F-15EX Mod

[VR Flight Guy in PJ Pants]

Not made by me. It can be downloaded from here (registration required):

https://combatace.com/files/file/17816-f-15ex-eagle-ii-mod-for-dcs-world-beta/

F-15C required. Same F-15C cockpit but just only A-A now.

 

[Sorata]

Cant download the mod. I registered and was awaiting approval and they immediately suspended my account and I never did anything. Guess they want this private and invite only.

Edited July 4, 2022 by Sorata

[Spino]

I don't know why that would be.  I've been a combatace member for a while now, and I have never had any trouble.  I actually uploaded that mod, but I'm working on tweaking it a bit if I can.

The mod itself was made by KNZubr, shout out to him for most of the work.

Edited July 13, 2022 by Spino

[Spino]

Should have an updated version up on the DCS User Files soon.  Also the CombatAce download has been updated.

[Spino]

Here is a dropbox link to the latest version: https://www.dropbox.com/s/h8e1jy4he5dga2d/F-15EX.zip?dl=0

[Sorata]

On 7/13/2022 at 4:51 PM, Spino said:

Here is a dropbox link to the latest version: https://www.dropbox.com/s/h8e1jy4he5dga2d/F-15EX.zip?dl=0

Ah thank you so much!

Yeah not sure why that happened either. I never even got to post anything just signed up and awaited an approval email like the directions said. I went back to the site after not getting an email for a good while only to find I was suspended when I went back to check the site 

[einarabelc5]

I found this mod using the User Files feature of the main DCS site. Never heard of this thread until now.

[Arkid77]

I found it here as well: https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/3324876/

[Spino]

Yes, I posted it on the User Files.

A couple of people have made custom liveries for it, glad to see it getting some love!
https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/search/?tags=F-15IDN

https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/3326814/

[SilentSparrow]

This, like a few other mods, is important because it gives us something new to try. the F-15EX allows us to use a missile truck with 9Xs and good maneuverability. This is something special and likely why it's getting love. Thanks so much for making this, @Spino!

@SpinoYou have said you want to make an F-15EX with a custom cockpit. Are you making that custom cockpit with textures from the F-15? Because the F-15EX has a JHMCS (And our F-15C doesn't), you might be wanting to use textures from the Su-27 for it, with a custom HUD.

There's also the possibility of making a custom flight model. We would love a custom FM, as it would allow us to accurately sim the F-15EX without any differences from the real thing (The one we have has just a few due to the barely more powerful F110 and 2 seats). We'd also love someone from the community to come in and make a custom texture for the F-15EX.

Also, would it be possible to add the 2 extra pylons? I think that basing the aircraft on FC3 aircraft allows you to do that. If not, maybe you can use the Su-27 model to add the pylons and a JHMCS analogue (The Eurofighter mod has an HMD based off of the Su-27s that you can use) as well as the aforementioned custom cockpit and HUD.

Finally, I see a pod on the underbelly that I think is the Legion pod. Because using a custom cockpit with Su-27 elements is possible, would it be possible to implement a Legion pod analogue (The Su-27s IRST)?

Sorry for the long post, just wanted to make a few suggestions.

Sincerely,

SilentSparrow

[Spino]

13 minutes ago, SilentSparrow said:

This, like a few other mods, is important because it gives us something new to try. the F-15EX allows us to use a missile truck with 9Xs and good maneuverability. This is something special and likely why it's getting love. Thanks so much for making this, @Spino!

@SpinoYou have said you want to make an F-15EX with a custom cockpit. Are you making that custom cockpit with textures from the F-15? Because the F-15EX has a JHMCS (And our F-15C doesn't), you might be wanting to use textures from the Su-27 for it, with a custom HUD.

There's also the possibility of making a custom flight model. We would love a custom FM, as it would allow us to accurately sim the F-15EX without any differences from the real thing (The one we have has just a few due to the barely more powerful F110 and 2 seats). We'd also love someone from the community to come in and make a custom texture for the F-15EX.

Also, would it be possible to add the 2 extra pylons? I think that basing the aircraft on FC3 aircraft allows you to do that. If not, maybe you can use the Su-27 model to add the pylons and a JHMCS analogue (The Eurofighter mod has an HMD based off of the Su-27s that you can use) as well as the aforementioned custom cockpit and HUD.

Finally, I see a pod on the underbelly that I think is the Legion pod. Because using a custom cockpit with Su-27 elements is possible, would it be possible to implement a Legion pod analogue (The Su-27s IRST)?

