FighterControl

Haven't listened to it yet.
but I've been told this mentions the plan is for 2 LN F-15E Sqns going home once the F-35s are up and running.

Plan might change of course!

https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/h ... se-program

Watch from about 2.20hrs onwards. It ‘suggests’ that the LN Strikes are likely to go to Seymour-Johnson.
Regards
Mark

Thanks.. so when do they get a full compliment of 35s? Cant be too far away?

Are Lakenheath getting the F15EX ?

Blackcat1 wrote: ↑

Wed May 21, 2025 7:01 am

Are Lakenheath getting the F15EX ?

Seemingly Not - back to 2 sqns

Andyph wrote: ↑

Wed May 21, 2025 7:02 am

Blackcat1 wrote: ↑

Wed May 21, 2025 7:01 am

Are Lakenheath getting the F15EX ?

Seemingly Not - back to 2 sqns

Gutting. The Eagle is my favourite jet to see at low level. Any ideas when they plan to back to the US?

Blackcat1 wrote: ↑

Wed May 21, 2025 7:10 am

Andyph wrote: ↑

Wed May 21, 2025 7:02 am

Seemingly Not - back to 2 sqns

Gutting. The Eagle is my favourite jet to see at low level. Any ideas when they plan to back to the US?

He says once the F-35 sqn are complete the 15E's will go back probably to SJ - can't be that far off both 35s units having a full compliment?
as posted above the conversation starts at about 2.20

This doesn't add up particularly, for me at least?

Why all the building and development work to be able to accommodate a 4th squadron (the 2nd F-35 one) if the base is to lose 2 F-15E squadron's anyway?

SJ already has F-15E's?

Also I don't believe I ever saw any plans for the F-15EX at LN? given the current low order number surely it's predominantly needed to replace the older C/D fleets in CONUS?

Andyph wrote: ↑

Wed May 21, 2025 7:13 am

Blackcat1 wrote: ↑

Wed May 21, 2025 7:10 am

Gutting. The Eagle is my favourite jet to see at low level. Any ideas when they plan to back to the US?

He says once the F-35 sqn are complete the 15E's will go back probably to SJ - can't be that far off both 35s units having a full compliment?
as posted above the conversation starts at about 2.20

Even more gutting. Thanks, will have a listen when I get home

Agent K wrote: ↑

Wed May 21, 2025 7:15 am

This doesn't add up particularly, for me at least?

Why all the building and development work to be able to accommodate a 4th squadron (the 2nd F-35 one) if the base is to lose 2 F-15E squadron's anyway?

SJ already has F-15E's?

Also I don't believe I ever saw any plans for the F-15EX at LN? given the current low order number surely it's predominantly needed to replace the older C/D fleets in CONUS?

Were you around in the 90s?-There was lots of building work on bases that closed soon after!

It's obviously a recent decision.
Of course Trump does not want to spend $'s in defending Europe..
Also the E's are knackered

Andyph wrote: ↑

Wed May 21, 2025 7:19 am

Were you around in the 90s?-There was lots of building work on bases that closed soon after!

It's obviously a recent decision.
Of course Trump does not want to spend $'s in defending Europe..
Also the E's are knackered

Yes I remember it well, agreed a sure sign of closure was pouring money into a base, so I do appreciate nothing is quite as long term as it seems. Can't quite add up the aircraft being said to go to SJ, unless jets are being repositioned/retired.

Blackcat1 wrote: ↑

Wed May 21, 2025 7:01 am

Are Lakenheath getting the F15EX ?

There was talk a while back of Lakenheath going to 4 F-35A squadrons, sounds like that is no onger the case? SJ are taking on the F-15EX training role for the ANG and Kadena using the F-15E so they may need more, and as already mentioned the USAF had plans to retire many of the early F-15E (although congress trying to delay this) so not enough F-15E left to keep the 2 squadrons at Lakenheath and expand SJ?

https://www.twz.com/air/move-to-block-f ... y-congress

Sounds like it’s tied into retiring the older E models with the 220 engines. The USAF have been trying to cut the Strike Eagle fleet for the past few years now so I imagine this is more of a concrete plan to make that happen.

The plan was for the 4 sqns at LN to stay as they are, but rumour was that 1 Sqn of F-15E to return stateside to replace same amount of those retiring (older engines), and replaced at LN with another Sqn of F-35A. I suspect LN may get deployments to top up numbers, they are building another large ramp in the old 493rd shelter area as we speak. As it stands, they can't retire any F-15E's, as it's been blocked by Congress.

Ray2

This is timely or coincidence:
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/mcmaste ... er-russia/

This has been on the cards for a while was my understanding , Congress Blocked any early strike eagle models being retired as the F15E is the most request FJ for tasking evidently.
Also read that they is a decent size investment to upgrade the Eagles to soldier on.

I find it amazing that the USA has not ordered any F15EX to replace the Strike Eagles with what ii have said above and the fact that many other nations are looking at buying more.

There really is no other Fighter jet that can carry that many weapons, That many different type of weapons with the range the Eagle has.

The Mach Loop will not be the same without them

Now reported by afm

https://www.key.aero/article/usaf-outli ... m_source=X

So how long do we think we will have them at Lakenheath for?

Blackcat1 wrote: ↑

Wed May 21, 2025 12:31 pm

So how long do we think we will have them at Lakenheath for?

From what I’ve read, if it’s gonna happen won’t be until around 2030. There’s a lot of ifs and maybes about it still.