USAF considers buying one wing of 4th gen. fighters, fit NGJ on F-15Es

U.S. Air Force officials told attendees at the Defense IQ International Fighter Conference that the service is looking into getting 72 new 4th generation fighters to “sustain force numbers.”

Airstrikes in Syria 140923-F-UL677-654
By Senior Airman Matthew Bruch (https://www.dvidshub.net/image/1565198) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Besides the F-15 and F-16, the service could consider the F/A-18 as well. The Combat Avionics Program Extension Suite (Capes) upgrade for the F-16 may revive to enhance the fighter’s capabilities. Currently, only the RoCAF has signed on for the Capes upgrade.

There is also a proposal to give the F-15E some electronic warfare capability by fitting some jets with Raytheon’s Next Generation Jammer pod.

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