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The 18th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron deactivated and the 67th Fighter Generation Squadron activated at Kadena Air Base, Japan.
US Air Force (USAF) Maj. Eric Boehm relinquished command of the 18th AMXS, casing the squadron guidon with USAF Col. Randy Schwinler, 18th Maintenance Group commander, to signify the squadron’s deactivation.
Following the deactivation, Boehm received the guidon of the 67th FGS, signaling his assumption of command of the new squadron.
As explained by Senior Airman Tylir Meyer, 18th Wing Public Affairs, in the article 67th FGS activates at Kadena and bids final farewell to F-15C, the realignment of maintenance Airmen, resources and responsibilities provides a more synchronized relationship between operators and maintainers. Now, the Airmen responsible for maintaining the jets will be sitting right next to the Airmen flying them.
Boehm highlighted that as part of this change Airmen will be expanding upon the Fighter Integration Tactics and Training program, having Airmen work alongside maintenance units at Kadena, as well firsthand on the F-15EX Eagle II in the continental US, as they prepare for the transition to the arrival to Kadena.
“The FITT program will allow maintainers to work within a similar climate, in concert with dynamic force employment leadership, thereby exercising a global application essential to agile combat employment,” said Boehm.
The F-15EX includes more weapon systems, cutting-edge avionics, and enhanced offensive and defensive systems, enabling Kadena to remain equipped to address the dynamic security environment in the Indo-Pacific.
Airmen will focus training on adapting from an air-to-air exclusive mission to a multi-role mission, incorporating air-to-ground tactics and advanced weapon systems.
As part of the activation of the 67th FGS, the 18th Wing conducted the final flight of a Kadena F-15C, rendering a salute before its transition to becoming a maintenance training aircraft. This final flight marked the conclusion of the 45-year legacy of Eagles to fly at Kadena Air Base. It was also the final flight of any active-duty F-15C in the USAF.
To ensure no gaps in forward-deployed fighter capabilities, the Department of Defense will maintain a steady-state presence at Kadena by deploying fourth- and fifth-generation aircraft until the arrival of the F-15EX fleet.
The F-15 Eagle is an all-weather, extremely maneuverable, tactical fighter designed to permit the Air Force to gain and maintain air supremacy over the battlefield.
The first F-15A flight was made in July 1972, and the first flight of the two-seat F-15B (formerly TF-15A) trainer was made in July 1973. The first Eagle (F-15B) was delivered in November 1974. In January 1976, the first Eagle destined for a combat squadron was delivered.
The F-15C Eagle was an updated version of the F-15A. Major improvements include 2,000 pounds of additional internal fuel capacity, provisions for Fuel And Sensor Tactical — FAST Pack conformal external fuel tanks with weapons mount points for AIM-7 Sparrow missiles, and greatly
improved avionics and radar. The addition of a programmable signal processor for the radar allows for easier updates of the system to meet changing combat conditions.
The first flight of the C model was Feb. 27, 1979, with initial deliveries starting later in the year. The F-15D, a combat-capable twoseat trainer version, first flew on Jun. 19, 1979.
As the sun sets for the F-15C, the Department of Defense has selected the F-15EX Eagle II to continue the legacy of maintaining air superiority. The Eagle II shares similarity with the F-15C, however, several upgrades have been made to enhance its multi-mission capability along with its air-to-air defense.
Boeing has made significant investments in the F-15EX Eagle II making it the most capable multirole fighter aircraft in production today. The aircraft offers improved survivability and capability with:
The USAF is embracing the F-15EX as a means to shore up its fighter force, facing the hard reality that it just doesn’t have enough iron to go around.
The service received only 186 F-22s and it never got the 381 Raptors it planned for to replace its F-15C/Ds and carry the air superiority mission through 2040. The USAF had to retain more than 200 of the youngest or lowest-time F-15Cs well beyond their planned service lives to meet global force requirements. Now those F-15C/Ds were so worn down that the USAF officials said it was no longer cost-effective to fix them. Hence the service decided to buy the F-15EX to replace the F-15C/D.
Photo credit: Airman 1st Class Catherine Daniel / U.S. Air Force
Dario Leone: All articles
