Deep Intel on the F-15EX
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ธ.ค. 2024
- Veteran U.S. Air Force Weapons System Officer "Pako" Benitez returns to review the details of the design, development, and tactics of the F-15EX, the revolutionary new version of a legendary Fourth Generation fighter.
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Guard F-15 crew chief here, 30 plus years now. I can tell you this much,, we badly need the EX sooner than later. Our eagles are not getting any younger. It’s a struggle now more than ever. This was one of the most in-depth reports I have seen on the EX program. Very well done. Thank you!
Nah man, we need more 35s. Stealth beats everything else, especially with the new Aim 260
@@RickSanchez167 Does the AIM260 fit in the F35? Longer ranged missiles tend to be bigger and the AIM120D's are already a tight fit...
thank you for taking care of my babies !
Government employee. One step above a labor union job. Congratulations on the job security with minimal effort required.😂
@@appa609 I would assume so
As an F-15 Crewchief from 1991-2010, I've got to say that going back to Eagles does my heart good. It's such an iconic jet and it classic lines are always beautiful. Originally the Eagle was made to be 'friendly' to maintenance. You can get into it through access panels and do a lot to fix problems that will crop up, this is not the case with a 'low-observable' system/aircraft the way current technology exists. Maintenance IS AIRPOWER, without it your complex fighter jets are useless without it and your pilots lose their proficiency quickly during peacetime and the ability to put aircraft in the air at all during wartime. Without proficiency you run into the issues that the Russian AF has gone through, pilots that are proficient in their use of their weapons. What they really needed to do is put in an electrical canopy and an APU instead of the JFS. Put in an easily accessible battery too.
You haven’t lived until you’ve changed a battery on an F4D. 😂
59th Rex?
We were on F-15 CTF at Edwards from the late 1980s to mid 1990s, after working on F-16C expanded capes. F-15 should have been fully-replaced by now with Raptors, but SECDEF Gates killed it and caused our fighter gap with the aging F-15C fleet. Maintenance on F-15Cs has been problematic, with entire nose sections falling off, operational squadrons restricted to lower speeds and g limits. CPFH went up on the bathtub graph of course since F-15C fleet life was exceeded past structural member rated life, with young Grey eagle pilots who like to bend the airframe a lot.
I love that they’re keeping this outstanding airframe around: sometimes low-observability is less useful than a squadron of absolute hammers that can tote all the weapons and fuel available.
@@LRRPFco52 IMHO it all started from when we made the upgrade from the -100 PW engines to the -220/229 engines. They didn't buy enough for the whole fleet of C's they had so many squadrons were left with the older -100 models with the problematic UFC's and hydro-mechanical controls. AB blow-outs (and other engine problems)(ere the bane of my existence...as was the starting system issues.
I live near RAF Lakenheath here in the U.K. where 48th Fighter Wing consisting of 2 squadrons of F15 Strike Eagles and 2 squadrons of F35 A are based. I hear them taking off every day, it can get quite loud at times but wouldn’t have it any other way. 🇬🇧+🇺🇸 =💪🏼
@Mike W Nice to hear from our friends across the Atlantic. I have family over in Wales, and there is no other ally I love more than the UK. Even if our political leaders don’t always see eye to eye, it’s nice to know that we have friends over there.
I’m a Yank living in Littleport, but work at RAFM. I love seeing the F-15Es and F-35s but do miss the F-15Cs already, even though it’s only been about a year since they left.
The UK and the USA have a history of taking down some real evil dudes that goes back more than a century. May it ever be so!!!
The sound of Freedom, eh? I grew up living in Fairchild AFB during the Vietnam years, near the extreme east end of the flight line. F-4's, and Century series fighters were a non-stop, 24/7 bonus of the time. To say things were loud would be an understatement, the whole house would shake, rattle and roll at times. Wouldn't trade those days for anything.
Beeyootifull
Pako is cerebral material. I could listen to him talk about this stuff for hours, as he is really good at breaking complex stuff down for the commoners like me to grasp. It's a rare gift indeed. Great episode!
Thanks, I really appreciate it!
The guy is incredibly impressive, could be an intellectual in any domain, as his brain synapses fire at the speed of light. Wonder if the military has to review his comments before release to make sure he is not giving anything away.?
@@TheMergeMedia ; Instant sub from me, outstanding information. Streamline your thumbnails and titles a bit and it will be a go to channel like Ward's is.
