USAF orders 80 new F-15X's
 

You just can't keep a good design down, capable of carrying 22 air to air missiles each.

https://www.popularmechanics.com/mil...ying-new-f-15/

So it's gone FBW.

That's a bit like fitting power steering onto a 205GTi ............easier steering but losing a bit of it's soul...

From Nutty's link.
Seems to be a good idea, in terms of "high-low mix" insofar as capability goes.

Reminds me of a former OC 5 Sqn advocating the FC-130 over the North Sea dispensing AMRAAM in large quantities against the Soviet hordes.
I understand the concept, as an outsider.

I always thought the Vulcan with a couple of rotary launchers. Could reach up in to the Norwegian Sea, zap any Bear or Badger, force Backfire to evade and go supersonic much earlier.

F15 going into 2040 will be an epic achievement.

Makes a lot of sense to me when they have ~400 F15's who can still mix it up with most of the worlds airforces and can still deliver a hell of a bomb load plus a few a2a missiles to look after itself and still has decent legs. Hell of a machine for a modest new investment.

WWW

Powered by G.E. F110-GE-129 series engines instead of the traditional F100-PW-229

At 22s into the video on the news site ( ), what am I looking at? Is it coincidence all those bits are moving in unison, or are they linked somehow?

So, reading the article it would appear that the op headline is a tad misleading.

What it should say is that the USAF would like to order eight F-15X and has a future requirement for some 80 over 5 years. It hasn't actually ordered a single one yet.

They mounted the GoPro (or similar) to the inside of the canopy frame and you are seeing the canopy closing.

I are a fule. I just saw the entire cockpit rising.

Neat optical trick. It could be a design feature for future evolutions to help the pilot and WSO get in and out of the the aircraft without kicking any of those uber- expensive flat panel displays.

22 missiles? As Uncle Joe said, quantity has a quality of it's own......

If Boeing has financial problems, one way is to order military equipment, whether needed or not....

It's okay I suppose.

(But a nice aircraft indeed)

But it kinda scuppers any idea of a quick OTR if "winchester" :eek:

Hopefully, Boeing St Louis doesn’t suffer the maladies of Max and Pegasus fame.

22 missiles! They're obviously expecting the opposition to come in VERY large numbers..................

...or to go out in very small numbers

yea but you'd have to hang around for months for some airforces to get 22 targets heading your way.......................

Unless willing to take insane risk, BVR combat against a peer adversary is about running them out of missiles before you do. Several may be expended before any kills are achieved...