美國空軍也愛打火箭彈？F-15E 被發(fā)現(xiàn)裝載大量激光制導(dǎo)火箭，以對抗無人機
F-15E Spotted Packing Big Laser-Guided Rocket Arsenal Ideal For Drone Hunting
譯文簡介
美國軍工組TWZ出品，事實證明大洋兩岸的空軍都熱衷于打火箭彈。
正文翻譯
A picture has emerged showing a U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle loaded with at least three seven-shot 70mm rocket pods under its left wing. If the jet had three more pods on the right side, this would amount to a whopping 42 rockets, which could be carried together with eight traditional air-to-air missiles. Such a loadout would turn the F-15E into a flying counter-drone and cruise missile arsenal ship capable of an incredible 50 engagement opportunities, minus the gun.
一張圖片顯示了一架美國空軍F-15E"打擊鷹"戰(zhàn)斗機在左翼下方掛載了至少三個七聯(lián)裝70 毫米火箭彈艙。如果這架飛機右翼還有三個彈艙，則總數(shù)將高達42枚火箭，同時還能攜帶8枚傳統(tǒng)空對空導(dǎo)彈。這樣的載彈量將使F-15E變成一架反無人機和巡航導(dǎo)彈的空中武器平臺，在不使用機炮的情況下，擁有高達50次的交戰(zhàn)機會。
The Air Force has already proven the extreme value of laser-guided 70mm Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II (APKWS II) rockets in the air-to-air role in combat on the F-16, news TWZ first broke earlier this year and has continued to follow very closely. Integrating APKWS II into the F-15E’s arsenal isn’t surprising, especially considering how active these aircraft have been in countering lower-performing aerial threats.
美國空軍已經(jīng)證明，F(xiàn)-16戰(zhàn)斗機執(zhí)行空對空作戰(zhàn)任務(wù)時，激光制導(dǎo)的70毫米"先進精確殺傷武器系統(tǒng) II"(APKWS II)火箭具有極高的價值，相關(guān)消息由TWZ在今年早些時候首次披露，并持續(xù)密切關(guān)注。將APKWS II整合到F-15E的武器庫中并不令人意外，尤其考慮到這些飛機在反制性能較低空中威脅方面表現(xiàn)活躍。
The picture of the rocket-armed F-15E, seen below, first appeared on social media accounts for The Merge, a military aviation podcast and associated newsletter, yesterday. “An Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle testing laser-guided rockets was spotted with a 6-pod 42-rocket loadout in flight test,” The Merge wrote in an accompanying post on Instagram.
裝備火箭彈的F-15E的照片，如下所示，昨天首次出現(xiàn)在軍事航空播客The Merge及其相關(guān)簡報的社交媒體賬號上。The Merge在 Instagram 的帖子中寫道：“一架空軍F-15E“打擊鷹”正在測試激光制導(dǎo)火箭，在飛行測試中發(fā)現(xiàn)了配備6個掛架共42枚火箭的載荷?！?br />
Though The Merge says the aircraft was carrying six rocket pods at the time, only three are clearly visible in the image on the jet’s left underwing pylon, but a symmetric load makes perfect sense. Pods full of laser-guided APKWS II rockets are relatively easy to spot since the weapons are longer than unguided 70mm types and their noses protrude noticeably from the front as a result. As it exists now, APKWS II consists primarily of a laser guidance section sandwiched between one of a variety of warhead types and a standard 70mm rocket motor.
盡管The Merge表示該飛機當(dāng)時攜帶了六個火箭掛架，但在噴氣機左側(cè)翼下掛架上的圖像中只有三個清晰可見，但對稱載荷是完全合理的。裝滿激光制導(dǎo)APKWS II火箭的掛架相對容易識別，因為該武器比無制導(dǎo)的70毫米類型更長，并且由于它們的鼻子明顯從前面突出，因此很容易識別。目前，APKWS II主要由一個激光制導(dǎo)段夾在多任務(wù)彈頭和標(biāo)準(zhǔn)70 毫米火箭發(fā)動機之間組成。
In addition to the rocket pods, the Strike Eagle has an inert AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) without control fins and a flight test data pod under its left wing. An AN/AAQ-33 Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod (ATP) and an AN/AAQ-13 navigation pod (which incorporates a forward-looking infrared sensor and a terrain-following radar) are seen loaded on the stations under the jet’s left and right air intakes, respectively.