@@FirstDagger it's a work in progress, for sure, but we'll get there! We're trying to not lose focus on our newsletter and pod at the moment
@@iceebearhawaii1735 I think Pako knows exactly what he is an isn't giving away.
As a Canadian, I remember the competition to purchase fighter replacements where we ended up with the F18. McDonnel Douglas had a poster advertising the F15 which had the aircraft superimposed over a bald eagle, talons extended ready to strike with the tag line, "Eagle built to fight where others fear to fly" still brings chills.
The irony is that we bought the F-18s because they were newer (unproven) and cheaper per unit
After we fixed all the problems with the early airframes (you're welcome US Navy) the cost per unit was about the same as the F-15... should have just bought those.
@@darkalman I am a huge Eagle fan but what we should have got were the Iranian F14’s.
@Risto, Couldn’t have said it better myself
If they would have used an image of a beaver biting the head off a musky, Canada would be flying F15s.
Most of NATO has put their eggs in the F-35 basket, but it remains unproven in actual combat, it had better be good, or we're all in a lot
Of trouble.
A visitor to the air museum where l am a docent recently asked if we were still building F-15's. I told him that the Air Force was buying the F-15EX, an improved "E" model but that was about all l knew at the time. This video really took me to school! Probably your best work, yet, Commander!
Amazing. I skipped school for 1st f-15 to land at langley afb. And skipped work for f-22.
Thanks for bringing Pako back. Truly enjoy this episode.
Thanks Steye!
I flew Eagles in the '80s and I'm ecstatic that the Eagle will outlive me. Pako had some great insights into the EX program.
What Squadrons were you with? That was a lively time to be in the Eagle community.
I admire this outlook
What's your opinion on this....The average F15C/D and Eagle currently has around, 11,650 hours on its airframe.....that's INSANELY HIGH!!! Considering the F15s were originally manufactured to only have around 8,000 flight hours put on em but could be extended to 10,000 flight hours....well....we've gone WAY past that....now, majority of the F15s and ALL of the F15C/D variants are now G limited to only, 5Gs.....some are limited to only 3Gs....how sad....there's only a handful of F15s(they are all the Eagle Variant) that are still allowed to pull up to 9Gs.
When I was stationed at Langley back then, my favorite thing was watching dusk sortie TOs with the burners lit. Diamonds in the flame cones--still gives me goosebumps.
Do you think the huge weight gain of the EX vs the C will allow it to be competitive in WVR fighting compared to a C?
Superb interview, Pako was excellent as usual. Interestingly, just last week, Israel asked the USA for permission to purchase 25 F15EXs! As most know, Israel has been flying and modifying F15s since the 70s and have accounted for most of the F15 kills in combat. Knowing the Israelis, I am confident this is a fantastic aircraft. The only problem will be we just never purchase enough... I hope we do not cut further in our initial buy and I have it that Israel will be ordering a second lot of 25 of these fabulous machines. Thanks so much for your excellent work and service to the country, Ward. I am an old, retired guy who served my 2 years in the US Army 1968-70 in the 172d Infantry Brigade in Alaska. Finally earned a private pilot license in 1998, have owned 3 single engine prop planes until I hung up my knee pad 3 years ago.
It says alot about an aircraft when something designed decades ago is still considered a valid threat in the face of 5th gen aircraft. An extraordinary brief. Thanks fellas...
There are very few true 5th gen fighter that are not ours, so there really aren’t too many it would face. Against an F-22 or F-35 it loses every time. It also (and the AF has said this) can’t compete over enemy airspace against modern surface to air missiles and wouldn’t be deployed to such places. It can however dominate other 4th gen fighters, defend areas we control and could fight in enemy territory if the air defenses were eliminated.
@@jjd-lx5vr maybe 5th Gen fighters flying sead missions and f15s doing the air to ground and support f35s and f22s in air to air would be the way to go
@@brais677 1.) F35 & F22 (5th gen) own the contested space & do the priority-killing, assasin-style.
2.) F15EX are the danger-close missile trucks & spotting platforms for the 5th gen, but also VERY able to do a fast scoot & scramble, if needed.
3.) B-52 & other similar platforms are "safe airspace", long-range missile "trains" - when you are platform-numbers-limited & want all the missiles your heart desires ^^ ❤
Outstanding in depth discussion of the F15EX. What an incredible aircraft. Had no idea that the production line was still operating. Seems a pretty smart move to leverage OPM to continue development of this aircraft. Win-Win.
