Boeing Rolls Out 1st F-15SA for Royal Saudi Air Force

[Arabian Legend]

Boeing Rolls Out 1st F-15SA for Royal Saudi Air Force

​

ST. LOUIS, April 30, 2013 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] today rolled out the F-15SA, ushering in a new era in fighter aircraft capability and affordability for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The F-15SA, the newest variant of the combat-proven F-15, provides improved performance and increased survivability at a lower life-cycle cost. The aircraft has two additional wing stations for increased payload and capability.
"We look forward to receiving the advanced capabilities of the F-15SA aircraft to continue to protect the security and stability of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia," said Lt. Gen. Mohammed Bin Abdullah Al-Ayeesh, commander, Royal Saudi Air Force. "Our relationship with the U.S. Air Force and The Boeing Company has helped to ensure the Royal Saudi Air Force remains among the best-equipped air forces in the world."
Flight testing began this year on the F-15SA. The Royal Saudi Air Force has operated F-15S fighters since the 1990s.
"The Kingdom and Boeing have been partners for 65 years and our partnership goes beyond the innovative products and services we provide," said Dennis Muilenburg, Boeing Defense, Space & Security president and CEO. "Equally as important are the excellent collaborations between Boeing and Saudi educational and industrial organizations."

Boeing Rolls Out 1st F-15SA for Royal Saudi Air Force

 

[Falcon29]

Mabrook...., now just get the silent eagle please...

 

[Arabian Legend]

Mabrook...., now just get the silent eagle please...

F-15SA is the most advanced version of the f-15.

 

[BLACKEAGLE]

Congratulations guys!

When would the completion of delivery be?

Mabrook...., now just get the silent eagle please...

Each one has advantages and disadvantages, KSA decided to chose F-15 SA as it meets it's own requirements and missions.

 

[Yzd Khalifa]

Congratulations guys!

When would the completion of delivery be?

Each one has advantages and disadvantages, KSA decided to chose F-15 SA as it meets it's own requirements and missions.

In 2019. It will start in 15. As for the SE, I think the RSAF is aiming at it. I don't think we should go after it ,I would like to see the new F-35 in our inventory ,and soon will be.

 

[500]

It's F-15C. Here is F-15SA:

Hi Res.

 

[BLACKEAGLE]

In 2019. It will start in 15. As for the SE, I think the RSAF is aiming at it. I don't think we should go after it ,I would like to see the new F-35 in our inventory ,and soon will be.

Many experts say F-15 SA is better than F-35 which has been facing allot of technical problems, even the countries which had ordered F-35 reconsidered it. Plus, F-15 SA meets Saudi requirements.

 

[forcetrip]

Mabrook...., now just get the silent eagle please...

I always thought the SA is the silent eagle.. did saudi not order a bunch of silent eagles?

 

[Bratva]

I always thought the SA is the silent eagle.. did saudi not order a bunch of silent eagles?

F-15SA is silent eagle customised for Saudia Arabia. Customization means standard Silent eagle does not impressed Saudis and they asked Americans to customize it according to their own standards

 

[BLACKEAGLE]

F-15SA is silent eagle customised for Saudia Arabia. Customization means standard Silent eagle does not impressed Saudis and they asked Americans to customize it according to their own standards

I was trying to say that, but sometimes words don't help me..

 

[Safriz]

F-15E.info: Strike Eagle reference and resources - F-15E.info - F-15SA Differences
Engines: Boeing will equip the F-15SA with General Electric made F-110- GE-129 engines, instead of the 'traditional' Pratt&Whitney F100-PW-220 series engines.

Electronic Warfare: Instead of the TEWS used in the Strike Eagle, the F-15SA will feature a digital electronic warfare system (developed by BAE Systems), dubbed as DEWS. DEWS was developed by leveraging F-22 and F-35 EW program results and replaces 4 legacy systems of the Strike Eagle. It is fully digital (hence its name) and works in close integration with wideband RF systems, including the AN/APG-63(v)3 AESA radar, giving the jet a very sharp edge in the electronic warfare arena.

