Boeing has begun modifying the first two U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles with the Eagle Passive Active Warning and Survivability System (EPAWSS). Designed to provide “fully integrated radar warning, situational awareness, geolocation, and self-protection capabilities,” the electronic warfare system is also equipped on the new F-15EX Eagle II. A total of 43 F-15Es are slated to be upgraded with EPAWSS.
“The Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability System makes the most of mission effectiveness and survivability for the F-15 in contested environments, and further strengthens a highly capable, lethal aircraft,” said Prat Kumar, Boeing vice president of F-15 programs. “With EPAWSS, the F-15E and F-15EX have successfully proven they can perform across a large force environment to penetrate advanced enemy air defenses and improve mission flexibility.”
EPAWSS was developed by BAE Systems in partnership with Boeing. BAE began EPAWSS production in March 2021 as part of a $58 million contract from Boeing and the first two F-15EX aircraft participated in Northern Edge exercises with the EPAWSS suite in May 2021. Boeing noted that the EPAWSS-equipped F-15EXs also participated in exercises and flight test missions in October 2021 and February 2022.
Kudos for marketing for coming up with a “passive active” system. So, which is it?
They should have gone all the way and named it “Passive Active No-Issue Warning and Survivability or Death” System.
Tim beat me to it. Is it passive, or active?
It’s both. It listens and can then go active in necessary.
I would expect the active jammers to be automatically managed by passive detection devices. The interesting component of this system is probably the full integration into the rest of the instrumentation to provide more complete situational awareness. Pretty much what an EWO would do, but without the constant demands for coffee or complaints. Still, you have to love the marketing folks for some of the obfuscation they dream up.
Some days ‘dream’ is the operative word – few PR types are competent.
(I have known a few but most are full of hot air, or worse.
BC Hydro’s flacks enabled opposition to projects like Smart Meters by writing badly and not providing detail that was on the company’s web site. Check with engineers before pushing Send? Nope.)
Some days ‘dream’ is the operative word – few PR types are competent.
(I have known a few but most are full of hot air, or worse.
BC Hydro’s flacks enabled opposition to projects like Smart Meters by writing badly and not providing detail that was on the company’s web site. Check with engineers before pushing Send? Nope.)