The SLAM Eagle. It just sounds badass, and one look at this jet will convey that it is badass, indeed. The F-15K is a multi-role fighter aircraft manufactured by Boeing for the Republic of Korea Air Force. It is an advanced variant of the F-15E Strike Eagle fielded by the USAF and, like its predecessor, it can conduct day/night long-range precision strike missions, in all weather conditions.
Equipped with state-of-the-art mission equipment to conduct air-to-ground, air-to-air, and air-to-sea missions, the F-15K has several features not typically found on USAF Strike Eagles. Included is an AAS-42 IRST, a customized Tactical Electronic Warfare Suite (TEWS) to increase jamming effectiveness, and cockpit compatibility with night vision goggles.
The ARC-232 U/VHF radio with Fighter Data Link system is standard, as well as the advanced APG-63(V)1 radar. The radar incorporates the air-to-air and air-to-ground modes of the APG-70 radar on U.S. jets with additional sea-surface searching/tracking, ground-moving target tracking, and enhanced high-resolution ground mapping for long-distance target identification. It allows the jet to engage air, land, and sea-based threats simultaneously.
The F-15K is also equipped with the Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System, interfacing the sensors with weapons such as AGM-84K SLAM-ER and JASSM, as well as the standard AIM-9 and AIM-120 air-to-air missile options. The combination of improved avionics and sensors, as well as advanced weaponry, make the SLAM Eagle a vicious, lethal platform.
(Featured Image Courtesy: Scott E Wolff)