US National Guard sends 12 F-15 interceptor jets to Europe to guard against Russia

[Khalid Newazi]

Florida Air Guard is to deploy 12 F-15C jets and about 200 airmen to Europe as part of Washington’s military build-up, which it claims is necessary to protect European NATO members from Russian aggression.

The fighters and troops from the 125th Fighter Wing of the Florida Air National Guard are to go to Europe in mid-April, the US Air Forces in Europe reported this week. The F-15C Eagles are equipped with advanced air-to-air radar and sniper targeting equipment that allows visual tracking at extremely long ranges.

The F-15s would be sent to the Netherlands and later Bulgaria.

The unit is to replace 12 A-10s from the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, which have been deployed since February. The A-10s is hosted at US Air Base Spangdahlem in Germany, but also visited RAF Lakenheath in UK and Poland.

The deployment is a "theater security package", part of the Operation Atlantic Resolve, a series of American troops deployments and training exercises in Europe, which Washington claims is necessary to protect European NATO members from a Russian aggression. Moscow sees them as provocative and escalating tension amid the ongoing crisis over the Ukrainian turmoil.

In addition to the A-10s, the Pentagon recently deployed 14 F-16s from Aviano air base in Italy to Estonia.

The Florida Air Guard is the first US National Guard force to contribute to the anti-Russian operation in Europe.

On the ground, the US saber rattling comes in the form of dozens Stryker armored vehicles rolling across Europe and stopping at a new capital every night.

​US National Guard sends 12 F-15 interceptor jets to Europe to guard against Russia — RT USA

 

[Akasa]

Have some F-15s received their AESA radar upgrades yet? I know that the USAF is planning to retrofit some ~170 jets with AESA radars under the "Golden Eagle" program.

 

[Víðarr]

Have some F-15s received their AESA radar upgrades yet?

Yes they have:

The Florida Air National Guard's F-15Cs are some of the most advanced in the world, with many of them receiving the APG-63V3 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar. The "V3" as it is called, is a quantum leap in capability over the mechanically scanned array APG-63 and is considered to be one of, if not thee most power and capable air-to-air radar in the world. Also, the 125th FW is the first F-15C unit to incorporate the Sniper targeting pod for air-to-air use, allowing crews to identify targets visually at extreme ranges. To my knowledge, they remain the only unit that is fully operational with the Sniper pod at this time, a capability that will enhance their utility when it comes to intercepting foreign aircraft under various conditions.

Florida Air Guard F-15C Eagles To Deploy To Russia's Doorstep



Sniper pod for a2a?

Apparently the Sniper Pod is being used to track enemy stealth aircraft too.

The Pentagon Has Figured Out How to Hunt Enemy Stealth Fighters — War Is Boring — Medium

Mr @AMDR perhaps this is why the US lags in IRST? It does seem to have alternatives.

 

[Akasa]

Yes they have:

The Florida Air National Guard's F-15Cs are some of the most advanced in the world, with many of them receiving the APG-63V3 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar. The "V3" as it is called, is a quantum leap in capability over the mechanically scanned array APG-63 and is considered to be one of, if not thee most power and capable air-to-air radar in the world. Also, the 125th FW is the first F-15C unit to incorporate the Sniper targeting pod for air-to-air use, allowing crews to identify targets visually at extreme ranges. To my knowledge, they remain the only unit that is fully operational with the Sniper pod at this time, a capability that will enhance their utility when it comes to intercepting foreign aircraft under various conditions.

Florida Air Guard F-15C Eagles To Deploy To Russia's Doorstep

That's nice to hear that the USAF is investing in such upgrades. I guess it's a way of keeping up with export-only advanced F-15 derivatives while saving some bucks.

 

[Víðarr]

That's nice to hear that the USAF is investing in such upgrades. I guess it's a way of keeping up with export-only advanced F-15 derivatives while saving some bucks.

Not entirely. These aren't USAF F-15s, they are ANG (Though the NG units can become part of the USAF if federalized), out of Florida, so a lack of upgrades could be understandable. However, due to a downsizing of the US military, ANG units have become front-line fighters, where once their sole role was protecting US airspace from, well, nothing.

Frankly, without the downsizing of the US military, these upgrades wouldn't have happened due to the low priority placed on National Guard units due to a lack of credible threats facing the US mainland.

If these were proper USAF their upgrades would have happened before those of export models, due to priority funding for the proper military arms.

 

[Armstrong]

Not entirely. These aren't USAF F-15s, they are ANG (Though the NG units can become part of the USAF if federalized), out for Florida, so a lack of upgrades could be understandable. However, due to a downsizing of the US military, ANG units have become front-line fighters, where once their sole role was protecting US airspace from, well, nothing.

Frankly, without the downsizing of the US military, these upgrades wouldn't have happened due to the low priority placed on National Guard units due to a lack of credible threats facing the US mainland.

If these were proper USAF their upgrades would have happened before those of export models, due to priority funding for the proper military arms.

View attachment 208863

Continue on the downsizing and who knows maybe 10 years from now you'd be speaking Urdu and New York could be the capital of a new Pakistani province in North America !

That is; once I - the second coming of Rommel, Patton and Yamamotto all rolled into one, unleash my forces on you !

But why are you guys sending aircraft to Europe; let the Europeans develop the means to defend themselves - Think of it as 'tough love' !

 

[waz]

I love the F15.

 

[Víðarr]

Continue on the downsizing and who knows maybe 10 years from now you'd be speaking Urdu and New York could be the capital of a new Pakistani province in North America !

That is; once I - the second coming of Rommel, Patton and Yamamotto all rolled into one, unleash my forces on you !