Radar: It is arguably the most important difference between the F-15E and F-15SA models. The F-15SA will be equipped with the APG-63(V)3 radar, the newest of the ultramodern AESA line developed by Raytheon.

Sensors: The F-15SA will use the top-notch Sniper XR targeting pod. The targeting pod will be attached under a new 3rd generation FLIR sensor which Boeing calls as "Tiger Eyes". This pod will give the F-15SA IRST capabilities in air-to-air engagements. Note that "Tiger Eyes" is also in service with the F-15K Slam Eagle version, as it is seen on the image below.

 

[Zoro]

Hello all could some one tell me how long it took to seal this deal i.e from selection to signing of the deal?

 

[Bratva]

I was trying to say that, but sometimes words don't help me..

Where words won't help, showing a finger would

 

[Mitro]

What type of BVR Missile Saudi are getting if any .

 

[Bubblegum Crisis]

Thank you very much @ Arabian Legend

F-15SA Development

The F-15 is not unknown in Saudi Arabia, since its localized version, the F-15S is in service in the RSAF from 1995. RSAF currently operates a total of 70 F-15S jets together with 66 F-15C single seat and 18 F-15D two-seat models.

Saudi Arabia sought to upgrade their existing F-15S fleet and they wanted to purchase more of the upgraded version. The goal was to have 70 + 84 jets at identical configuration, thus Saudi Arabia requested 84 new F-15SA aircraft, plus an upgrade of its F-15S fleet to F-15SA standards, plus related equipment and weapons. The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified the US Congress of this possible foreign military sale on Oct 20, 2010. The equipment list of the aircraft is very impressive:

Engines:

193 F-110- GE-129 engines


Avionics and sensors:

- 170 APG-63(v)3 AESA radar sets
- 169 DEWS systems
- 100 Link-16 datalink systems and spares
- 40 ROVER systems (Remotely Operated Video Enhanced Receivers)
- 193 LANTIRN navigation pods with Tiger Eye IRST systems
- 158 AN/AAQ-33 Sniper targeting systems
- 169 AN/AAS-42 IRST systems
- 338 JHMCS systems with 462 JHMCS helmets
- 462 AN/AVS-9 NVG’s
- 10 DB-110 reconnaissance pods
- 80 ACMI (Air Combat Maneuvering Instrumentation) pods


Weapons:

- 100 M61 Vulcan cannons with 200,000 20mm cartridges and with 400,000 20mm target practice cartridges
- 300 AIM-9X Sidewinder A/A missiles with 25 AIM-9X CATMs (Captive Air Training Missiles) and with 25 Special Air Training Missiles
- 500 AIM-120C/7 AMRAAM A/A missiles with 25 AIM-120 CATMs
- 1,000 dual mode laser/ GPS guided munitions (500 lbs)
- 1,000 dual mode laser/ GPS guided munitions (2,000 lbs)
- 1,100 GBU-24 Paveway III LGBs (2,000 lbs)
- 1,000 GBU-31B V3 JDAMs (2,000 lbs)
- 1,300 CBU-105D/B SFW/ WCMD
- 50 CBU-105 inert
- 1,000 MK-82 500 lb GP bombs with 6,000 MK-82 inert training bombs
- 2,000 MK-84 2,000 lb GP bombs with 2,000 MK-84 inert training bombs
- 400 AGM-84 Block II HARPOON missiles
- 600 AGM-88B HARM missiles

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

Also included are the upgrade of the existing Royal Saudi Air Force ( RSAF) fleet of seventy (70) F-15S multi-role fighters to the F-15SA configuration, the provision for CONUS-based fighter training operations for a twelve (12) F-15SA contingent, construction, refurbishments, and infrastructure improvements of several support facilities for the F-15SA in-Kingdom and/or CONUS operations, RR-188 Chaff, MJU-7/10 Flares, training munitions, Cartridge Actuated Devices/Propellant Actuated Devices, communication security, site surveys, trainers, simulators, publications and technical documentation, personnel training and training equipment, U.S. government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistical support services, and other related elements of logistical and program support.

