Liberty Wing jets receive high tech overhaul

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Michael Hess
  • 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
When aircraft launch from the rain-soaked British Isles in September on their eastward journey to support Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom, they will be fitted with the most advanced avionics and carry the most accurate, lethal weapons in the Air Force inventory. 

The Liberty Wing takes the AF lead with new Advanced Display Core Processors, Suite 5 software, improved Link 16 imagery and expanded munition capabilities on all deploying aircraft. 

The overhaul is no small feat. “Fourteen civilian contractors work in 24 hour shifts Sunday through Friday to prepare the aircraft to deploy,” said Capt. Ken Sumler, 48th Maintenance Operation Squadron, Maintenance Operations Flight commander.
Suite 5 and the Advanced Display Core Processors. 

Each modification increases combat effectiveness, though all are linked to the hardware software combination of Suite 5 and the Advanced Display Core Processors.
 
“You can think of it like a home computer. The hardware, the ADCP, is the processor. You can’t run high-end software on a system that can’t support it. You can’t run Windows XP on a computer that’s running off a 233 megahertz processor. You need something with more power, the ADCP offers that,” said Master Sgt. Bryon Parsons, wing avionics manager. 

The aircraft performs many of the same functions that it did before, though now it does them better. 

Link-16 imagery software 

The Link-16 system, previously installed on the aircraft, was never used to full potential. Link-16 technology displays a wireframe image of an area including simple symbols that represent friend or foe. The system not only shows real-time location, but communicates via wireless data transfer with the friendly blips to display their individual fuel and armament loads. 

“Link 16 has incredible tactical capability. A ground force or AWACS can reach out to a group of aircraft orbiting the area without using radio and task them with a mission. The flight lead, based on their mission load, fuel and armaments, respond by pushing one of two buttons to select - ‘No go’ or ‘Wilco’ (will comply), which is transmitted back to the AWACS or ground force personnel,” said Sergeant Parsons. 

The system has always been able to function as a tactical and strategic tool. Now, with the new processor speed and software, it can link with an orbiting Predator, AWACS or ground troop and receive mission-critical imagery while a mission is underway. 

“Even if a target changes positions while we are in the air, someone on the ground can radio or send images to us and we can adjust the mission accordingly,” said Capt. Joseph Siberski, 494th Fighter Squadron wing weapons and tactics project officer. 

“This is an enormous advancement to the program,” said Sergeant Parsons. 

Advanced targeting pod 

In January 2005, technicians fitted Liberty Wing aircraft with an advanced targeting pod, which gave aircrew members the ability to designate a target, transmit geospatial coordinates to the weapon systems. 

“The advanced targeting pods have added phenomenal capabilities to our tactical missions,” said Lt. Col. James McGovern, 492nd Fighter Squadron commander, in September 2005, when his squadron received the pod. Even this system gets an improvement from Suite 5. 

“The new targeting pod is a major advancement. The pod uses the LANTIRN targeting system display and has its own symbolism, which simply laid over the old system symbolism, causing unnecessary clutter. Suite 5 was specifically programmed to incorporate advanced targeting pod data into the aircraft sensor suite. . Everything on the aircraft now speaks the same language,” said Sergeant Parsons. 

Suite 5 and the ADCP make all the components faster and able to handle smarter weapons, which is primary purpose for the developments. 

“These modifications will help us directly support ground operations in Iraqi and Enduring Freedom as we provide close air support for conventional and special operations,” said Captain Siberski.
 
The first modified F-15E Strike Eagle in operational use was overhauled in January as part of the initial validation-verification process, which ensures the plans on the paper match properly with the materials and tools in the modification kits. While the first aircraft was modified, aircrew members trained at the 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., to learn the new systems. 

“The authorization for us to modify and fly the new software suite was just released. The test community has been working on Suite 5 for years now,” said Captain Siberski.
The pieces of the puzzle will fit together in September when the 494th FS deploy with the modified aircraft, trained aircrew and improved weapons. 

When the aircraft scream off the runway with their high-tech overhaul, they will be, quite literally, the most capable F-15E Strike Eagle force in the world with more coming up behind it. 

“We plan to have our entire inventory of F- 15Es upgraded with Suite 5, starting with the 494th Fighter Squadron, which will deploy and then we will install the same capability in the 492nd FS,” said Sergeant Parsons. 

When the time comes, the squadron will be fully capable, followed by the rest of the Air Force as each F-15 squadron across the Air Force prepares to deploy with enhancements.