Well, no. Our military may downsize, but our Coast Guard is better armed than your Navy. Our police are basically a military, and our citizens tend to be rather easily pissed-off when people try to mess with our nation, plus they're armed. Oh, and if push really comes to shove we'll just nuke you and call it a day.

Nope, the more likely scenario is the opposite of what you offered. Pakistan becomes an official US overseas territory.

And Urdu? We can't even get people to speak English, how are you going to get them to speak Urdu?

 

[Armstrong]

Well, no. Our military may downsize, but our Coast Guard is better armed than your Navy. Our police are basically a military, and our citizens tend to be rather easily pissed-off when people try to mess with our nation, plus they're armed. Oh, and if push really comes to shove we'll just nuke you and call it a day.

Nope, the more likely scenario is the opposite of what you offered. Pakistan becomes an official US overseas territory.

And Urdu? We can't even get people to speak English, how are you going to get them to speak Urdu?

Take that back !

I thought we were like brother and sister !

You'd nuke your own brother's land ?

Besides what do you think we've got our nukes for ? Our 4th of July celebrations ?

And we will never allow ourselves to be an official US overseas territory because we'd never want to be a part of a country that calls football as soccer while the rest of the world calls it football and calls a game football where the 'foot' is sparingly used and whats worst they've managed to create a game which is a cross between hopscotch, cricket and tennis called 'baseball' !

So change the names and the sports if you even want us to consider your proposition !

But the gun thing is an issue even here in Pakistan; our population is well armed as well !

I dunno why people are enough to keep firearms; let that be in the domain of the police and the army not the common folk !

I know in the States its one of your constitutional provisions but I don't think the founding fathers had El Capone, the guys from Harlem or the Mexican cartels in mind when they thought up the 'right to bear' arms thing !

 

[Víðarr]

So change the names and the sports if you even want us to consider your proposition !

No.

I don't like "hand egg" any more than you do, I like Ice Hockey, but Americans tend to be a bit testy when asked to change the names of their sports. They like to be different.

I dunno why people are enough to keep firearms; let that be in the domain of the police and the army not the common folk !

Kai, Armstrong's calling you crazy.

His other misses. Good for biathlons and keeping the neighbors honest

I love the F15.

You like

And just to poke some fun at my Russian friends and family, we know all about your aircraft. Can you say the same about ours?

The Florida Air Guard is the first US National Guard force to contribute to the anti-Russian operation in Europe.

No, no RT, this isn't "Anti-Russian" anything, just a hedge against "Anti-European" measures taken by Russia.

Seriously, that's a rather loaded line.

Journalistic ethics and hello biased reporting.

 

[Armstrong]

No.

I don't like "hand egg" any more than you do, I like Ice Hockey, but Americans tend to be a bit testy when asked to change the names of their sports. They like to be different.

Ice Hockey !

Thats more of a boxing match between brawlers than a sport !

The only real hockey is field hockey and guess who's won the Hockey World Cup 4 times ?

Kai, Armstrong's calling you crazy.

His other misses. Good for biathlons and keeping the neighbors honest

View attachment 208866

@SvenSvensonov you're into guns ?

I only fired a gun once in my life and it missed the target completely; instead of hitting the stump I had marked with a cross it blew a whole in a hand-made planter nearby !

I thought there and then; guns are not my forte so I think I'll pass !

@Víðarr - The F-15s are a beauty; though I like the Mig 29 Fulcrum much better !

If there was a Miss Universe pageant for airplanes; the Mig 29 would win it every single time !

 

[Víðarr]

@SvenSvensonov you're into guns ?

Nah, he really isn't, he was allowed to keep his M14 after his Navy days. Because he hates water he always got stuck on shark detail when overseas, the M14 was issued to sub crews.

He only brings it out during the Winter for biathlons. No hunting, no target shooting, no threatening nosy teenagers in our neighborhood, just skiing and shooting.

@Víðarr - The F-15s are a beauty; though I like the Mig 29 Fulcrum much better !

If there was a Miss Universe pageant for airplanes; the Mig 29 would win it every single time !

Even I like the curves on this beauty.

Miss Universe pageant for planes runner-up

Co-runner-up. I can't choose between the two.

@Víðarr - The F-15s are a beauty; though I like the Mig 29 Fulcrum much better !

If there was a Miss Universe pageant for airplanes; the Mig 29 would win it every single time !

Well, I do like a rugged man, but seriously? The MiG-29 is ugly.

he, he, he, you like?

Ice Hockey !

Thats more of a boxing match between brawlers than a sport !

North American Ice hockey yes, but European leagues don't feature too many fights and are a whole lot less physical. Europeans are lovers, not fighters. Americans and Canadians are both

 

[Armstrong]

Nah, he really isn't, he was allow to keep his M14 after his Navy days. Because he hates water he always got stuck on shark detail when overseas, the M14 was issued to sub crews.

He only brings it out during the Winter for biathlons. No hunting, no target shooting, no threatening nosy teenagers in our neighborhood, just skiing and shooting.





Even I like the curves on this beauty.

View attachment 208881


View attachment 208884

View attachment 208892

Miss Universe pageant for plane runner-up

View attachment 208885

Co-runner-up. I can't choose between the two.

View attachment 208886





Well, I do like a rugged man, but seriously? The MiG-29 is ugly.

View attachment 208889

he, he, he, you like?
View attachment 208890

View attachment 208891

How can anyone look at this and say its not the most beautiful plane in the world ?

The SR-71 looks like a boomerang while the amongst the bombers nothing can beat this beauty in aesthetics :

And @Víðarr why are 'thanks' for my posts in such short supply ?

Okay ma'am take care; its around 3 a.m here and I have to get up early for work so I'd better grab a couple of hours of sleep !

 

[gomerker23]

nice picture