F-15 Eagle fighters get new electronic warfare system to break through enemy air defense systems
The U.S. Air Force has begun installing a new electronic warfare system on F-15 Eagle fighters from McDonnel Douglas.
Here's What We Know
The EPAWSS (Eagle Passive/Active Warning and Survivability System) was developed by British defense company BAE Systems. It uses a database of radio signal sources to identify the radars of enemy surface-to-air missile systems. The integration is being done jointly with Boeing.
EPAWSS will enable fighters to operate in today's threat environment with a dense radio frequency background. The system can identify types of radio signal sources, and then automatically determines which method of electronic suppression should be used.
EPAWSS was procured in 2020. In 2021, the U.S. Air Force tested the F-15 Eagle with EPAWSS for the first time. The planes were used to clear the way for the fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II fighters. A total of 12 public tests have been conducted since 2021.
The cost of Eagle Passive/Active Warning and Survivability System is $4 billion. The United States plans to install such an electronic warfare system on all aircraft by 2030.
Source: Defense Brief