There is an argument for strategic industrial production capacity with multiple fighter lines open. I think this is really the main benefit to cranking out F-15EXs in low rate, until the various NGAD platforms are ready for production. That will include UAS as well as manned fighters.
He comprehensively fills in the gaps, so much so, it makes you feel much better about the decision to buy these 4++ gen fighters.
1.) F35 & F22 (5th gen) own the contested space & do the priority-killing, assasin-style.
2.) F15EX are the danger-close missile trucks & spotting platforms for the 5th gen, but also VERY able to do a fast scoot & scramble, if needed.
3.) B-52 & other similar platforms are "safe airspace", long-range missile "trains" - when you are platform-numbers-limited & want all the missiles your heart desires ^^ ❤
The F-15e was always my favorite military aircraft and now they come out with the EX and I'm just blown away. It's such a battle-proven airframe there's no wonder they decided to update and use it.
Col. Boyd did his math.
I heard the F 15E can go Mach 3 if it’s not fully loaded
@@hotlanta35 yeah there's a rumour about that.
@@hotlanta35 Totally impossible.
Interestingly enough that Congress said no-go to the EX getting the conformal fuel tanks.
Possibly the single most informative defense industry video I have ever seen on the internet. It shows us both the ingenuity and the limitations of our procurement system. Well done.
That was by far the best overview of F-15EX that I have seen or read anywhere. The best justification for the program is the synergistic effect of flying Gen 4s and 5s together. EX helps Gen 5s do that stealth thing. Awesome!
Yeah that part about how the EX helps the F-35s & F-22s be stealthy was incredibly interesting.
The other thing I found amazing was he said the F-15EX could carry something 22ft long and weighing 7,500lbs.
The boosted variant of the Tomahawk Cruise missile is 20ft 6in long and 3,500lbs. So theoretically an F-15EX could take off with a Tomahawk *AND* additional fuel or missiles. That makes the F-15EX a *potential* long distance stand-off threat as well.
There's a call for the B-52s to keep flying until about 2050 because they can the "stand-off" role. But you'd think the F-15EX can do that at a lot less cost and greater flexibility.
@@tonywilson4713 1.) F35 & F22 (5th gen) own the contested space & do the priority-killing, assasin-style.
2.) F15EX are the danger-close missile trucks & spotting platforms for the 5th gen, but also VERY able to do a fast scoot & scramble, if needed.
3.) B-52 & other similar platforms are "safe airspace", long-range missile "trains" - when you are platform-numbers-limited & want all the missiles your heart desires ^^ ❤
@@elektrotehnik94 Dude claiming the F35 is a single task aircraft goes 100% against what it was sold as.
It was never sold to anyone as an Air Superiority fighter in the way the F22 or F15 were.
And the F15EX is NOT being proposed as a danger close. Its not danger close when is Air to Surface range is generally well outside Surface to Air range. Its not exactly 800+km stand off like a B-52 with Tomahawks but it could be. And its not danger close like an A-10 either.
The F-117 was danger close because it had to go close enough for the bomb to glide to the target.
Other than the F35 which was sold as a "multi-role" platform most of the existing systems are mostly single role. What he's saying about the EX and the size of payload is that it has POTENTIAL to do a lot of things. All I am saying is that a Tomahawk fits the size and weight its capable of.
The EX and new F16V are truly gen 4.5 aircraft since a major proponent of what makes a gen 5 aircraft is the situational awareness, HMD, interconnectivity/data link and advanced avionics suite.
These jets may lack stealth, but are still closer to gen 5 than 4 by a significant margin.
The F-15ex will make a great cruise missle and drone killer as more adversaries use such attack weapons! As the situational awareness increases in the stealth arena the F15ex will become even more survivable.
Thanks!
I flew the Eagle from 1976 to 1991 (First Operational Wing at Langley AFB, then Bitburg, Germany, and Luke AFB, AZ., as an instructor and Squadron Commander.) The A model we flew was an incredible advancement in radar, avionics, and performance, and was designed as a ‘fighter pilot’s fighter,’ with maneuverability, speed, cockpit visibility and an internal gun. We had the first real ‘look-down, shoot-down’ capability in the Cold War days in Central Europe. That was back when the A model’s computer wasn’t much more powerful than an Atari game system. I was somewhat disappointed after a recent briefing (non-classified) on the F-35. I’m hoping that the stealthiness and other aspects the F-35 make up for its lack of performance and payload. This excellent review of the F-15EX by Pako reinforces the idea that the Eagle, despite its age, has capabilities far beyond our current stealth fleet.
