As part of the list of agreements signed through 30 January, the U.S. government disclosed that Boeing will move forward with the modernization of the South Korean Air Force’s F-15K fighters after being awarded a new contract, under which more than US$2.8 billion will be invested. Specifically, these are efforts that had already been authorized by the U.S. State Department in November 2024, when Washington indicated it had approved an upgrade package and logistical support items for the “Slam Eagle” fleet operated by Seoul.
Expanding on some details, the Pentagon’s official announcement states that the modernization work will include “the design and development of an integrated suite of aircraft systems to support modification of the F-15K aircraft,” adapting it to the requirements of the Republic of Korea Air Force and South Korea’s DAPA. It was also specified that Boeing will carry out these tasks at its St. Louis (Missouri) facility, while the scheduled completion date extends to December 2037.
It is worth recalling at this point—based on previous reporting on progress made in the F-15K modernization program—that the aircraft would receive improvements across three main lines of effort. The first involves replacing their AN/APG-63(V)1 mechanically scanned radars with the more modern and powerful AN/APG-82 AESA radars, which would undoubtedly enhance target detection capabilities and improve resistance to enemy electronic jamming equipment in heavily defended areas.
The second aspect to consider would be the modernization of the F-15K cockpit, primarily through the integration of a new enhanced color display known as the Large Area Display (LAD), which is expected to improve pilot situational awareness in both daytime and nighttime conditions. Finally, mention should be made of the integration of a new self-defense system designated the AN/ALQ-250 Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability System (EPAWSS), which would provide improved radar warning and geolocation capabilities effective against airborne and surface threats.
Lastly, it should be noted that the U.S. Department of Defense stated this is a single-source acquisition contract under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. Moreover, it was reported that more than US$540 million in funds had already been obligated at the time the contract was awarded, while the contracting activity is listed as the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (Ohio).
Images used for illustrative purposes
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