something I shared there,
Something that imo would make a neat TT or Squadron vehicle for Japan.
F-15J(modernised with IHI F-110-129 engines)
The Japan Air Self-Defence Force (JASDF) is considering an industry proposal to re-engine its Boeing/Mitsubishi F-15J/DJ Eagles with the General Electric F110-129 turbofan powerplant, as part of a planned forthcoming upgrade of the fighter.
Mitusbishi Heavy Industries (MHI) has been conducting initial design work for an F-15 upgrade since March, under a ´2.16 billion ($14.79 million) contract from the Japan Defence Agency. The JASDF is to decide shortly on the final package of enhancements for its fleet of 194 licence-built F-15s.
The JASDF is being offered the F110-129 as an alternative to further upgrading of the existing Pratt & Whitney F100-220E turbofan fitted to Japan’s F-15s. The Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries (IHI) licence-built F100 is the subject of an on-going digital engine electronic control retrofit, for about $3 million per engine.
The 29,000lb (129kN)-thrust F110, aside from providing improved performance, would offer future engine commonality between the F-15J and new Mitsubishi/Lockheed Martin F-2A/B due to enter service in early 2000. IHI has already signed an agreement with GE to build the F110-129 under licence for the F-2.
Installation of the F110 could potentially present a major design and manufacturing boost to MHI, given that Japan would be the first F-15 operator to commit to such a programme. The US Air Force has conducted a flight evaluation and qualification of two F110-powered F-15s, with the intent of offering a choice of engines to future customers, such as South Korea.
A major hurdle to overcome is finding the additional funding within an already stretched JDA budget for a new engine purchase. The JASDF is budgeting a total of ´40 billion to upgrade the F-15’s Raytheon APG-63 radar and avionics systems by 2003, of which Y9.2 billion has already been approved for fiscal year 1998. The first modernised aircraft is due to fly in 2001.
Source: Japan looks at Eagle engine swap - FlightGlobal
I can only imagine what that must be like,
F-15J’s with 5000kgf more thrust.
Instead going from F-100-IHI-200E
6230kgf dry thrust each
8630kgf wet thrust (after burner) each
total thrust
12460kgf dry thrust
17260kgf wt thrust
to F-110-IHI-129
each
6960kgf dry thrust
11480kgf wet thrust
total thrust of two engines
13920kgf dry thrust
22960kgf wet thrust
that’s an increase in total thrust of around
1460kgf dry thrust
and
5700kgf wet thrust (after burner)
compared to the F-100-IHI-200E engines.
note
Sadly it was never adopted. (as in it never left the proposal stage)
Reason why they didn’t is because the F-15J’s which were based on the F-15C’s unlike the E’s did not share a common engine bay, which would make Engine swapping difficult.
Which means they had to modify or re-design the engine bay to make it fit and work.
I came across this and thought that would make a neat interesting vehicle for Japan in game.
This configuration was just something what I think would make a good candidate for a Squadron Vehicle or maybe a foldered TT vehicle for the F-15J(M).