Boeing to Convert Saudi F-15S Jets Into F-15SA Configuration

Boeing has won a contract valued $22 million for Saudi F-15S to F-15SA (Eagle Fighters) aircraft conversion support.

This contract provides support for the conversion of the Royal Saudi Air Force F-15S into an F-15SA aircraft, which includes program management, reach-back support for the 48 continental United States and Washington, D.C.; temporary on-site for outside the continental U.S. assistance (if needed); and round robin repairs.

Work is expected to be complete by December 30, 2022.

F-15SA is the advanced version of the F-15S. In October 2010, Saudi Arabia requested 84 F-15SA (Saudi Advanced) fighters, upgrading of its existing F-15S fleet to F-15SA standard, and related equipment and weapons through a Foreign Military Sale. A $29.4 billion deal for the new jets as well as for F-15S upgrade (70 aircraft) was signed in December 2011. Two months ago, Boeing was awarded $9.8 billion for F-15S modernization.

The new upgrade is expected to bring the Saudi F-15s on par with the F-15QT ordered by Qatar.

The aircraft features a digital electronic warfare suite, fly-by-wire flight control system, Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, an infrared search-and-track system, advanced cockpit displays and Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing Systems.

The Saudi F-15SA will be the first Eagle variant to be fitted with the BAE Systems North America digital electronic warfare system (DEWS) originally proposed for the F-15SE Silent Eagle, which combines and integrates a digital radar warning receiver, digital jamming transmitter, integrated countermeasures dispenser and an interference cancellation system so effectively that the aircraft will be able to jam enemy radars even as its own radar and radar warning receiver (RWR) continue to operate.

The F-15SA will use third-generation LANTIRN Tiger Eye navigation pods and AN/AAQ-33 Sniper targeting pods, and the fleet will be compatible with remotely operated video enhanced receivers (ROVER), which allows seamless communications with suitably equipped ground forces, including forward air controllers.