APG-70 Radar
The APG-70 is based on the F-15C's APG-63 pulse-doppler radar which was optimised for the detection of air targets. The APG-70 retains all of the excellent capabilities of the APG-63 while at the same time featuring additional functions to aid in the precision strike role. The most notable feature of the APG-70 is its ability to produce photo-realistic patch maps of a given area down to the 8.5 foot (2.6 m) resolution. This resolution however can only be attained while within 10 nautical miles of the target. At greater distances the resolution diminishes to a maximum of 127 feet (38.7 m) at 160 nautical miles from the target. The quality of the HRM is also dependent on the "grazing angle" of the radar, the angle at which the radar beam strikes the surface that is to be mapped. The APG-70 has a minimum angle of 0.5 degrees which translates into an altitude of 1,000 feet for every 20 nm from the target. As a result, if the F-15E is performing a low-level ingress, the aircraft must increase altitude temporarily while the radar generates a HRM.
LANTIRN
The LANTIRN (Low-Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infra-Red for Night) system is made up of two separate pods, one mounted under each air-intake of the F-15E. One pod is primarily for low-level navigation in poor weather conditions while the other pod performs targeting roles. The AAQ-13 navigation pod under the right intake features a Texas Instruments terrain following radar which operates in the Ku band. Mounted inside the lower cylindrical pod of this two-level package, the antenna for the radar is located behind a small radome at the front of the unit. This radar has been coupled with the flight controls and throttle to provide a hands-off terrain-following course while maintaining a constant altitude down to a minimum of 200 feet. The KuBand radar features five operating modes; normal, weather, LPI (Low Probability of Intercept) ECCM, and VLC (Very Low Clearance). Mounted above the TFR pod is the Forward Looking Infra-Red (FLIR). Through a small window at the front of the unit, the FLIR provides the pilot with a 1:1 IR image of the world which is superimposed on the aircraft's Head Up Display (HUD), allowing the pilot see at night.
Beneath the left intake, the AAQ-14 targeting pod is made up of a sepparate attack FLIR and laser designator/range-finder housed inside of a small aerodynamic turret at the front of the cylindrical pod. Movement of the optics is provided by a nodding turret-head and rotating section of the pod, which work in conjunction with each other. Together, they provide the FLIR with a Field of Regard (FoR) measuring 150 degrees in any direction from its fully-forward position. The FLIR can be slaved to the radar or controlled separately by the crew in order to provide a view of the designated target. This FLIR offers several levels of magnification to allow for identification of targets from considerable distance. The laser designator/range-finder is correlated with the attack FLIR and can provide accurate ranges to designated objects. In addition, it is capable of sending specially-coded bursts of laser for the guidance of laser-guided bombs. The turret moves in relation to the target so that alignment of the sensor is independent of the aircraft's motion.
| AN/AAQ-13 Navigation Pod |
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Length
Diameter
Weight
Unit Cost
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78.2 inches (1.99 meters)
12 inches (0.31 meters)
470 pounds (211.5 kilograms)
$1.38 million
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| AN/AAQ-14 Targeting Pod |
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Length
Diameter
Weight
Unit Cost
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98.5 inches (2.51 meters)
15 inches (0.38 meters)
524 pounds (235.8 kilograms)
$3.2 million
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Cockpit
Controlling this avionics package is a crew of two who occupy a cockpit optimised for the strike role and designed to ensure an efficient division of labour. The pilot is seated in the front while the Weapons System Operator (WSO) is seated directly behind the pilot under a single canopy. Both cockpits feature flight controls though the WSO is typically not a qualified pilot. The pilot's station features a Kaiser ID2349/A wide-angled HUD below which is mounted the Up-Front Controller which is used to select radio channels and to enter in navigational data. Mounted on either side of the UFC are a pair of 6"x6" Kaiser monochromatic Multi-Function Displays. Below the UFC is mounted a 5"x5" Sperry colour Multi-Function Display. Each of these three MFDs can display a wide variety of data as well as radar and FLIR images. Superimposed on these displays are menu options that can be selected using either via buttons mounted to the bezel of each MFD, or through the HOTAS controls mounted on the stick and throttle.
The WSO station features a row of four MFDs with two Sperrys at the ends of the row, and two Kaisers occupying the two inner positions. In addition to the normal flight controls, the WSO has a sepparate hand-controller on each side of the seat in order to more efficiently control the sensors and the displays. Like the stick and throttle, these two controllers are studded with switches and buttons so that the WSO does not have to look away from the displays to search for a particular control. The WSO station also has it's own UFC, but it is mounted off to the side under the right MFD.
Defences
To survive in the skies above the modern battlefield, the F-15E is outfitted with an electronic warning/defence package designed to detect threats, classify them, and provide adequate protection against those threats. The heart of this defensive system is known as the Tactical Electronic Warning System (TEWS). The TEWS alerts the pilot to threats to the aircraft and administers countermeasures against those threats. The Radar Warning Receiver is made up of spiral antennas located in the wingtips and in small fairings at the ends of the left vertical stabiliser. There is also a blade antenna located forward of the nosewheel bay. Upon detection, the system them decides on the best countermeasure mix to use in order to counter the threat radar. Electronic countermeasures are delivered via the ALQ-135C radar jammer through antennas located at the tip of the right vertical stabiliser and in fairings at the end of each tail-boom. Countermeasures can also be delivered by way of the Tracor ALE-45 chaff/flare dispensers.
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