이스라엘 공군, F-15 에 APG-81 AESA 레이더 장착 추진

 

이스라엘 공군이 현재 운용 중인 F-15 Eagle 전투기들에 대한 성능개량 과정에서, 향후 도입 예정인 5세대 스텔스 전투기

F-35A 에 장착되는 AESA 레이더 AN/APG-81 을 장착하고자 한다는 AW&ST 9월 12일字 기사를 소개 합니다.

 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 

 

Electronic Edge

Israel pursues unique F-15 radar approach to maintain battlefield advantage

Aviation Week & Space Technology, 09/12/2011

 

Knowing it could never keep up with its potential adversaries in quantity, maintaining a qualitative equipment edge has always been key to Israel’s defense planning.

 

Last year’s agreement between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia for the sale of 84 F-15SAs and 170 APG-63(v)3 active, electronically scanned array (AESA) radars, therefore, has drawn particular interest and concern. Although some backers of Israel in the U.S. were hoping to scuttle the deal, Israel has opted to pursue a path to assure it maintains a competitive technical edge.

 

Israeli military officials are seeking U.S. approval for installing the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter’s APG-81 AESA radar on the country’s aging F-15A/B/C/Ds as part of that type’s fleet modernization program.

 

The effort aims to extend the lifespan and relevance of the “legacy” F-15s until 2030, but also to counter the upgrading capabilities of the Royal Saudi Air Force, which will begin deploying its new F-15SAs, with advanced AESA radars, in 2013.

 

The U.S. has softened Israeli concerns over the sale of the F-15SAs with its pledge to make it the first international customer to receive the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will procure 19 or 20 F-35s under a $2.75 billion contract. Yet, with the Joint Strike Fighter program’s constant delays, deliveries of the first F-35A squadron to Israel will begin no earlier than 2017.

 

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia will not only procure new F-15s but also equip its existing 72 F-15C/Ds with the modern AESA radar as well as the latest-generation AIM-9X Sidewinder short-range air-to-air missile and the AIM-120C/7 variant of the Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile.

 

While Israel and the Saudi kingdom share common interests, especially vis-a-vis Iran, Israel is concerned that the outbreak of revolutions in the region could also threaten the monarchy’s stability. If the most modern and powerful Arab air force were to switch hands, it could mean a new dramatic threat to Israel.

 

With the F-35 not available until at least 2017, Israel’s fleet of 50 legacy F-15s will remain its leading force for securing air superiority. Apart from five aircraft, which have been in service since 1976, the fleet will undergo avionics upgrades and structural reinforcements. It has yet to be decided whether the program, estimated to cost $2 million per aircraft, will be conducted within the air force or with Israel Aerospace Industries.

 

“The F-15 has an extremely strong, reliable structure, which will carry it until 2030,” a senior air force official tells Aviation Week. “With a modern AESA radar, it will become a match for any regional air-to-air challenge.”

 

In recent years, Israel also designated its two F-15A/B/C/D squadrons as long-range strike aircraft after it discovered that, when equipped with Boeing’s GPS-guided Joint Direct Attack Munition and conformal fuel tanks, the older F-15s achieve the same range as the newer F-15Is.

 

Forced to decommission its fleet of F-16A/Bs, Israel will be left with three F-15 squadrons and nine F-16C/D/I squadrons. To sustain that fleet, the ­F-16C/Ds will also undergo upgrades to extend their service until 2030.

 

In formulating a new work plan for 2013-18, the IDF’s main challenge is building a versatile force that will be able to respond to the volatile changes in the region. The plan relies heavily on annual U.S. military aid of $3 billion, which has been guaranteed until 2017; after that time frame, Israel is expecting a significant cut in U.S. aid.

 

The air force wants to use the bulk of the financial assistance to pay for another F-35 squadron, claiming it is the only true versatile service. one contender for the funding, the navy, appears to have been forced to abandon its plan to build two multimission corvettes for $1 billion. Other competitors are the land forces, which want to produce 600 Namer heavy armored personnel carriers in the U.S. for $3 billion.

 

The air force argues that as Israel is mostly threatened by rockets and missiles and not invading armies, there is no need for such investment in maneuvering forces. While the debate is still on, it appears that Israel will commit to purchase another F-35 squadron in the coming years.

 

 

  ⓒ USAF