already integrated in at baseline level, has almost a cubic foot (which is a lot I'm told) of spare space for growth capability, and has a much lower RCS than an F-15E (about 1/3 in the front quarter I'm told anecdotally).
Originally Posted by Croppyking
The only disadvantage to selecting an F15 over a Super Hornet is that the aircrew will need complete re-training and a new OCU would need to be stood up, otherwise, bring on the strike eagle!
Aircrew will still need to be trained and an OCU will still need to be set up. There is virtually no commonality between classic and Super Hornet.
Magoo