除了火箭彈艙，F(xiàn)-15E"打擊鷹"還攜帶了一枚無控制舵面的AIM-120先進中程空空導(dǎo)彈（AMRAAM）測試彈，其左翼下方還掛載了一個飛行測試數(shù)據(jù)艙。在飛機左、右進氣口下方的位置上，可以看到AN/AAQ-33"狙擊手"先進目標(biāo)指示艙（ATP）和AN/AAQ-1導(dǎo)航吊艙（該艙集成了前視紅外傳感器和地形跟蹤雷達）。
The F-15E seen in the picture also has an “ET” tail code, reflecting an aircraft assigned to the 96th Test Wing headquartered at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida.
圖片中的 F-15E 也帶有“ET”尾號，這表明該飛機被分配給了位于佛羅里達州愛格林空軍基地的96測試聯(lián)隊。
“I can confirm the pic was taken here at Eglin AFB,” Gabriel Myers, a spokesperson for the 96th Test Wing, told TWZ when asked for more information about the image of the rocket-toting F-15E. “The Eglin AFB test community through strong partnerships have aggressively conducted integrated test of the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System. By working at speed to ensure advanced capabilities have the intended effects, we increase warfighter readiness and lethality to meet the global demands of the joint force.”
當(dāng)被問及更多有關(guān)攜帶火箭的F-15E圖片的信息時，96測試聯(lián)隊發(fā)言人加布里埃爾·邁爾斯告訴TWZ：“我可以確認(rèn)這張照片是在愛格林空軍基地拍攝的?！?“通過強大的合作伙伴關(guān)系，愛格林空軍基地的測試部門積極開展了先進精確殺傷武器系統(tǒng)的綜合測試。通過快速工作以確保先進能力產(chǎn)生預(yù)期效果，我們提高了作戰(zhàn)人員的戰(zhàn)備狀態(tài)和殺傷力，以滿足聯(lián)合部隊的全球需求?！?br />
When the F-15E might be cleared to operationally employ APKWS II rockets is unclear.
F-15E何時被批準(zhǔn)運作APKWS II火箭尚不清楚。
“Unfortunately, we can’t speak to specific timelines [for the test work], but we can say it was done rapidly,” Myers continued.
邁爾斯繼續(xù)說：“不幸的是，我們不能談?wù)摼唧w的時間表[用于測試工作]，但我們可以說它完成得很迅速。”
In U.S. service, on the fixed-wing side, the precision-guided rockets have been integrated onto Marine Corps AV-8B Harriers and F/A-18C/D Hornets and U.S. Air Force F-16C/D Vipers and A-10 Warthogs. Marine AH-1Z Viper and UH-1Y Venom helicopters, as well as U.S. Navy MH-60R/S Seahawks and U.S. Army AH-64D/E Apaches, can also employ APKWS II.
在美國軍隊中，在固定翼飛機方面，精確制導(dǎo)火箭已集成到海軍陸戰(zhàn)隊AV-8B“鷂”式攻擊機和F/A-18C/D“大黃蜂”戰(zhàn)斗機、美國空軍 F-16C/D“毒蛇”戰(zhàn)斗機和 A-10“戰(zhàn)豬”攻擊機上。海軍陸戰(zhàn)隊的 AH-1Z“毒蛇”直升機和 UH-1Y“毒液”直升機，美國海軍的 MH-60R/S“海鷹”直升機和美國陸軍 AH-64D/E“阿帕奇”直升機，也可以使用 APKWS II。
A full air-to-air loadout for the F-15E currently consists of eight missiles. Four missiles – either short-range AIM-9 Sidewinders or AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) – can be loaded on launch rails on either side of the Strike Eagle’s two underwing pylons. Two more AIM-120s can be carried on pylons on each of the conformal fuel tanks (CFT) attached to the sides of the fuselage. The jets can also carry a wide array of air-to-ground munitions and other stores on the pylons under their wings, on the CFTs, and on their ventral centerline hardpoint.
