USAF May Delay F-15 Retirement

Posted on: Dec. 16th, 2005 || Source: defensenews.com | E-mail Article | Print Article

The U.S. Air Force is rethinking plans to retire its F-15 fighters because it is slated to receive only about half the number of F-22A Raptors it had expected, said Gen. Ronald Keys, chief of Air Combat Command.

The service, which is slated to buy 181 Raptors, had planned to retire many of its F-15 fighters in the coming decade, Keys said.

Now, it will have to replace the engines and upgrade more F-15s than planned. Even with that, he said, some of the airframes themselves will eventually become too old.

As for the Raptor, Keys said planes in future blocks will receive planned improvements to radar, communications and weapons.

Keys also announced the F-22A’s formal entry into service.

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