From May 3-14, 2021, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command is holding the Northern Edge 21 military exercise in Alaska. The Air Force’s new F-15EX warplanes are participating in the exercise.
May 3-14, the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command held in Alaska “Northern Edge 21” exercise, Boeing for the Air Force to build a more powerful Eagle fighter aircraft new variant of the F-15EX “Advanced Eagle” also participated for the first time The military exercise is the beginning of the Eagle’s renaissance, so to speak.
A few weeks after being delivered to Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, the F-15EXs (001 and 002, respectively) flew to Alaska May 3-14 to participate in Exercise Northern Edge 21, the Indo-Pacific Command said.
A press release from Indo-Pacific Command said the purpose of the F-15EX participation in the Northern Edge exercise was to conduct in-depth testing in a complex jamming environment to gather the necessary test data for further improvements. The Air Force said early exposure of the F-15EX to this environment to allow for early improvements is critical to further testing and deployment schedules.
These tests include: technology improvements and subsystem performance, such as advanced cockpit systems, large area displays and a new helmet for the F-15EX’s digital helmet-mounted cueing system; the role of the Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability System in protecting the F-15EX 15EX itself and other fourth and fifth generation (fighter) platforms; overall radar performance; and interoperability with other (fighter) platforms.
At Northern Edge, we are evaluating the F-15EX’s performance in a jammed environment, including GPS, radar and radar,” said Maj. Aaron Eshkenazi, an F-15EX pilot with the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron. performance, including GPS, radar and Link 16 jamming.”
“Another primary objective is to evaluate the interoperability of the F-15EX with fourth- and fifth-generation platforms. With 60 aircraft in the air during each of Northern Edge’s vulnerability periods (vulnerability periods – the time period when the aircraft are vulnerable), we put the jet in a position to function once deployed and observe how it does. So far, it’s performed very well.” He said.
Test engineers and others will collect test data.
Some pilots flew F-15EXs for the second time during the Northern Edge exercise, indicating a smooth transition from the F-15C to the F-15EX, the press release said.
Northern Edge 21 is a U.S. Indo-Pacific Command exercise designed to provide high-end, realistic combatant training, develop and improve joint interoperability and enhance the operational readiness of participating forces. The exercise will be conducted in the Alaska Range region, the Gulf of Alaska and the Temporary Maritime Activity Area.
To view photos and video of the exercise, click here, and here.
Eighteen years after the U.S. Air Force ordered the last F-15 Eagle, Boeing is building a revival of the F-15EX for the Air Force, known as the Eagle. The U.S. Air Force’s fiscal year 2020 budget includes $1.1 billion for the first eight of the 144 F-15EX Advanced Eagle aircraft program.
While fifth-generation platforms like the F-35 can use stealth and advanced sensors to fly in dangerous airspace, warplanes like the F-15 offer higher performance and a larger external weapons payload.
The F-15EX takes the F-15’s already modest weapons carrying capacity even further with a weapons mount of 12 air-to-air hardpoints, or 15 air-to-ground hardpoints, and an unmatched loadout of 29,500 pounds (13.275 tons). A full range of air-to-air, air-to-ground and air-to-sea strike weapons can be carried.
The F-15EX also provides all-around electronic warfare protection through internally integrated electronic warfare equipment, and instant communication with other electronic early warning and infrared early warning aircraft for improved survivability.
In disputed areas, combining the F-15 family of fighters with fifth-generation fighters allows full use of both platforms. Combining the combined power of two generations of warplanes makes the USAF more lethal and cost-effective, and makes it more difficult for adversaries to defend.
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