Sorry for the long post, just wanted to make a few suggestions.

Sincerely,

SilentSparrow

To be honest with you, I'm really trying just to get a handle on how to make a custom cockpit.  I have been working on a custom cockpit, but it needs to be UV mapped and textured ,and then animated, and I have experience with none of those things.  So once I get the 3D model of the cockpit finished, I either have to find someone who knows how to do those things and is willing to put the effort in for it, or learn it myself.  I also have been working on a new F-15EX external model, but it also needs textures/UV mapping, and animations.

I am working towards releasing a new version with a modified SFM, including corrected thrust values for the engines (before it was the same as the F-15C's F100 engines, ~25,000lbf each in full AB), and corrected fuel capacity (also previously referenced from the F-15C and did not account for the conformal fuel tanks).  I might one day try to make a custom EFM, but that's at the bottom of the pile right now.  In my opinion, correct cockpit and external models, semi-correct SFM, and weapons implementation are considerably higher priority.

My next release will include outer wing pylons and improved AIM-120 variants.  Unfortunately due to FC3 limitations the implementation of these is a bit sketchy.  The F-15C avionics only support 11-12 hardpoints, any more and DCS crashes every time you try to load a mission with it.  Therefore I had to work around that using double launchers.  Sketchy, but it works.

I would like to do full custom avionics for the F-15EX at some point as well, but that's another one of those things that is toward the bottom of the pile.  Unless I get around to that, the F-15C avionics will remain and there will not be any JHMCS/HMD capability.  IRST with the Legion pod also falls into this category for the time being.

At some point soon I will post development screenshots.

[Spino]

You can see here what I'm up against.  I basically had to start from scratch with the cockpit.  The external model was downloaded for free, but had to be modified with the re-worked tail booms and the fairings on either side of the cockpit.  The nozzles are what's really holding this up, getting the shape on those right isn't easy, and that's before we talk animation!  The current implementation of the mod still uses the F-15C cockpit and F-15E external model, but does have the outer wing pylons enabled (sort of).  AMBER racks are currently not implemented, but I hope to change that soon.

Edited December 5, 2022 by Spino

[SilentSparrow]

11 minutes ago, Spino said:

nullYou can see here what I'm up against.  I basically had to start from scratch with the cockpit.  The external model was downloaded for free, but had to be modified with the re-worked tail booms and the fairings on either side of the cockpit.  The nozzles are what's really holding this up, getting the shape on those right isn't easy, and that's before we talk animation!  The current implementation of the mod still uses the F-15C cockpit and F-15E external model, but does have the outer wing pylons enabled (sort of).  AMBER racks are currently not implemented, but I hope to change that soon.

It's still going along great! Amazing job on the cockpit! Do you plan to release the AMBER racks soon? Also, Will the cockpit be fully true to the F-15EX or still have some F-15 avionics in it? Do you plan on changing the pilot and WSO model to put the visors over their faces? Lastly, in the final picture, are those AMBER racks I'm seeing?

Edited December 5, 2022 by SilentSparrow

[Spino]

AMBER is currently not implemented, those are placeholder double AMRAAM rails.  The mod will use F-15C avionics for the time being, even with the custom cockpit, though I may make a temporary air to ground variant using A-10A avionics once the custom cockpit is ready.  I do hope to release AMBER with the next update, not exactly sure when that will be though.  I have some issues with the outer wing pylons to sort out.

Edited December 5, 2022 by Spino

[SilentSparrow]

Yeah, I know the LAU-115s, just thought my eyes saw the AMBER holding them closer together.

Speaking of the AMBER, you have worked on it for quite some time so you may know it more than me, do you think the AMBER rack could replace the LAU-115 on the F-18 now that the AIM-7 is out of service and the AIM-120 is staying in service for some time?

[Spino]

AMBER could do that, but what would be the point?  I don't see much of a point in putting AMBER on a Super Hornet unless the outer wing pylons can support the weight of two AIM-120s.  Then maybe it makes sense if you want to, say, carry air to ground stuff on the inner four wing hardpoints but still want 4-5 AIM-120s on board too.  That would be one HEAVY Super Hornet though.  AMBER is also supposed to carry bombs, but again, I don't see the point when the BRU-33. -42, -55, and -57 already exist and do exactly the same job - carry two bombs where one would otherwise go.  It makes sense for the F-15EX since the AIM-120s need to be carried closer together to clear the targeting pods, and also for the F-35 if something big like a JSOW is on the inboard wing pylon and you need two AIM-120s next to it.  Not totally sure it's worth it for a Super Hornet though.