F-15E當(dāng)前的全空對空武器配置包括8枚導(dǎo)彈。其中4枚導(dǎo)彈——無論是短程AIM-9響尾蛇導(dǎo)彈還是AIM-120先進中程空對空導(dǎo)彈（AMRAAM）——可以裝載在攻擊之鷹兩側(cè)機翼下的掛架上。另外兩枚AIM-120可以掛載在每個與機身兩側(cè)連接的保型油箱（CFT）的吊艙上。F-15E還可以在機翼下掛架、保型油箱以及它們腹部的中心線的硬掛載點各種空對地彈藥和其他掛載物。
Adding APKWS II to the F-15E’s already very expansive arsenal would give the jet an additional lower-cost tool for precisely engaging a variety of ground targets, as well. These can include light armored vehicles. As the newly-emerged picture highlights in showing 21 engagement opportunities on a single pylon, the laser-guided rockets offer significant benefits when it comes to magazine depth.
為F-15E戰(zhàn)機已非常龐大的武器庫增添APKWS II，將為其提供一種額外的低成本精確打擊工具，可針對多種地面目標(biāo)，包括輕型裝甲車輛。正如新曝光的照片所示，單個掛架提供的21個打擊機會凸顯了激光制導(dǎo)火箭在彈倉深度方面的顯著優(yōu)勢。
But it’s the Strike Eagle and APKWS II combo’s potential in the air-to-air role that is perhaps most exciting. As we noted earlier, Air Force F-16s first began employing the laser-guided rockets in an anti-air optimized configuration to shoot down Houthi drones during operations over and around the Red Sea last year, which TWZ was first to report. The Air Force had announced back in 2019 that it had demonstrated APKWS II’s ability to be used as an air-to-air weapon in a test wherein an F-16 downed a surrogate for a subsonic cruise missile, something we were also first to report on. APKWS II is also combat-proven in the surface-to-air role against drones, as well as in air-ground modes and surface-to-surface modes.
但最令人興奮的是F-15E“打擊鷹”和APKWS II組合在空對空作戰(zhàn)中的潛力。正如我們之前提到的，美國空軍F-16戰(zhàn)機首次在空優(yōu)配置下使用激光制導(dǎo)火箭，以擊落胡塞武裝無人機，這一行動發(fā)生在去年紅海及周邊地區(qū)的作戰(zhàn)中，TWZ率先報道了此事。美國空軍早在2019年就宣布，在測試中證明了APKWS II作為空對空武器的能力，當(dāng)時F-16擊落了一枚亞音速巡航導(dǎo)彈靶彈，我們也是率先報道此事的。APKWS II在對無人機防空、空對地模式以及地對地模式中也都經(jīng)受了實戰(zhàn)檢驗。
Since January, F-16s have been observed flying the Middle East carrying air-to-air loadouts that include one or two seven-shot 70mm rocket pods, as well as traditional air-to-air missiles and LITENING targeting pods. This had already underscored the magazine depth benefits of APKWS II. A typical air-to-air for the Viper consists of six air-to-air missiles. Just having a pair of rocket pods on one pylon effectively triples the number of anti-air engagement opportunities per sortie. The F-15E with six seven-shot rocket pods, along with eight air-to-air missiles, goes far beyond that capacity.
自1月以來，人們觀察到F-16戰(zhàn)斗機在中東地區(qū)飛行，攜帶的空對空武器配置包括一個或兩個七發(fā)裝70毫米火箭彈艙，以及傳統(tǒng)的空對空導(dǎo)彈和LITENING目標(biāo)指示吊艙。這已經(jīng)凸顯了APKWS II的彈藥深度優(yōu)勢。對于毒蛇戰(zhàn)斗機來說，典型的空對空配置包括六枚空對空導(dǎo)彈。僅在一個掛架上掛載兩個火箭彈艙就能使每次出擊的反空襲機會增加兩倍。而裝備了六個七聯(lián)裝火箭彈艙和八枚空對空導(dǎo)彈的F-15E，其能力遠(yuǎn)超這一水平。
（后方的F16掛載了雙聯(lián)裝火箭彈發(fā)射艙）
APKWS II is also a significantly lower-cost anti-air weapon than traditional air-to-air missiles in U.S. military inventory today. The APKWS II guidance kit, which is the most expensive part of the munition, has a unit cost of around $15,000 to $20,000. The warhead and motor add a few thousand dollars more to the total unit price. Current generation AIM-9X Sidewinders each cost in the region of $450,000, while the latest AIM-120 variants are $1 million or more apiece.
