Spino's Modern F-15 Mods

[Spino]

For those interested I will continue to post on my modern F-15 mods here.  It is fairly well-known that I have made an F-15EX mod that is currently available for download here: https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/3324876/
I hope to add a custom cockpit and external model to this mod at some point (it currently uses the F-15C cockpit and F-15E external model).

What is not well known yet is that I intend to make a modernized F-15C mod, since the F-15C in its current state in DCS has some glaring limitations.  Lack of AIM-9X capability is one of the main issues and one that I intend to partially correct, but I also want to implement some additional features that do not require loadout mods.  This mod will if possible be IC-compliant, though like most add-on aircraft mods it will not be usable in most multiplayer servers.  Development photos of the modernized F-15C to follow, for now here are a couple of my F-15EX mod:
 

Edit: F-15EX V1.6 available here: https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/3328343/

Don't forget to check out my YouTube channel for videos on the F-15 mods and other DCS-related content: https://www.youtube.com/@SpinosSimulations

Edited April 13, 2023 by Spino

[Spino]

Here are the planned features for the F-15EX, F-15C MSIP, F-15J, and F-15CX mods.  I will edit this over time to reflect what has been implemented.

 

F-15EX Eagle II Feature List:

- Legion IRST Pod (dummy store) (complete)

- AIM-120C-7 AMRAAM (complete)

- Advanced Missile and Bomb Racks (complete)

- Outer Wing Pylons (complete)

- Correct Cockpit

- Correct External Model (possibly)

- AIM-120D AMRAAM

- AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II Plus

- LRAAM or LREW (possibly)

- AIM-260 JATM

- APG-82(v1) Radar (within FC3 limitations)

- Limited ground attack capability (AGM-88F HCSM, AGM-88G AARGM-ER, unguided bombs/rockets)

- Possible air to ground version leveraging Su-25T avionics (once custom cockpit is implemented).

F-15EX Mod Download Link: https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/3328343/

 

F-15C Golden Eagle Variants Feature List:

- AIM-120C-7 AMRAAM (complete)

- AIM-120D AMRAAM (complete)

- AIM-260 JATM (requires F-22 enhancement mod)

- AIM-9X Sidewinder Block I and Block II Plus

- Legion IRST Pod (dummy store)

- APG-63(v3) Radar (within FC3 limitations) (complete)

F-15C Golden Eagle Download Link: https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/3331163/

 

F-15J Eagle Feature List:

- AAM-3 Short Range FOX-2 (complete)

- AAM-4A/B Medium-Range FOX-3 (WIP)

- AAM-5 Short Range FOX-2

- F-15DJ variant (possibly)

 

F-15CX Eagle 21 (Unbuilt) Feature List:

- AIM-120C-7 AMRAAM (complete)

- AIM-120D AMRAAM

- AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II Plus

- Legion Pod (dummy store) (complete

- AMBER racks on fuselage pylons (complete)

- Outer Wing stations

- APG-82(v1) Radar (within FC3 limitations)

Edited June 8, 2023 by Spino

[SilentSparrow]

39 minutes ago, Spino said:

Here are the planned features for both the F-15EX and F-15C(U) mods.  I will edit this over time to reflect what has been implemented.

F-15EX Eagle II Feature List:

- Legion IRST Pod (complete)

- AIM-120C-7 AMRAAM (complete)

- Advanced Missile and Bomb Racks (complete)

- Outer Wing Pylons (complete)

- Correct Cockpit

- Correct External Model

- AIM-120D AMRAAM

- AIM-9X Sidewinder Block III

- LRAAM (possibly)

F-15C (Modernized) Eagle Feature List:

- AIM-120C-7 AMRAAM

- AIM-120D AMRAAM

- AIM-9X Sidewinder Block I and Block III

- Legion IRST Pod

 

Nice! This is amazing! Will the Legion pod be actually implemented? Also, the AIM-9X has no Block III, that was cancelled in favor of the Block II Plus.

[FoxHoundELite]

[SilentSparrow]

1 minute ago, FoxHoundELite said:

Spino's really about to become the greatest mod maker of all time.

[henshao]

a pipe dream i'm sure but can we take the cfts off

[Spino]

The CFTs are never removed from the F-15E, I imagine the same goes for the EX.  Since I'm at the absolute limit for pylons on the F-15EX anyway, that will not be an option.  I may or may not add CFTs to the modernized F-15C, and if I do they will be removable, but I'm not sure that's possible either.

[SilentSparrow]

31 minutes ago, Spino said:

The CFTs are never removed from the F-15E, I imagine the same goes for the EX.  Since I'm at the absolute limit for pylons on the F-15EX anyway, that will not be an option.  I may or may not add CFTs to the modernized F-15C, and if I do they will be removable, but I'm not sure that's possible either.

