A new electronic warfare kit for the Air Force’s F-15 fleet has been officially cleared to enter full-rate production, as announced by the Pentagon.
The contract, valued at nearly $616 million and revealed late Monday, pertains to the Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability System (EPAWSS) and is expected to have a performance period that lasts until the end of 2030. The kits are being produced by BAE Systems and integrated into the F-15 by prime contractor Boeing.
Support for Production Phases
“BAE Systems is currently on schedule in support of Boeing’s F-15 EPAWSS LRIP [low-rate initial production] activities and is looking forward to supporting Boeing in the FRP [full rate production] phase of the program,” stated Kevin Fournier, EPAWSS Program Director at BAE Systems, in an email to Breaking Defense. Boeing confirmed receipt of the award but opted not to provide further comments.
Retrofit Plans
The Air Force intends to install the new kits on both the newer F-15EX and the legacy F-15E jets. Although the Pentagon’s announcement did not specify how many EPAWSS kits are included in the contract, a Defense Department report issued last year indicated plans to retrofit 99 F-15Es with EPAWSS and procure one system each for a fleet of 98 F-15EXs. However, these numbers may change based on fluctuating fleet plans, as the overall figure is lower than initially anticipated after the Air Force decided in 2023 to reduce procurement of the electronic warfare system and declare a cost breach.
Operational Testing and Production Decision
EPAWSS completed its operational testing last year, and a June 2024 report from the Government Accountability Office found that officials aimed to proceed to full-rate production before October 2024. A full-rate decision typically indicates that criteria such as design maturity and confidence in the manufacturing process have been satisfied, allowing for increased production rates.
Enhancing Pilot Survival
Electronic warfare systems like EPAWSS are crucial for aiding pilots in contested battlespaces by alerting them to threats like enemy radar and providing tools to jam those threats. Given recent conflicts, particularly the war in Ukraine, officials consistently stress the urgency of quickly updating electronic warfare systems to counter emerging threats within the electromagnetic spectrum.
Future Integration Initiatives
Highlighting the demand for robust electronic warfare capabilities in modern warfare, Boeing officials have indicated that they are exploring methods to convert the F-15EX into a platform akin to the Navy’s EA-18G Growler electronic attack jet.
