SPA Modeler

Don’t worry about the ECM pod. Keep it and the pylon for your spares bin. F-15s never carried those operationally. I don’t know why the different model companies include those on their kits. The F-15 has a full internal suite of ECM devices. Those tubes on the tops of the tail fins are part of that suite.

Ah Really? Thanks for the tip Gents!

Yes. The F-15 was designed with all the shortcomings of the F-4 over Vietnam in mind. A pure air to air fighter. The ECM pods in Vietnam took away a weapons pylon or missile bay. Build the system inside the airframe and able to be changed/upgraded, and that shortcoming is eliminated.

Although the ECM system on the F-15 is REALLY outdated now. The Strike Eagle is getting the new system but it's still undecided on whether the F-15C will get it.

That makes sense. The C Eagle was supposed to have been retired as our primary fighter over a decade ago, and replaced in active duty by the Raptor. The Strike Eagle has no projected replacement on the horizon, so it needs the most current ECM.

I wold love to see the -C Eagle get it too. I know the Raptor was supposed to be our main fighter now, but the Eagle is still a magnificent and kick-ass aircraft!

Well the Air Force needs more fighters and it needs a straight up fighter, not the F-35. Boeing is pushing a single seat version of the Saudi's F-15 Strike Eagles called the F-15X. Fly By Wire system, a cockpit display like the F-35, and turning on wing stations 1 and 9 for more missiles.

Yes, I’ve read of the F-15 basically being used as a “missile truck for AMRAAMs linked in with either JSFs or Raptors to get closer and do the targeting work. Sort of an aerial version of how the Navy Aegis system can operate with the master battle being controlled from a single location via data links.