You two squeezed in a lot of details in a short time but it wasn't overwhelming. The order they were presented was perfect too. Awesome video!
My dad was an F-15 crew chief so it’s my favorite jet. Me and my dad put together many F-15 models and one of my favorite memory as a kid was going to an air show and the F-15 on display had his with name on it. My dad was so proud of that. My dad and the pilot also let me sit on top of the jet and watch the airshow!
That's great. Cherish that memory. I hope you got a photo to save for your family in the future.
I regret not having photos of my father and his achievements.
Let's be honest, the pilot had no choice ;)
@megan what a great memory!
@@militarized_monk755 the pilot was awesome. He walked me around the plane a few times with my dad and was telling me how it was my dad’s plane and he just flew it lol. Made me feel like my dad was super man, which in my opinion he always was ☺️
With the f15 so old now.. we probobly going to have 3 generation serving on it.
Excellent show. The most info on the EX I have seen so far.
what a beast. I love that he compared it to a small, fast B52
Excellent video! I flew F-15 A/Cs in multiple squadrons for many years. The Mighty Eagle is quite a jet. I also had many engagements with Tomcats. It was nice to fight a jet bigger than the Eagle. Thanks Pako for the good info.
I could listen to you two all day long. I earned my Eagle Keeper patch as cadre when they were still painted robin egg blue. Was qualified on all three flight line avionics career fields and the back shop. Then went cadre on the F-16 and did the same thing. Getting to see the avionics upgrades is amazing. In 1992 at Kunsan AB Korea I observed an F-15C on the tail of an F-18C they started out at above 20,000 feet and corkscrewed down to ground level. The F-18 pilot was very frustrated. This proved the airframe and pilot can make a difference. Iran has done some amazing things with the F-14 like attaching a US Army SAM when they ran out of AGM-54s, and still keeping some in the air. Ended my career at B-2 SPO at Wright -Patterson and even its avionics has been upgraded. Adaptability of the airframe, pilots, weapons systems and weapons is what keeps us ahead of our opponents.
One of my favorite guests. Guy knows his stuff. Very information dense.
I could listen to you two all day long. You complement each other very nicely. Great intel, way better than everything else out there thank you!!
Ward, another great episode. I would like to thank Pako's explanation on the EX. He answer a number of questions that were out there. And yes, there are more questions out there... Again, thanks for another great episode.
😎
I live on the side of a mountain in central Appalachia and have the F-15Es from Seymor-Johnson AFB come roaring through (often below the altitude of my house) a few times a week. I am always thrilled by the experience, especially when they pull maneuvers that cause vortices off the wingtips and they go into afterburner.
To the guys and gals flying those birds: Bring the roar!
Are u sure it’s from sj
@@victorbernier4765 Have "SJ" tailcodes
Nice discussion on the F-15EX with tons of good information. It got me to thinking about the "What if" had resulted in the F-16E/F going into full production and it being upgraded. It was already fly-by-wire and was Mach 2 capable with the GE F110-129. But then again, it was the F-16XL that lost to the F-15E in the original ETF competition. In addition it got me to thinking about the F-5E Tiger II and how then Northrop under the "FX" program developed and tried to sell the advanced single engine (Mach 2 capable) F-20 Tigershark through the FMS program, but due to multiple reasons it never materialized and the program was cancelled.
I hate to repeat myself Ward, but as an employee of GE Aviation here in Cincinnati, it’s a real point of pride to hear you talk about “us” like that! And also as a Gibson Les Paul player, primarily, I like seeing that headstock shape multiplying behind you! Love the channel!
You guys are great, Jimi Ray!
@@WardCarroll much appreciated Mooch!
Big GE fan, here. I go to the GE CTEC regularly. If there are no international students, we get to pop in behind closed doors and drool over the military stuff. Without our phones, obviously. Very cool, indeed!
@@WardCarroll clearly I was a Strat guy when I made my TH-cam username haha 😆. I hadn’t experienced the superior quality of Gibson yet. I do toss a Strat or Tele into the set list here and there, but the Pauls and 335s do the heavy lifting!
Can’t wait for the next video! Thx Mooch!
Best insight into the F-15 capabilities . Just raised my confidence in the Air Force competence and capabilities.
