F-15Es WITH APG-82 AESA RADARS DEPLOY TO RED FLAG-ALASKA FOR THE FIRST TIME

The APG-82 AESA radar allows the F-15E Strike Eagle to bridge the gap between the fourth and fifth generation fighting force

The 391st Fighter Squadron was among the unit that participated in RED FLAG-Alaska 17-3 at Eielson Air Force Base (AFB), Alaska, from Jul. 31 to Aug. 11, 2017 and its F-15Es were all equipped with the new APG-82 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar.

“This is the first time we’re going to showcase in an operational squadron the APG-82s, so our newest radar,” said Lt. Col. Robert Olvis, 391st Fighter Squadron commander. “It’s an Active Electronically Scanned Array Radar, 6.5 billion dollar investment in the F-15E and the 391st Gunfighters are the first to showcase that in an operational squadron.”

As explained by Senior Airman Malissa Armstrong, 366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs, in the article 391st Fighter Squadron demonstrates new radar system, this radar allows the F-15E Strike Eagle to detect, identify and track multiple air and surface targets simultaneously.

“(With) Mountain Home, in particular the Strike Eagle, it’s been fantastic,” said Lt. Col. Matthew Warner, 80th Fighter Squadron operation deputy commander. “They’ve done some upgrades to the Strike Eagle which allow us over the data link to be able to communicate with them a little bit better (has) been pretty cool.”

The APG-82 AESA radar is designed to offer adaptability to changing targets and builds off the multirole-mission capability of the F-15E Strike Eagle.

“It allows the Strike Eagles to continue to do what they’re designed to do,” said Capt Zachary Zimmerman, 391st Fighter Squadron weapons system officer. “To fight our way in, drop precision ordinance and fight our way out in a high-density, near-peer air-to-air and air-to-ground threat environment.”

The APG-82 AESA radar allows the F-15E Strike Eagle to bridge the gap between the fourth and fifth generation fighting force.

Furthermore the new radar can better integrate allowing the entire force to become more effective in combat as Capt. Bryan Hladik, 336th FS F-15E pilot, pointed out in a previous article, “The upgraded radar will further enhance our abilities to target [ISIL] through the weather. On days that visual acquisition of the target is not possible due to clouds, we will be able to take precise air-to-ground maps and target [Joint Direct Attack Munition] with a very high level of accuracy.”

Photo credit: Senior Airman Malissa Armstrong / U.S. Air Force

Artwork courtesy of AircraftProfilePrints.com