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F-15E flies with new radar system

  • Published
  • By Samuel King Jr.
  • Team Eglin Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  The F-15E Strike Eagle took a step forward in its continuous technological evolution as the Air Force's most versatile combat aircraft here, Jan. 18.

The 46th Test Wing's fourth generation fighter launched for the first time with a new and improved radar system, the APG-82(V)1.

The APG-82 uses active electronically scanned array radar technology composed of numerous small solid-state transmit and receive modules. The standard radar, APG-70, is a mechanically scanned array housed in the nose of the aircraft. Although the current Strike Eagle radar has undergone numerous updates and upgrades, it is still the same system the aircraft had on its maiden flight more than 24 years ago.

"We've been able to get more out of it, but at this point it's pretty much maxed out," said 1st Lt. Nathaniel Meier, radar modernization project manager with the Operational Flight Program Combined Test Force.

The new radar removes the motors and hydraulics of the old system and includes a new avionics and cooling system.

Aircraft radar continuously sends out and receives energy to identify objects (targets) around it. Due to its unique capabilities, the Strike Eagle radar operates as air-to-air and air-to-ground radar.

"One AESA-equipped F-15E can detect and track multiple targets simultaneously and gain the same battle picture and prosecute the same number of attacks that currently require several mechanically scanned radar assets," said Brad Jones, Boeing director for U.S. Air Force development programs. "Adding AESA multiplies the effectiveness of the F-15E."
The advantage AESA radar has over a MSA is its near instantaneous ability to redirect its focus from air-to-air to air-to-ground mode. By no longer having to wait for the array to physically move to a new area of interest the aircrew receives better situational awareness in less time, according to the lieutenant.

The four-year-old project borrowed from existing technology to create the new system. The array system was taken from F-15C models and the avionics were borrowed from F-18 Hornets.

The reason for the change was to improve the entire aircraft's "RAM," according to Lieutenant Meier.

Reliability
The new radar works as a plug-in-play system with newer, easily replaceable parts. It's expected to have approximately a 20-fold improvement in aircraft reliability, according to the lieutenant.

Availability
The aircraft stays mission ready. An average failure for the radar component was previously measured in tens of hours and can now be measured in hundreds of hours, said Lieutenant Meier.

Maintainability
The APG-82 has fewer moving parts and the new equipment lasts longer which cuts down on the time needed for repairs.

The modification of the aircraft, which began in June 2010, was a concerted effort by members of Boeing, 46th Maintenance Group, Raytheon, 846th Test Support Squadron, and the OFP CTF.

"Without their determination, (F-15E) RMP would not have been anywhere close to making its first flight," said the lieutenant, who's been on the project for two years.

The developmental test flight was considered successful and the aircrew liked what they saw during the flight.

"There are huge performance increases," said Maj. Raja Chari, 40th Flight Test Squadron and pilot for the first flight. "We're getting the benefit of two decades worth of technology. From what we saw in this flight - we're heading in the right direction."

The developmental test process is about building incrementally into testing more complicated functions of the equipment and finding any flaws and problems based on usage in specific test profiles.

"Really the engineers put in the time and hard work - we have the easy part of seeing if it will do what they thought it would," said the major. "It was interesting to see the engineers reacting and diagnosing the issues right away, based on our feedback."

Capt. Chris Dupin, weapons system officer for the first flight, said he noticed improved capabilities during the initial flight. He said the radar was able to detect F-16s much farther away than ever before.

"The kill chain for anything is the ability to detect, identify, target and engage a threat," said Captain Dupin, 40th Flight Test Squadron. "If we can detect an air target earlier or farther away, that leaves more time and space to complete the rest of the kill chain. Completing the kill chain faster and earlier means we're better able to gain or maintain airspace superiority."

The biggest "test" facing the project involves combining two systems (avionics and array) from other aircraft and incorporating them into a totally different one.

"By using these (government and commercial) off-the-shelf equipment, the Air Force is able to save a large amount of the development costs, but the challenge is integrating these new systems and making them work as one," said Lieutenant Meier.

Developmental testing is scheduled to continue through 2012, but the OFP CTF, being a shared unit of the 46th Test Wing and 53rd Wing, is unique in that they can perform developmental test while incorporating early operational testing.

Personnel have begun modifying a 53rd Wing Strike Eagle with the new radar and as early as March will begin some of the operational type of testing. The next stage of testing for the radar will be conducted by the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center before being incorporated in all F-15Es beginning in approximately 2014.