The Air Force’s F-15E fighter is still a formidable weapon system and will remain so for decades, says Gen. Norton Schwartz, Chief of Staff. “I have an appreciation for what happens in that airplane and admiration as well,” Schwartz the Goldsboro News Argus, in a Nov. 23 report. The North Carolina newspaper covers the F-15E Strike Eagles of the 4th Fighter Wing at nearby Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. Schwartz told the News Argus that the versatile F-15E is being used “to great effect” in Southwest Asia today. “It has all the qualities you would want in an advanced platform,” with its ability to strike ground targets precisely, collect intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance information, or even scare away the enemy via its sheer presence, he said. According to Air Force data provided to the Daily Report, there are 223 F-15Es in the fleet. As of Aug. 31, they had an average age of 16.4 years and an average of 4,775 average flying hours on them. The oldest Strike Eagle entered the fleet in August 1987, while the newest joined the inventory in September 2004. Air Force officials have said they envision operating F-15Es out to about 2035. Major upgrades are underway to keep the aircraft viable. For example, the Air Force last month awarded Boeing a major contract for the development and integration phase of the new advanced electronically steered array radar for the F-15E. Raytheon builds this sophisticated radar, which is expected to be operational on the first F-15E unit before the middle of next decade.
Austin Confirmed to be 1st Black Defense Secretary
Jan. 22, 2021
The Senate on Jan. 21 confirmed Lloyd Austin to become the nation’s first Black Defense Secretary, one day after approving a waiver allowing him to lead the Pentagon just about five years after retiring from Active Duty. Austin, who retired in 2016 as the four-star commander of U.S. Central Command…