I think they do get removed sometimes. If you need to go fast then you probably will keep CFTs off.

[Spino]

Not on the E, the whole point of having them is to give the F-15E extra range without having to carry fuel tanks on the pylons.  The CFTs don't impose much of a drag penalty.

[SilentSparrow]

For the EX, why have you corrected the fuel values to account for CFTs if they aren't there?

[Spino]

The CFTs are shown on all photos I can find of the F-15EX, they are also exist in the model, just not as removable payloads.  

[henshao]

3 hours ago, Spino said:

The CFTs don't impose much of a drag penalty

you are of course free to do what you want with the mod but this bit is not true for the "bomber" CFTs

[Jason32]

I have seen recently F-15E's out of RAF Lakenheath flying with no CFTs. So a option to fly with/without would be perfect if possible?

[SilentSparrow]

9 hours ago, Spino said:

The CFTs are shown on all photos I can find of the F-15EX, they are also exist in the model, just not as removable payloads.  

Where are the CFTs in this picture? I can't see them.

EDIT I confused CFTs with Drop Tanks. My mistake.

Edited December 16, 2022 by SilentSparrow

[ruddy122]

On the sides those fuel tanks are CFTs

It is a combo of fuel and weapons rack

[SilentSparrow]

Just now, ruddy122 said:

On the sides those fuel tanks are CFTs

It is a combo of fuel and weapons rack

I see them, thanks, but I already said I confused them with the Drop Tanks found under the wings.

[ruddy122]

Thats what makes a Strike Eagle visually different from an F-15D except the Israeli's they modified the F-15D to an F-15I

[SilentSparrow]

1 minute ago, ruddy122 said:

Thats what makes a Strike Eagle visually different from an F-15D except the Israeli's they modified the F-15D to an F-15I

Got it.

[ruddy122]

It is easy not to see them but once you know what to look for you can't unsee it

 

[SilentSparrow]

[Spino]

9 hours ago, henshao said:

you are of course free to do what you want with the mod but this bit is not true for the "bomber" CFTs

What are you talking about?  The CFTs do not add nearly as much drag as drop tanks.  They don't add much surface area to the Eagle.  Yes when loaded with bombs they do, but most of the extra drag goes away when the bombs are gone.  The pylons do impose some extra drag, but it shouldn't be too much extra.  Nothing like the wing pylons on the Super Hornet, those are angled out away from the aircraft and impose a huge drag penalty, especially with weapons attached.

 

 

6 hours ago, Jason32 said:

I have seen recently F-15E's out of RAF Lakenheath flying with no CFTs. So a option to fly with/without would be perfect if possible?

Are you sure they are Strike Eagles?  They could be C/D models.  I don't understand why USAF would remove them.  The Strike Eagle loses most of its bomb hard points and quite a bit of fuel capacity without them.

 

Edited December 16, 2022 by Spino

[henshao]

14 minutes ago, Spino said:

What are you talking about?  The CFTs do not add nearly as much drag as drop tanks. 

if you've already made up your mind don't sweat it I don't want to clog up the thread with this

[Lt.Turbo]

10 hours ago, Spino said:

What are you talking about?  The CFTs do not add nearly as much drag as drop tanks.  They don't add much surface area to the Eagle.  Yes when loaded with bombs they do, but most of the extra drag goes away when the bombs are gone.  The pylons do impose some extra drag, but it shouldn't be too much extra.  Nothing like the wing pylons on the Super Hornet, those are angled out away from the aircraft and impose a huge drag penalty, especially with weapons attached.

 

 

Are you sure they are Strike Eagles?  They could be C/D models.  I don't understand why USAF would remove them.  The Strike Eagle loses most of its bomb hard points and quite a bit of fuel capacity without them.

 

The F-15Cs at Lakenheath left earlier this year. They're being replaced by F-35s. As far as I know, the Strike Eagles will fly to a depot for repairs or maybe post-maintenance check flights without the CFTs but that's about it.

 

[Spino]

At some point I hope to replace the F-15E model with either this or something similar.  This is the "quick" solution, since it removes the need to modify and retexture an existing F-15E model.

[Jason32]

11 hours ago, Spino said:

What are you talking about?  The CFTs do not add nearly as much drag as drop tanks.  They don't add much surface area to the Eagle.  Yes when loaded with bombs they do, but most of the extra drag goes away when the bombs are gone.  The pylons do impose some extra drag, but it shouldn't be too much extra.  Nothing like the wing pylons on the Super Hornet, those are angled out away from the aircraft and impose a huge drag penalty, especially with weapons attached.

 

 

Are you sure they are Strike Eagles?  They could be C/D models.  I don't understand why USAF would remove them.  The Strike Eagle loses most of its bomb hard points and quite a bit of fuel capacity without them.

 

 

Lakenheath only has F-15E's variants now.