Kadena F-15s to relocate some training to Guam

Following years of controversy, Japan and the United States have reportedly reached an agreement to move some USAF F-15 training from Okinawa to Guam. Two squadrons of the USAF Pacific Air Force's 18th Wing's F-15s are based at Okinawa's Kadena airbase.

PHOTO: North Carolina F-15E training mission

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Flares are released from an F-15E Strike Eagle during a local training mission Dec. 17, 2010, over North Carolina. The F-15E is from the 335th Fighter Squadron from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Michael B. Keller)

Related: USAF F-15E training mission Photo slideshow

Israeli F-15Is get Small Diameter Bombs

The Israeli air force has armed its Boeing F-15Is with the GBU-39 and GBU-40 small diameter bomb (SDB). The IDF/AF expects its Eagles will achieve Initial Operating Capability with the weapon in 2011, and is evaluating whether to integrate its F-16s with SDB capabililty.

Saudi F-15 training to be conducted at Mountain Home

There will now to be two different organizations called the RSAF at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho. The US Air Force has announced that Mountain Home is their preferred alternative to host a twelve-aircraft Royal Saudi Air Force F-15SA maintenance and flying training unit. The Republic of Singapore Air Force already has a F-15SG training unit attached to the USAF's 366th Fighter Wing based there.

RoKAF receives three more F-15Ks

Boeing has delivered three more F-15K Slam Eagles to the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) at in early November. This is the second batch from South Korea's second order of 21 aircraft. As reported here earlier, the first three aircraft from this batch were delivered in September.

Mountain Home, Hill, Holloman or Nellis to host Saudi F-15 training

Pending an official announcement on a shortlist later this month, Mountain Home AFB in Idaho, Holloman AFB in New Mexico, Hill AFB in Utah and Nellis AFB in Nevada have emerged as the likely locations to host a Royal Saudi Air Force F-15 training detachment. The RSAF has ordered 84 new F-15s, and will upgrade 70 existing aircraft.

New S Korean defence minister changes RoE

At his confirmation hearing, incoming South Korean Defence Minister has said that air strikes could be utilised in response to future North Korean attacks. RoKAF F-15Ks were launched in the November artillery exchange but not sent into action, although South Korean counterbattery fire has been criticised as slow and inaccurate.

PHOTO: F-15DJ at Keen Sword

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A Japan Air Self Defense Force F-15 waits to refuel just beyond the wingtip of a 909th Air Refueling Squadron KC-135 during bilateral air refueling training May 17. Kadena Airmen have provided air refueling training to JASDF F-15 pilots since 2003. This month, the two nations are working together again to certify about 20 JASDF pilots as they prepare to participate in an upcoming Red Flag exercise in Alaska. (Air Force/Tech. Sgt. Chrissy Best)

Indonesia, Singapore conduct Ex Elang Indopura 16/10

The Indonesian and Singaporean air forces are currently conducting Ex Elang Indopura in Indonesia's West Nusa Tenggara Province. The host nation is contributing F-5E/F Tiger IIs, F-16s and Su-30s while the RSAF has sent its F-15SGs, F-16s and F-5s.

Israeli AF exercises with Italians

With low level flying and interception in mind, The Israeli Air Force has taken part in joint training exercises with the Italian Air Force. Israeli F-15s and F-16s took part in the exercises, with Eurofighter Typhoons included in the host nation's force lineup. The exercise was also marked the first overseas training for the G550 Eitam AEW aircraft.

North Korean MiG-23s active before shelling incident

Reports indicate that North Korea's MiG-23s were active before/during the incident on Tuesday when North Korean artillery shelled an island in South Korea. However differing accounts exist as to what the KPAF MiGs did, China's sina.com reporting that there was nearly a confrontation between five MiGs and eight RoKAF F-15/F-16s, Japan's Asahi Shimbun reporting that the MiGs flew over the area before the barrage, while the Sydney Morning Herald reported that the MiGs took off from an airbase near Pyongyang and conducted a reconnaissance mission before landing at another airbase near the DMZ between the two Koreas.

Upgraded F-15Cs delivered to Kadena

Four F-15Cs upgraded with the APG-63(V)3 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar have been delivered to the 18th Wing at Kadena Air force Base, Okinawa. The newly arrived F-15Cs will join the APG-63(V)1 and (V)2 aircraft already in the 44th and 67th Fighter Squadrons.

Boeing, KAI enters MoU on Silent Eagle weapons bay

Boeing has announced that it has entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. (KAI) for KAI to design, develop and manufacture the Conformal Weapons Bay (CWB) for the F-15 Silent Eagle. In addition to being fitted on the proposed F-15SE Silent Eagle, the CWB can also be installed on existing F-15s.

USAF Eagles head to Romania for joint exercises

The 493rd Fighter Squadron of the USAF's 48th Fighter Wing has flown ten F-15 Eagles to Campia Turzii Airbase in Romania for Exercise Golden Lance with the Romanian Air Force. The 493rd is normally based at RAF Lakenheath in England while Campai Turzii is home to the Romanian Air Force's upgraded MiG-21 Lancers.

US announces massive arms sale to Saudi Arabia

As expected, the United States has announced a US$60-billion arms package to Saudi Arabia. The sale will include 84 F-15SA Eagles (a derivative of the F-15E) , 70 AH-64D Apache attack helicopters, 72 UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters and 36 light helicopters. The sale also includes the upgrade of the existing F-15S to F-15SA standard.

Also see:
Sale of F-15SA Eagles to Saudi Arabia
Sale of AH-64D Longbow Apache to Saudi Arabia

US, South Korea to begin air defence exercise

South Korea and the United States will begin a regular air force training exercise this week. Exercise Max Thunder will involve RoKAF F-15s and F-16s from the RoKAF and USAF, and will be staged over the western airspace of the Korean Peninsula

USAF finalises planned aircraft retirements

The USAF has moved the last of 252 aircraft it has planned to retire to the boneyard at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona. F-15s, F-16s and A-10s were retired.

USAF declares Synthetic Aperture Radar pod operational on F-15E

The USAF has declared the Northrop Grumman AN/ASQ-236 Synthetic Aperture Radar Pod operational on the F-15E Strike Eagle. The SAR Pod provides detailed maps for surveillance, coordinate generation and bomb impact assessment purposes.

Japan to terminate F-15J recon conversion contract

The Japanese Defense Ministry has decided not to allow Toshiba to delay the delivery of an F-15 converted into a reconnaissance platform. Negotiations are under way to cancel the contract, with the JASDF to continue using the RF-4EJ Phantoms in the reconnaissance role.

PHOTO: F-15 takes off during Valiant Shield

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An F-15 Eagle takes off from the Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, flightline as two E-3 Sentries are seen in the background while participating in the Valiant Shield 2010 exercise Sept. 16, 2010. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Jeffrey Schultze)