Other Fan Fiction ❯ Technical Files ❯ F-15F Cheetah (Japanese Bat, American Eagle, North Korean Dragon) ( Chapter 2 )

FACT SHEET

U.S. Air Force Fact Sheet

F-15F CHEETAH

 

Mission

The F-15F Cheetah is a dual role fighter designed to perform air-to-air and air-to-ground missions, as well as strategic escort. An array of avionics, electronic systems, and low-lift devices gives the F-15F the capability to fight at low altitude, day or night, and in all weather.

 

Features

The aircraft uses two crew members, a pilot and weapons systems officer, similar to the F-15E. It has the capability to fight its way to a target over long ranges, destroy enemy ground positions and fight its way out.

 

The aircraft's navigation system uses an advanced laser ring gyro and Global Positioning System to continuously monitor the aircraft's position and provide information to both the central computer, digital autopilot, and other systems, including a digital moving map display in both cockpits.

 

The Raytheon AN/APG-63(v)2 radar, provides dramatic improvement over earlier radars in reliability and maintainability. It incorporates the older AN/APG-70 radar's air-to-air and air-to-ground capabilities, with added capabilities for ground-moving target track, sea-surface search/track and enhanced high-resolution ground mapping. The AN/APG-63(v)2 also includes the capability to interface with the AIM-54 Phoenix long-range air-to-air missile, providing distinct improvements in standoff ACM. The AN/APG-63(v)2 includes active electronically scanned array (AESA). AESA is faster, smaller, lighter, and more reliable than traditional mechanical scan radar, reducing crew workload and enhancing radar performance. It can rapidly change frequency and redirect its beam, increasing detection capabilities as well as its ability to evade detection and countermeasures.

 

In addition to the radar, the F-15F sensor suite incorporates a third generation FLIR system, an Infrared Search and Track system for passive air-to-air target detection, a fourth generation Northrop Grumman video camera, to provide positive identification for extreme beyond visual range engagements, as well as a laser designator and tracking system that mark an enemy for destruction at long ranges. These systems automatically hand off targeting information once tracking has started to standoff missiles, or GPS or laser-guided bombs. The sensor suite's FLIR allows the aircraft to fly at low altitudes, at night and in any weather conditions, to attack ground targets with a variety of precision-guided and unguided weapons. This sensor suite gives the F-15F unequaled accuracy in weapons delivery day or night, and consists of two pods attached to the exterior of the aircraft.

 

The navigation pod contains a micro-millimeter-band terrain-following radar which allows the pilot to safely fly at very low altitude following cues displayed on the heads up display, while evading detection and countermeasures. This system can also be coupled to aircraft's autopilot to provide “hands off” terrain-following capabilities.

 

The F-15F incorporates the newest cockpit display technologies. The two seat cockpit includes seven liquid crystal displays, two flat panel upfront control panels, the Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System, a wide field of view heads up display, and voice recognition system.

 

The heart of the new avionics suite is the Boeing Advanced Display Core Processor (ADCP), replacing the older central computer and display processor. The ADCP utilizes ruggedized commercial data processing technologies, and provides ten times the processing capability of the F-15F's predecessors. The ADCP, coupled with an airframe management computer, indicates faults to the aircrew and maintenance through cockpit displays, and provides connectivity to external maintenance computers, or handheld devices.

 

The F-15F is powered by two Pratt & Whitney F119 engines, incorporating advanced digital technology for improved performance. Each engine is capable of producing 35 thousand pounds of thrust, directed through thrust vectoring vanes, allowing the F-15F unparalleled maneuverability against any fighter. The F119 engines are line replaceable units, with integrated hoists inside the engine bays. This allows for quicker engine turnaround times and the ability to operate in areas without organized support. Thrust vectoring also allows the fighter to utilize shorter runways or even straight sections of highway.

 

Each of the low drag conformal fuel cells that hug the F-15F's fuselage can carry 750 gallons of fuel. The tanks hold weapons on short pylons rather than conventional racks, reducing drag and further extending the range of the fighter. Up to four pallets can be mounted on the fuel cells as well, adding the capability of mounting AIM-54 Phoenix missiles to the fighter as well.

 

For air-to-ground missions, the F-15F can carry any weapon in the Air Force inventory. It can also be armed with AIM-9L/M Sidewinders, AIM-120 AMRAAMs, AIM-54 Phoenix missiles for the air-to-air role. The F-15F also has an internal 20mm gun that can carry 500 rounds. Four wing pylons provide the aircraft with the capabilities of maintaining a superior air-to-air role even when configured for air-to-ground missions.

 

Background

The F-15's superior maneuverability and acceleration are achieved through its high engine thrust-to-weight ratio and low wing loading. The F-15F brings mission adaptive wings, canards and vectored thrust to increase the maneuverability of the fighter, allowing the fighter to perform maneuvers consistently that were only done by experimental or aerobatic aircraft.

 

The first flight of the F-15A was made in July 1972. In November of 1974, the first Eagle was delivered to the 58th Tactical Fighter Wing at Luke AFB, AZ, where training began in both F-15A and B aircraft. In January 1979, the first F-15 destined for a combat squadron was delivered to the 1st Tactical Fighter Wing at Langley AFB, VA

 

The single seat F-15C and two seat F-15D entered the Air Force inventory in 1979 and were first delivered to Kadena AB, Japan. These models were equipped with production Eagle package improvements, including 2 thousand pounds of additional internal fuel, provisions for carrying external conformal fuel tanks, and increased takeoff weight of 68,000 pounds.

 

The F-15F is a derivative of the F-15 SMTD (STOL/Maneuverability Technology Demonstrator) developed during the late 1980s, and incorporates the latest in technology for avionics, engines, and crew survivability

 

General Characteristics

Function: Strategic escort/air-to-ground attack aircraft

Builder: Boeing Integrated Defense Systems

Power Plant: Two Pratt & Whitney F119 thrust vectored turbofans with afterburner

Thrust: 35,000 lbs. each engine

Wingspan: 42.8 feet

Length: 63.8 feet

Height: 18.5 feet

Speed: Mach 2.5 plus

Maximum takeoff weight: 100,000 pounds

Service Ceiling: 50,000 feet

Combat Ceiling: 35,000 feet

Range: 3,000 ferry range with conformal fuel cells and three external fuel tanks

Armament: One 20mm multibarrel gun mounted internally with 500 rounds of ammunition. Up to seven AIM-54C/D/E Phoenix missiles, four AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles, and four AIM-9L/M Sidewinder missiles. Any air-to-surface weapon in the Air Force inventory (nuclear and convention)

Crew: Pilot and Weapons System Officer

Unit cost: Classified

Date Deployed: Active, 300 (final acquisition 2010)

Inventory: Classified