It shouldn't. Remember that Airforce is least funded branch for DECADES now. Part of Army budget should be moved to AF and Navy AF
Very informative video. Thanks, Mooch and Pako. Well done!
@@emceha understand what you mean. As former AF , its the details, that count, when they come together, confronting the 'threat' at 33000 ft. RDR sqrt(3)
“We live in fame or go down in flame. Hey!
Nothing will stop the U.S. Air Force!”
Ward: F-15 is 40 years old! F-15: Actually I'm 51 this year.
I remember the first job I had 1974 was as an intern at Pratt in West Palm Beach.
I watched the testing based on multiple objectives and the cross tabulated matrix of decision making based on performance, weight, cost, durability. So much has changed.
It goes to show how cost of testing and tracking those decision making criteria formed a structure
Mooch, great episode on the EX; never get too much of Paco! I was on the Raptor program when the numbers kept getting cut, and cut, and cut,... Not fun times. But Paco brings a great perspective to the whole storyline, and IMO the EX program is an excellent add to our inventory. Learned much today, thanks again!
Hands down the best, most informative channel on TH-cam. Thanks Ward! A true class act.
Thanks, Mark!
So true!
Ward, I have learned a lot by watching your videos and reading the Merge. I am 61 now, never to late to learn. Now I wish I would have gone beyond in my college math and science classes. Never got to fly in a fighter, but I stood a line out in front of them in various places in the world. Rarely got to talk to any of the pilots, but when I did, you guys are fantastic. A few wanted to take me up and work me through the paces, I always balked, wish I would have taken them up. Life is life. So glad all of you are on our side flying your hot rods and go carts.
No clue how you passed that offer up! You're 61, maybe you'll get another chance one day.
Yes child! Never too old to learn! I was born in the first half of the 20th century, remember Truman as President, and hopefully still learn something new every single day. For me, Ward and his recommendations are VERY trustworthy sources.
Pako' s Knowledge Base is immensely impressive 😮 He is very inspiring to watch!! Thank You for sharing!
I'm 48 and the F-15 and F-16 were my dream jets as a kid. Obsessed. The fact that both these badasses are still kicking ass in service really does warm my heart. RIP F-14 :(
I am 66 ditos kid, you expressed my feelings exactly, and I have felt the same way since I was 14
This was so cool to listen to...I grew up an Air Force brat and didn't have a clue about civilian life til I turned 17 & lived off base. My dad worked with the SR-71 a major part of his AF career...He's gone now but he definitely would have enjoyed watching this video too
FANTASTIC interview, Mooch! I worked AFSOC HC-130s at Kadena in the early 90's but with the F-15s of the "Shoguns" (18 Wing) it was a wonderful air show every day! I LOVE to see the F-15s carrying on the greatness that has been the BEST fighter plane in history. Eagle POWER! Thanks for sharing!
Excellent content, Mooch and Pako. Learned a lot I didn't know. I'd never even wondered why F-15's didn't have wingtip missiles.
WoW! That's all I can say. Supreme presentation way over this old USN vets head. Clear and concise though. Took me places I never thought about or would hear about.
So I'm reviewing this again and will look up explanations that I missed just to get it a bit better understanding.
Kudos to both of you!
Thanks!
@@TheMergeMedia Thanx for the like. I subscribed to your channel looking forward to your postings. Reviewed this again! Its just as amazing on a second read. Major upgrades kept this alive after the USA sold the 15s to the countries as mentioned. Brilliant as Ward stated. This is what the USA was about and we never should blink.
As someone who is old enough to remember when the F-15 graced the cover of "Popular Mechanics" in the 60's, this is great news! I was fortunate to have the opportunity to maintain F-15's between 2004 t0 2018. The EX was just being hinted at during that time. I hope they ramp up production soon.
Fantastic video! Love the EX and I hope we buy tons of them. One upgrade not mentioned is that the airframe on the EX is good for 20,000 hours, which is kind of insane in its own right.
Great video. Interesting insights. Small nitpick: Since the AIM-54 Phoenix could reach Mach 5 in a dive, and its intercept algorithm consisted of climbing to 80-90,000 feet and then diving on the target, wasn't it our first operational hypersonic air to air weapon?
Great info Ward! My best friends son builds these here in St. Louis for now and will transition to building the new carrier based refueling drone when they open up that assembly line next year. I'm 55 and the Eagle was always my favorite growing up especially to see one over the house, good to know its not gone yet.
As a load crew member on F-15A’s back in the 80’s and 90’s, I always wondered why stations 1 and 9 weren’t used. Thanks for explaining.
