The Air Force cleared the F-15E Strike Eagle’s radar modernization program to enter low-rate initial production starting next month, announced Boeing. “The RMP is the latest modification under way for the F-15E,” said Karen Butler, Boeing’s program manager. “It will ensure the F-15E has the capability and performance the US Air Force requires to achieve total air-to-air and air-to-ground dominance in the future.” Under the project, Boeing is installing the Raytheon-supplied APG-82(V)1 active electronically scanned array radar on the Strike Eagle fleet, replacing the aircraft’s existing APG-70 mechanically steered radar. This AESA borrows significantly from systems developed for the F-18E/F and F-15C, thereby reducing overall cost and integration risk, according to Boeing. The radar is currently in flight testing at Eglin AFB, Fla., Holloman AFB, N.M., and Nellis AFB, Nev. The Air Force has laid out plans to complete the fleet-wide upgrade by 2022.
The Air Force and Boeing agreed to a nearly $2.4 billion contract for a new lot of KC-46 aerial tankers on Nov. 21. The deal, announced by the Pentagon, is for 15 new aircraft in Lot 11 at a cost of $2.389 billion—some $159 million per tail.