APKWS II也是美國軍方目前庫存中成本相對于傳統(tǒng)空對空導(dǎo)彈顯著低廉的對空武器。APKWS II制導(dǎo)套件是彈藥中最昂貴的部分，單價約為15,000至20,000美元。戰(zhàn)斗部和發(fā)動機使總單價再增加幾千美元。目前AIM-9X響尾蛇導(dǎo)彈每枚成本約45萬美元，而最新型的AIM-120變體單價則高達100萬美元或更高。
Even with the air-to-air specific upgrades developed for APKWS II, it does still has limitations when employed against aerial threats, as TWZ has noted in the past in the context of F-16 counter-drone missions:
即使APKWS II配備了針對空對空作戰(zhàn)開發(fā)的升級，在應(yīng)對空中威脅時它仍然存在局限性，正如TWZ在過去F-16反無人機任務(wù)中指出的那樣：
“In an air-to-air engagement, the laser designator in the LITENING pod could be used to ‘laze’ or designate the target. LITENING’s sensor turret can be slaved to the radar on the aircraft carrying it, or vice versa. So-called buddy lasing, where one aircraft designates the target for another, could also be useful in this case, especially given the speed differential between typical Houthi drones and F-16s. One jet could keep the target steadily lazed while the other makes its attack run.”
“在空對空交戰(zhàn)中，LITENING吊艙中的激光指示器可以用來‘激光照射’或鎖定目標(biāo)。LITENING的傳感器塔可以與攜帶它的飛機雷達同步，反之亦然。所謂僚機激光照射，即一架飛機鎖定目標(biāo)供另一架飛機攻擊，在這種情況下也非常有用，特別是考慮到典型胡塞無人機與F-16之間的速度差異。一架飛機可以持續(xù)鎖定目標(biāo)，而另一架飛機進行攻擊?！?br />
“APKWS IIs are usable against drones, as well as subsonic cruise missiles, in the first place because those are relatively steady, non-reactionary, low-performance targets. The rockets are not dogfighting weapons.”
“APKWS II首先可用于打擊無人機，以及亞音速巡航導(dǎo)彈，因為這些目標(biāo)是相對穩(wěn)定、非反應(yīng)性的低性能目標(biāo)。這些火箭并非狗斗武器?！?br />
BAE Systems, the prime contractor for the APKWS II, is now developing a dual-mode guidance package that adds a passive infrared seeker to give the rocket a quasi-fire-and-forget capability. A laser designator would still be needed to provide initial cueing, but the launch platform would be able to move much more rapidly from engaging one target to the next with the addition of the infrared guidance mode, as you can read more about here.
APKWS II的主要承包商BAE目前正在開發(fā)一種雙模式制導(dǎo)套件，該套件增加了一個被動紅外導(dǎo)引頭，使火箭具備準(zhǔn)發(fā)射后不管的能力。盡管仍然需要激光指示器提供初始引導(dǎo)，但紅外制導(dǎo)模式的加入將使發(fā)射平臺能夠更快地從攻擊一個目標(biāo)切換到下一個目標(biāo)。
Pairing F-15E with APKWS II, even just with the guided rocket’s existing capabilities, would offer additional advantages in the air-to-air role given the range and endurance of the Strike Eagle, as well as its substantial overall payload capacity. The F-15E is also a two-seat aircraft, which allows the pilot to remain fully focused on flying the aircraft while the back-seater handles targeting duties.
將F-15E與APKWS II搭配使用，即使僅利用制導(dǎo)火箭的現(xiàn)有能力，也能在空對空作戰(zhàn)中提供額外優(yōu)勢，這得益于"打擊鷹"的射程和續(xù)航能力，以及更大的整體載彈量。F-15E還是一種雙座飛機，允許飛行員全神貫注于駕駛飛機，而副駕駛則負(fù)責(zé)目標(biāo)鎖定任務(wù)。
Together with aerial refueling support, an F-15E armed with APKWS II rockets and traditional air-to-air missiles could provide a far more persistent counter-air screen with a huge magazine depth against drones and some cruise missile types. This kind of general scenario is what Air Force Strike Eagle crews found themselves in on multiple occasions while defending Israel from Iranian attacks last year, during which, running out of missiles became the limiting factor.