Wow!! I was never in the military but love the depth of info in this episode. Really fascinating. Another "two thumbs up!"
26:50 Was surprised to hear a B-52 in this discussion but the Classics never die!
Great talk, thanks for being on Pako.
Retired USAF officer here - I did an acquisition assignment in the late ‘80s/early ‘90s at Wright-Patterson, where the USAF manages all its aircraft programs. The biggest programs in development at that time were B2, F22, C17, with legacy programs like F16, F15, B1 all chugging along. The biggest thorn in our side then was Congress. Everybody (including members of Congress) complain about how long it takes to get a new platform through the procurement process. Much (not all) of the delay is caused by Congressionally-imposed milestones, many of them redundant and unnecessary from a cost, engineering, schedule, or test perspective. It’s all political - who is bidding, where are their facilities, how many jobs, who are subcontractors, whose districts are they in, etc. Little to no consideration or understanding of mission requirements, operational capabilities, lifespans, allies/partners, you name it. I witnessed many CODEL visits. Their questions could almost always be traced back to rice bowls. After the visits, we would frequently experience stretched-out procurement timelines and/or reduced numbers of aircraft - both of which drive up unit costs. Icing on the cake - it was not uncommon to see classified CODEL briefing content in open source media not long after their visits…always attributed to “an unnamed source”. The fact that we have such extraordinary weapons supporting our military forces is a testament to the dedicated professionals in the various services’ acquisition organizations and the vendors they work with. Great episode and I love the F-15. I can’t tell you how many times I saw Eagles on PARPRO alert in Korea (TDY det from Kadena) launching and accelerating in a vertical climb - amazing.
Rice bowls?
@@jshepard152:
"Rice bowls?"
It's a really old piece of slang.
Think in terms of "nepotism".
It's from Americans living and working in the Western Pacific region probably dating back to before WWII.
A lot of times, there would be people who would be working for Americans, who would refer relatives to their employer, or, if they were being paid well enough, would "subcontract" with relatives/friends to fill in, or even directly share the workload.
If you want my opinion, i like the guest and his seemingly easy delivery of information, and that is why i gave this video a thumbs up.
Wow! What an amazing episode. Pako really is an amazing person to listen to.
Very interesting content and thanks for hosting "Pako" on the program. He brought some great insights regarding the F15.
Thanks for that, Ward. The F15 has been around and in service most of my life and I think it's great that we will be seeing for the next few years.
Thank you Sir for sharing this video. Great information on the F-15 and really explained well. I am former Navy helicopter mechanic (AD-3 HC-1) and working now on Gulfstream's and love this stuff...but I'm also a guitar player and couldn't help but notice you are as well... living life well...God is good!
Enjoyed the discussion. Appreciate you and Pako sharing your insight in such a well informed and easy to understand way. Thank even more for your service for our country!
I’m so glad I re-found your channel the discussions you guys make blow me away US Air Force veteran 1970 through 1974 security police thanks
I was part of the O.T.& E. during the 70's on the TF-15A, at Luke AFB, we still had F-4's then, hard to believe that they were both made by the same company, my Dad got to see the Eagle, he crewed P-51's during Korean War, he made the Eagle his #2 most favorite aircraft.
I got to work on those F-16 Block 60’s with the GE-132. This was during the time that the UAE was training their pilots in Arizona. Some of us were trained to run them at 100% in the Hush House. It was basically a Super Falcon compared to the legacy F-16’s.
I asked the Lockheed rep why they didn’t try to sell these to the AF to replace some of the aging legacy F-16’s. He said that they would rather sell them the more expensive F-35.
It was an amazing aircraft!
Block 70s are out now.
That was excellent, Ward. Thanks to you and your very knowledgeable guest.
