ACC is working with the Air National Guard to determine whether to upgrade the Guard’s F-15Cs with an Active Electronically-Scanned Array radar. ACC chief Keys said that some sort of AESA capability is going to be needed to do homeland defense against cruise missiles. The command is checking out the radar on a small number of F-15s first, to see if it performs as advertised.
As Air Force leaders consider concepts of operations for Collaborative Combat Aircraft, sustainment in the field—and easing that support by using standard parts and limiting variants—should be a key consideration, according to a new study from AFA's Mitchell Institute of Aerospace Studies.