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The performance improvement version of the F-15K plans to introduce the APG-82(v)1 AESA radar, EPAWSS electronic warfare equipment, and ADCP-Ⅱ.
On February 18, 2022, at the 148th Defense Project Promotion Committee, it was decided that the Korean Air Force would improve the performance of 59 F-15Ks. Subsequently, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, the Air Force, and Boeing began serious negotiations, and the F-15K performance improvement is scheduled to begin in earnest from 2024.
The direction of the announced improvement project is to invest 3.46 trillion won to introduce the APG-82(v)1 AESA radar, EPAWSS (Eagle Passive/Active Warning and Survivability System) electronic warfare equipment, and ADCP-Ⅱ computer to the F-15K.
Especially, Japan conducted price negotiations with many frictions with Boeing, and it was a great help to lower the price as Japan ordered 68 performance improvement systems for the F-15JSI (Japanese Super Interceptor), which has almost the same specifications as Korea’s F15K.
It is a King Jeongjong ship. By ordering the SPY-1D(v) radar and Aegis combat system at the same time as the Japanese Maya class, the project cost was greatly reduced.
In addition, the Korean Navy ordered the Aegis combat system for the KD-3 class with the Japanese Atago class Aegis ship, and ordered the Aegis combat system for the KD-3 BatchⅡ class with the Japanese Maya class Aegis ship, greatly reducing the introduction price.
Furthermore, using the performance improvement content and analysis of the F-15JSI project announced by Japan, we can predict the future air combat capabilities that the Korean Air Force F-15K will secure, so I will explain it.
Start of Japan’s F-15J improvement project
The Japan Defense Agency and the Air Self-Defense Force have mentioned through various channels that the air threat has deepened to a level that cannot be properly responded to even with the latest model F-15J MSIP since the 2010s.
The main air threat targets of Japan are China and Russia, both of which have begun to operate the latest development of the Su-27 series, the Su-30 and Su-35 (in the case of China, the J-11 series is added). The typical cases are the close air flight incidents of the Russian Air Force’s Su-35S that occurred in 2018-19.
Japan operates more than 200 F-15Js, and plans to introduce F-15JSI performance improvements to half of them, 102.
◆ Threat of Russian New Fighter
The Su-35 series of Russia, which was deployed in real battle after 2008, is an advanced type that integrates the new AL-41F series engine, Irbis-E phase array radar, new electronic warfare equipment, and air-to-air armament, based on the powerful air superiority fighter Su-27 comparable to the initial type F-15. As a result, it is evaluated that it has an advantage even against the F-15J that has undergone J-MSIP improvement in terms of performance.
The performance of the Su-27 derivative was widely known through the air combat training between the United States and India in 2004. At that time, the Indian Air Force’s Su-30MKI won a complete victory against the pre-improved F-15C, and the results of this training greatly influenced the decision of the US Air Force to further improve the F-15C/D MSIP II.
The Su-35S, the final improvement of the Su-27 series that appeared in 2007, has evolved beyond the Su-30MK. Especially, the difference in mobility is very serious. The Su-35S equipped with a new engine has the ability to preempt altitude and azimuth advantageous for attack or evade and withdraw from combat in the usual high-altitude interception area of the Air Self-Defense Force, altitude 35,000~50,000ft(10.5~15km), which is far superior to the F-15J.
In addition, China and Russia have either deployed the J-20 and Su-57, fifth-generation fighters that surpass the Su-35S, in real battle, or are close to real battle deployment. The J-20 and Su-57, equipped with powerful radar stealth performance, high-output engines, and high-performance active phased array radars, can sufficiently overwhelm the improved F-15J in almost all situations.
Russia’s Su-35S possesses air combat capabilities that surpass the current F-15J and F-15K through continuous performance improvement.
Can’t beat Su-35S?
The Russian Su-35S fighter, which is being deployed, is equipped with the N035 Irbis-E passive phased array radar, which can expand the detection angle through the mechanical operation of the gimbal with a long detection distance by adopting a large high-output antenna.
In addition, it uses the L-175V Khibiny digital ECM (Electronic countermeasure) system, which provides automatic electronic countermeasure functions. These devices have been evaluated to overwhelm the APG-63(v)1 and the old ALQ-135 ECM system used by the F-15C MSIP II of the US Air Force or the F-15 J-MSIP applied machine of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force in terms of performance. (The Korean Air Force F-15K is also equipped with the same APG-63(v)1 and ALQ-135M ECM equipment.)
The Type 1475 of the Chinese J-20 stealth fighter or the N036 Byelka of the Russian Su-57 stealth fighter, which were developed by China and Russia, have hardly been disclosed in terms of performance-related information. However, considering the structural characteristics of mechanical radar, passive phased array, and active phased array radar, it is highly likely to exhibit performance that overwhelms the N035 radar.
The Japan Air Self-Defense Force concluded that if it faces the Su-35S or its improved version of the Su-27 series, and the Su-57 and J-20, it cannot properly
