Repairing USAF F-15s could cost $50 million

[BUFF 8]

By Erik Holmes - Staff writer

Posted : Friday Feb 29, 2008 7:16:12 EST

 

The Air Force’s F-15 fleet will require about $50 million worth of repairs

to replace faulty structural components, Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne

said Wednesday.

Testifying about the service’s fiscal 2009 budget proposal before the House

Armed Services Committee, Wynne said the money will be used for depot

maintenance to replace longerons, the metal support beams inside the jets’

forward fuselage that support the cockpit assembly and reinforce the

cockpit.

Wynne did not say how many aircraft would require the repairs, and he said

he is not yet sure whether the repairs will require trips to the F-15 depot

at Robins Air Force Base, Ga., or if they could be done between flights by

“depot SWAT teams.”

Lawmakers on the panel said they are concerned that seven F-15s have crashed

in the past nine months, including the Nov. 2 crash of a Missouri Air

National Guard F-15C that resulted in nearly the entire F-15 fleet being

grounded for more than two months.

In that incident, the longeron failed and the aircraft broke in two while on

a training flight.

The 2009 budget proposal includes $497 million for F-15 repairs, but Wynne

did not address how the rest of that money might be spent. Air Force leaders

had hoped to put the money toward long-lead items for 20 more F-22s, but the

Pentagon rejected that idea after the F-15 problems surfaced.

[Nesher 628]

50 mil is not that much... costs like a brand new F-15 :P

[+Dave 2,322]

I love this article, its all speculation. I know for a fact how many planes its affected and the low number will shock you.

[WarlordATF 1]

Its cheaper than a single Raptor and if its needed than its needed period. Even at 10 times that cost its worth it, you cant put a price on a human life. Actually i was expecting a much higher price tag, so even if that is accurate its a bargin IMO.

[+Dave 2,322]

Its cheaper than a single Raptor and if its needed than its needed period. Even at 10 times that cost its worth it, you cant put a price on a human life. Actually i was expecting a much higher price tag, so even if that is accurate its a bargin IMO.

 

100% agreed there.

[Viggen 644]

Gotta agree there.

 

USAFMTL, is the "low" number of effected F-15s classified or can you tell us?

[JediMaster 451]

Those things usually aren't classified "secret" but "FOUO"--for official use only. In other words, it's not against the law to release the info, it's just not good for your career.

[DWCAce 19]

I'm in agreement with Warlord ( and USAF, and others). While the number of airframes needing work is on a need to know basis (and you/we don't need to know), the point is that our service men and women need to get their tools fixed so that they can do their jobs.