What a great episode with so much information on the F-15EX. Seems like it can fulfill a lot of roles. Thanks again
Ward, SIERRA HOTEL!, another awesome interview. I retired from civil service at the end of 2014, I was a GS-14 Tech Expert/Analyst, Aerospace Engineer @ WPAFB, I led the EPAWSS analysis commissioned by USAF/A9 just before I retired. Prior to that I had reviewed the technical system details of the F-15EX prior to the FMS, I could not believe the USAF wasn't buying this system, the F-15 SPO Chief Engineer was a friend, I went to him and said WTF! Since retirement I have been a consultant working with the same people. I have since pushed the USAF purchase of the F-15EX instead of more F-35A's. Early in my career, as a propulsion guy at the time, I worked the "Joint Advanced Fighter Engine" (JAFE) program which led to the development of the GE F-110 fighter engine. The F110 is a variable bypass flow engine and superior to the Pratt F100 variant but the F110 would not fit in the
F-15C/E's at the time due to the fan inlet size and the ramp schedule would have to be completely reworked, it's the perfect propulsion system for the F-15EX. I also worked propulsion for the F-22 from Day 0. I also worked the F-35 from Day 0, but don't hold that against me, really, really tried to change the direction for USAF but got told to "Shut Up & Color". My current recommendation to the USAF would be to replace aging F-16C's with F-15CX /F-15EX's, this would be an easy transition for Viper guy's, the Fly-by-Wire system makes it easy, going from one FBW to another FBW is seamless, a 20 flight hours would be sufficient.
You were a bureaucrat, not engineer. Private industry did the real engineering. Be honest.
@@discofishing I NO! I was never a bureaucrat! I was and still am an Engineer and Analyst.
After the first 5 min of the video...i felt a Navy heart crack....the Air Force got their upgrade on their F15's....Navy F14 future upgrade....not gonna happen.... Air Force gets it's way.....
Very eye opening video ...thanks again Mooch & Pako!
I tripped across this video and am really impressed. Straightforward questions and amazingly clear and concise responses from Paco Benitez. Paco’s presence, delivery and content, in any domain or type of media, is the ideal way to deliver information. It was both personable and economical, something few people can do. I’m not even a war plane enthusiast, but I was glued to this video. I was so impressed by how much was squeezed into a short time. The airplanes, the jets, the programs, the upgrades and history of decisions, the tactics and capabilities. It was jam packed and cogent. I can’t believe how much I learned. Well done.
I’ve been looking everywhere for information on the F-15EX. Thanks so much for posting this!
Wow. Great video. EVERYTHING you always wanted to know about the F-15EX
The "listening for the tone in a rock concert" analogy is great. It's a similar concept to what the Marines did with suppressors on their rifles, where they would have 1 platoon with suppressors maneuvering with another platoon without them. The unsuppressed platoon would make it impossible to tell where the unsuppressed platoon was, even though they were still far from silent.
What Pako is describing at 26:34 is what us sound engineers refer to as "signal to noise ratio". Very cool, Ward. Love what you do.
This reminds me a great deal of the P-40 in WW2. Not only did the Warhawk continue to be used in the Pacific theater after more capable types were available, there were improved P-40M and N variants developed and put into the field. Why? Because it was fully sufficient to deal with the threat at hand. Just like the majority of threats and missions intended for the F-15EX.
OT, but nothing says WWII 1940s fighter aircraft than the Curtis P-40. Also OT, but the 40 was a much better aircraft than it's generally given credit for.
@@ohger1 The P-40 was there when the world needed her.
great insights by pako, first time listening to him , thanks for having him on
The P40 was kept alive by foreign sales until it was needed to hold the line before the P51 and P47 arrived. USAAF even kept deliveries meant for the RAF.. Curtiss got lucky.
the wildcat’s production actually peaked after it had been replaced on fleet carriers by the hellcat and corsair. It had the advantage of being able to operate from escort carriers, which were too small for the newer and heavier models. It was also a proven design that was not as outclassed by its axis counterparts as is popularly believed.
Mr Carroll continue to bring great videos to YT with his great contacts. Much appreciated.
Many missions don’t require stealth such as guarding airspace. It’s good not to waste stealth airframes on missions where they aren’t needed or where foreign adversaries can elicit info on our stealth jets when the F-15EX can perform the task adequately
People don’t grasp this… lol. You don’t want an F-35 on watchdog duty…
Kiitos!
Thanks for the support!
I learned a lot with this episode. Very informative. Thanks as always Ward.
Thanks
Thanks for the support!
On a cool as hell at air shows the F-15 has always been my favorite, I don’t believe I saw the F-14 in action years ago or my opinion might be different , Thanks Guys!
F-14 live demo was very cool to watch in airshows. I saw many in the 1980s at Miramar, China Lake, and MCAS El Toro. It always put on a hot show with plenty of crowd-pleasers.
Another great video Mooch and Paco! Thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Another solid, information packed, up to date video! Thank you Mooch and Pako!
This was probably the most I've ever learned about the US Air Force in one sitting. What a great episode.
