F-15 Multi-Stage Improvement Program (MSIP)

[F-2]

5 hours ago, wilbur81 said:

Interesting report. What source was this article from?

F-16adf on F-16.net posted it. I didnt get the name but he often finds stuff like this. He would probably tell you.

 

https://www.f-16.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=46&t=59744

[Ramius007]

Any plans to add pre MSIP II version, or allow editor options to remove 2010 tech, so it will actully fit scenarios with 80's FF Fulcrum provided earlier?

[Raven (Elysian Angel)]

54 minutes ago, Ramius007 said:

Any plans to add pre MSIP II version, or allow editor options to remove 2010 tech, so it will actully fit scenarios with 80's FF Fulcrum provided earlier?

 

[Ramius007]

1 hour ago, Raven (Elysian Angel) said:

 

Desert Storm Eagles were past MSIP I, it's preety much what current FC F-15 is, MSIP II was adding DL, helmet, 9x, not sure when GPS was added. Even just a DL is quite a gamechanger for 80's jet and ability that historically wasnt avaible, as you know already

[Raven (Elysian Angel)]

26 minutes ago, Ramius007 said:

Desert Storm Eagles were past MSIP

Those were actually very few aircraft: the ones in the most "elite" squadrons were rushed to get to upgrades, while the others - such as the USAFE birds deployed at Soesterberg were all pre-MSIP.

[NEW is my Callsign.]

Well the radar had a few differences. APG-63(V1) is the one we're probably getting, and Desert Storm birds had APG-63. But as far as I know in practice the radar should just have a few extra modes

[bies]

To put some facts in order - it was nearly all MSIP II during Gulf War. 

1. There was no F-15C MSIP I, original F-15 "MSIP Phase I" plan was canceled - USAF went straight to MSIP II ("MSIP Phase II"). MSIP II started in 1983, aircraft being operational since 1985 and modernization went fast and smooth.
2. All of the USAF F-15C Eagle squadrons that deployed to Desert Storm flew under MSIP II upgrades, with NCTR, upgraded computer, MPCD, AMRAAM integration (not utilized due to blue-on-blue concerns) etc.; 27th TFS (1st TFW, FF) "Fighting Eagles" operating from King Abdulaziz AB, 71st TFS (1st TFW, FF) "Ironmen" from King Abdulaziz AB, 53rd TFS (4th TFW, BT) "Tigers" from Prince Sultan AB, 58th TFS (33rd TFW, EG) "Gorillas" from King Faisal AB - all were flying MSIP II.
3. Saudi F-15C were pre-MISP II.
4. This four USAF F-15C MSIP II squadrons achieved 34 out of 36 F-15C air kills of Gulf War, 2 were achieved by Saudi pre-MSIP F-15C.
5. In late December 1990, USAFE had 10 F-15C Eagles already in Turkey on rotation and NATO exercises.
   When Turkey approved combat operations, those aircraft (drawn from rotational squadrons such as the 525th TFS and others) were merged into the 7440th Composite Wing (Provisional) at Incirlik on 16 January 1991.
   EDIT: This was non-MSIP II group, performing BARCAP outside of main combat area, in Northern Iraq, to prevent fleeing aircrafts from landing in Iran, similar to Saudi F-15C on the south.
6. USAF didn't want any non-MSIP II aircraft to be engaged in air combat as non-MSIP II didn't have the new NCTR capability which was a BIG deal, they were afraid of blue-on-blue without this additional IFF.

Edited 7 hours ago by bies

[Raven (Elysian Angel)]

13 minutes ago, bies said:

at Incirlik on 16 January 1991.
All of these F-15Cs were MSIP II-standard as well.

Not according to "Muddy" Watrous, who flew Soesterberg birds out of Incirlik.

[bies]

5 minutes ago, Raven (Elysian Angel) said:

Not according to "Muddy" Watrous, who flew Soesterberg birds out of Incirlik.

It must be true if he said so - and the reason why USAF gave 7440th Composite Wing and Saudi squadrons such a secondary/support role, mostly BARCAP outside of main combat area.

[Raven (Elysian Angel)]

43 minutes ago, bies said:

It must be true if he said so - and the reason why USAF gave 7440th Composite Wing and Saudi squadrons such a secondary/support role, mostly BARCAP outside of main combat area.

In one of the latest 10 Percent True interviews, he said that since the production line had stopped, the Saudi birds were taken out of his squadron so they are the exact same model: they had to give up 12 out of 24 aircraft for 36 pilots so they started rotating them out to different units too.
They are very interesting interviews :-) 

[bies]

46 minutes ago, Raven (Elysian Angel) said:

In one of the latest 10 Percent True interviews, he said that since the production line had stopped, the Saudi birds were taken out of his squadron so they are the exact same model: they had to give up 12 out of 24 aircraft for 36 pilots so they started rotating them out to different units too.
They are very interesting interviews

Yes, i must have heard it as i remember how they were waiting for Turkey to approve their operation from thir territory.