U.S. to Sell F-15s to Saudi Arabia

December 30, 2011
By NATHAN HODGE and CAROL E. LEE

The Obama administration said it has reached a $30 billion agreement to sell advanced fighter aircraft to Saudi Arabia, part of a broader push by Washington to counter Iranian power.

The government-to-government deal announced on Thursday includes the sale of 84 new F-15 fighter jets and an upgrade of 70 others.

The package, which follows more than a year of discussions, comes amid escalating tensions between Iran and the U.S., and will help beef up the military of one of Washington's principal Middle East allies.

"This agreement reinforces the strong and enduring relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia, and demonstrates the U.S. commitment to a strong Saudi defense capability as a key component to regional security," said White House spokesman Josh Earnest.

The White House also cast the agreement as one that would help give a lift to the U.S. economy, saying it would generate more than 50,000 manufacturing and supplier jobs in 44 states. The F-15s are manufactured by Boeing Co. in St. Louis.

Dennis Muilenburg, head of Boeing's defense segment, said in an interview the sale was a very important deal that reinforced the company's strategy of expanding international sales.

Boeing has set a target of making international business account for around 25% or 30% of defense segment revenues, up from a 7% share around five years ago.

"We're well on our way of achieving that" with the Saudi deal, Mr. Muilenburg said.

Boeing said the deal would create jobs in Saudi Arabia as well as in the U.S. Mr. Muilenburg said the sale would include Saudi industrial participation, including parts assembly and manufacturing at a facility in Riyadh.

Sales of advanced U.S. military equipment to allies in the Middle East have been a concern for Israel, which is keen to preserve its military edge.

U.S. officials have sought to reassure Israel that the fighter deal would benefit Israel's security by bolstering moderate allies in the Gulf.

The fighter sale "will not have an impact on Israel's qualitative military edge," said Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs Andrew Shapiro in Washington.

"We did not gin up a package in response to current events in the region," he said, pointing out that Congress had received formal notification of the deal.

The Obama administration informed Congress last year of a plan to sell Saudi Arabia up to $60 billion in new weaponry, including the F-15s. While some lawmakers expressed reservations about the proposal, Congress didn't move to block the deal.

The Israeli Embassy in Washington didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

U.S. officials have said the F-15s would be highly capable aircraft, comparable to the F-15s operated by South Korea and Singapore.

The new and upgraded fighters would be Saudi Arabia's "most capable and versatile aircraft" and could carry a range of precision-guided weapons and air-to-air missiles, said James Miller, U.S. principal deputy undersecretary of defense for policy.

The first of the new aircraft are expected to be delivered around 2015.

Anthony Cordesman, a defense analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said the Israeli military's concerns about Iran outweighed the potential risks Israel might perceive from Saudi Arabia or other Arab states acquiring improved military hardware.
"It's not as if it came as a surprise to anyone in Israel," he said.


The Wall Street Journal

F-15K Slam Eagle (Republic of Korea Air Force)

F-15K Slam Eagle in Red Flag 08-4

F-15SA (Royal Saudi Air Force)

You can see new sensors at ‘the foot drifts’ and ‘under the cockpit’.

Hi Res. pic (Thank you very much @ 500)





Thank you very much @ Arabian Legend

Raytheon to Support AIM-9X for Saudi Arabia

April 17, 2013
George I. Seffers

Raytheon Missile Systems, Tucson, Ariz., is being awarded an $8,627,879 modification to a previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee contract services in support of the Phase II AIM-9X System Improvement Program for the U.S. Air Force, Navy, and the government of Saudi Arabia, including hardware and software development activities and implementation of security architecture requirements.

AIM-9X