This was a standout episode! fantastic info on the EX !
Great discussion and info thanks. Especially the 4th/5th interoperability stuff
Love hearing new stuff about the F-15's. I have fond memories of these awesome birds from 1978-1981 while stationed at Bitburg AB Germany. These were the latest & most sophisticated fighter planes in their day. The pilots that flew them were great and they loved flying them. I still have the arm patch we were issued...Eagle Defender. The pilots were Eagle Driver.
I was in 12th grade at Bitburg HS IN 1983-84 and loved hearing the roar of the F-15 alert fighters scrambling to pursue the errant prop planes that strayed across the E.German border. The sound of freedom.
LOVE this convo...
Made me happy :)
I loved the Spinal Tap reference when Pako was talking about the radar. I can just hear the conversation in the cockpit:
WIZZO: Going to eleven on the active scan.
PILOT: WHOA! Birds are falling out of the sky trailing smoke!
Old AF guy here non aviation , Always loved the F-15. This video was fascinating Thanks.
Very informative. I think there's a perception that the F-15EX is just going to carry a bunch of AIM-120s, and while that may propose some value with a hidden F-35 providing guidance, I think there's much _greater_ value proposed by the F-35 delivering missiles while the F-15 provides guidance (using that ridiculously powerful radar), while also carrying longer range missiles (AIM-260, etc.) or even standoff missiles.
I'm getting old Ward I just got home it's Friday night from work and your new episode came On and I was like "Yeah"!!!!!!
Ward, I felt where you were going at the beginning, and I share your angst. I constantly think about what a Tomcat would be today if it had been upgraded the way the F-15 has been. What would an AIM-54F look like? What could you do with a Tomcat with a modern fly-by-wire system and 2 32K class engines? The interesting thing is that now we can get a very good idea with DCS.
The Tomcat had other problems.
@@martinjrgensen8234 yeah a problem called Dick Cheney
Great vid! When I was a kid I was given a model of an F-15 Eagle. Ever since I've loved this airplane so it's great to hear all these tech details and how it'll still be flying for at least a few more years! Great stuff as usual.
it's awesome that our foreign military sales have been a kind of investment in our own program. Thanks for sharing this with is Mr. Carroll, it's poignant as a reminder of how the times are changing
I could listen to these guys all day.
What a great podcast! 'Pako' is very impressive, and I enjoyed the many insights he provided about the F-15EX and the prospective CONOPS in play with 4th and 5th gen fighters. His use of the 'annual hearing test' to describe the future battlefield was very effective. I would be interested to know what the driver was to re-engine the F-15 - reliability, maintainability, affordability, performance, or all of the above? There has been a modest amount of chatter in the defense trade press about a new engine for the F-35. Would you consider a future podcast that discusses future engine requirements for the F-35?
Finally, this was an exceptionally well produced podcast and I appreciate all the work that goes into putting together such great content!
Very good video , thanks for that Ward and Pako , I could listen to you two for hours.
Good job, very accurate summation of how the EX came to be, what it will do and likely where it will go. Love your videos.
My favorite video so far! I love the Tomcat, but the Eagle will always be my favorite machine made by man. For her to continue her legendary career is amazing!! I’ve yet to see her in the flesh, but with the EX, I’m sure we will cross paths some day!!
This is a discussion that thoroughly overpowered my tendency towards ADD. I was hooked from beginning to end! Fascinating stuff, guys!
One of my favorite channels by far!
This video was very encouraging. I’ve always thought the F-15EX decision was a good one. Now I know. I’ve read a lot but this was much more interesting and informative to add to understanding of what it can do that’s valuable. We are definitely better off having this amazing jet in the inventory with its capabilities and superior readiness rate compared to stealth aircraft. Maybe the ceramic stealth coating formula will change the picture for stealth maintenance. Until then, long live the beautiful F-15 in its new incarnation. My favorite airplane. Thanks Pako for such a complete explanation of its capabilities and how it could enhance a stealth strike package. My father was a B-25 instructor 80 years short. He would have r really appreciated this like I did.
The Merge is fantastic-THANKS~
I was stationed at Elmendorf AFB when the USAF upgraded from the "Ol' Smokey" F-4s to the F-15A. What a HUUUGE upgrade that was. I heard someone say that the F-15EX is not your grandpa's F-15 and I have no doubt.
Love the Eagle. I was an Avionics Troop from 1986-1996. I worked A model through the E model at 4 bases. Love the airframe!