Outer wing pylon implementation is still WIP, but getting closer.  Just missing textures now.null

Edited December 6, 2022 by Spino

[SilentSparrow]

1 hour ago, Spino said:

AMBER could do that, but what would be the point?  I don't see much of a point in putting AMBER on a Super Hornet unless the outer wing pylons can support the weight of two AIM-120s.  Then maybe it makes sense if you want to, say, carry air to ground stuff on the inner four wing hardpoints but still want 4-5 AIM-120s on board too.  That would be one HEAVY Super Hornet though.  AMBER is also supposed to carry bombs, but again, I don't see the point when the BRU-33. -42, -55, and -57 already exist and do exactly the same job - carry two bombs where one would otherwise go.  It makes sense for the F-15EX since the AIM-120s need to be carried closer together to clear the targeting pods, and also for the F-35 if something big like a JSOW is on the inboard wing pylon and you need two AIM-120s next to it.  Not totally sure it's worth it for a Super Hornet though.

Outer wing pylon implementation is still WIP, but getting closer.  Just missing textures now.null

 

You could carry it on the outer pylons which would allow 2 more missiles to be carried. This is exactly what Hangman did near the end of Top Gun: Maverick: He was carrying something that looked like an AMBER on the outer rail. Also, replacing the BRU-33, 42, 55, and 57 as well as the LAU-115 would definitely help with maintenance.

Since we're talking about strapping weird weapons onto aircraft do you think you could take an F-15EX and strap a GBU-57 onto it? It's 30 thousand pounds but that's only 500 more than the max payload capacity and it'll be below the max takeoff weight so you might want to add lots of weapons to this F-15EX (Smart ones could be guided by something else)

Edited December 6, 2022 by SilentSparrow

[Spino]

Well the issue there is that I can put basically whatever I want on it, but it has to be implemented in such a way that it can actually be dropped/fired with the F-15's avionics, and that's easier said than done.  GBU-57 is about six times the weight of the heaviest bomb ever strapped to an F-15E, the GBU-28, so it's probably far in excess of the weight limits of any single pylon on the F-15.  Besides, it might be too out-sized to even fit on the centerline, which is where anything that heavy would have to go.  Ground clearance might be an issue.  Too heavy for sure though, no F-15 pylon is rated for that.

[Spino]

[Mapi]

how looks the pit?

[Spino]

Not worth showing at the moment, I may have to start all over again.

[SilentSparrow]

15 hours ago, Spino said:

Not worth showing at the moment, I may have to start all over again.

It's ok, the DCS community wants you to keep making it. Why do you might have to start all over again?

[Geschirre]

He' talking about the cockpit, since it is closer to what the strike eagle has then the F-15C.

I am very impressed with this mod and how far it has come.  When I randomly found your upload on combatace (before it was posted here).  I have learned a lot about weapons .luas and CLSIDs from messing with the F-15EXs load outs.  Now that you adding the additional pylons on to the wings to make it "anatomically accurate" it looks even better.  I saw the video you posted of your F-14 mod vs the Indonesian F-15EXs.  Nice camera work hiding the missing pylons, but here we are with photo evidence that you have added the pylons.  Even if they are inactive, because the F-15EX (F-15E) weapon stations only go up to 15 (I think, 7 a side and centerline) and you are adding two more.  I would think it could be pretty difficult to add to more "functioning" pylons to a legacy DCS aircraft.  Keep it up Spino and thank you for this mod.

[Valium]

I'm a bit surprised that EX has hud. I expected something like in F-35 tbh.

[henshao]

On 12/6/2022 at 3:03 PM, Spino said:

Well the issue there is that I can put basically whatever I want on it, but it has to be implemented in such a way that it can actually be dropped/fired with the F-15's avionics, and that's easier said than done.  GBU-57 is about six times the weight of the heaviest bomb ever strapped to an F-15E, the GBU-28, so it's probably far in excess of the weight limits of any single pylon on the F-15.  Besides, it might be too out-sized to even fit on the centerline, which is where anything that heavy would have to go.  Ground clearance might be an issue.  Too heavy for sure though, no F-15 pylon is rated for that.

gbu-28 is close, israel uses F-15D wing station to haul their 3.5t silver sparrow BMD target missiles