F-15 Electronic Warfare System Passes Critical Milestone, Nears IOC
The US Air Force has completed its Initial Operational Test & Evaluation of the Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability System (EPAWSS).
The system upgrades the electronic warfare capabilities of the F-15E Strike Eagle and F-15EX Eagle II aircraft, including radar warning, geolocation, situational awareness, and self-protection.
“EPAWSS is a leap in technology, improving the lethality and combat capabilities of the F-15E and F-15EX in contested, degraded environments against advanced threats,” Maj Bryant “Jager” Baum said.
“EPAWSS has set the baseline for EW within the fighter community.”
Allows Deeper Penetration of Enemy Air Space
In development for over a decade, the EPAWSS provides the aircraft greater freedom to maneuver and the ability to penetrate deeper into battle spaces secured by modern integrated air defense systems.
The artificial intelligence-supported system analyzes signals from threat radars and other emitters and determines whether to jam or deceive them.
“EPAWSS was designed for upgradeability and rapid capability insertion,” EPAWSS program manager at BAE Systems Amy Nesbitt added.
“We’re using agile software development to provide iterative upgrades to fielded EW systems—allowing our customers to defeat future electromagnetic threats.”
Initial Operational Capability in a Year
The evaluation has cleared the EPAWSS for full rate production with initial operational capability expected in about a year, according to Air & Space Forces Magazine.
The full program procurement is expected to run through 2029 with an investment of around $1.8 billion, the outlet added.