結(jié)合空中加油支援，裝備APKWS II火箭和傳統(tǒng)空對空導(dǎo)彈的F-15E能夠提供更持久的反空防御屏障，并擁有巨大的彈藥深度來對抗無人機和某些巡航導(dǎo)彈。這種場景正是空軍"打擊鷹"機組人員在去年多次防御伊朗對以色列的襲擊時所處的境地，其中導(dǎo)彈耗盡成為主要限制因素。
Specifically, while responding to Iran’s drone and missile attacks on Israel in April 2024, F-15Es had to land to rearm while threats were still flying overhead. At least one Strike Eagle crew switched to their aircraft’s 20mm M61 Vulcan cannon after running out of missiles, but was unable to shoot anything down.
具體來說，在2024年4月應(yīng)對伊朗對以色列的無人機和導(dǎo)彈襲擊時，F(xiàn)-15E戰(zhàn)斗機不得不在威脅仍在空中時降落以重新裝彈。至少有一架"打擊鷹"機組人員在耗盡導(dǎo)彈后使用飛機的20毫米M61火神機炮，但未能擊落任何目標(biāo)。
“The drone war is kind of like a video game. You just gotta get the jets up in the air and position them correctly for an intercept. The radar will easily see them after they’re launched and then it’s just how many missiles you have versus how many drones are launched. The technical aspect of detecting them and downing them is easy,” Daren “Shotgun” Sorenson, a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel who flew F-15Es, told TWZ in an interview last summer. “It’s easy work. You can do it all day long until you run out of missiles.”
“無人機戰(zhàn)有點像電子游戲。你只需要讓戰(zhàn)斗機升空并正確部署以進行攔截。它們起飛后雷達很容易發(fā)現(xiàn)它們，然后就是你的導(dǎo)彈數(shù)量與敵方無人機數(shù)量的對比。探測它們并擊落它們在技術(shù)方面很簡單，”去年夏天接受TWZ采訪的退役空軍上校達倫“霰彈槍”索倫森，曾駕駛F-15E戰(zhàn)斗機，“這是輕松的工作。你可以一直做，直到耗盡導(dǎo)彈?！?br />
The Air Force also recently sent a detachment of F-15Es to the highly strategic island of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, explicitly to provide force protection for forces currently there, including B-52 bombers, a deployment TWZ was first to report. This only further underscores the key role Strike Eagles are already playing in shielding high-value assets, especially from drones and cruise missiles.
空軍最近還派遣了一支F-15E部隊前往印度洋中的戰(zhàn)略要地迪戈加西亞島，目的是為目前駐扎在那里的部隊（包括B-52轟炸機）提供力量保護，這是TWZ首次報道的部署。這進一步強調(diào)了F-15E戰(zhàn)斗機已經(jīng)在保護高價值資產(chǎn)中發(fā)揮關(guān)鍵作用，尤其針對無人機和巡航導(dǎo)彈的威脅。
All of this also applies at least equally, if not more so, to the Air Force’s incoming F-15EX Eagle II aircraft. The F-15EX is the latest and most capable variant to emerge in the extended Strike Eagle family, and is expected to be used primarily in the homeland air defense role in U.S. service, at least initially. Last year, TWZ laid out in detail how the Strike Eagle’s performance in the anti-air role in the Middle East had bolstered the case for the EX in U.S. and Israeli service. Indonesia also plans to buy F-15s derived from the EX variant, and other foreign customers, including Poland.
所有這些至少同樣適用于空軍即將到來的F-15EX鷹II型飛機。F-15EX是打擊鷹家族中最新的、能力最強的變體，預(yù)計將主要用于美國本土防空任務(wù)，至少在初期是這樣。去年TWZ詳細(xì)闡述了F-15E在中東地區(qū)反空襲的表現(xiàn)如何支持了F-15EX在美國和以色列服役的案例。印度尼西亞以及其他外國客戶，包括波蘭，也計劃購買基于F-15EX變體的F-15，。
“The proliferation of one-way attack drones is driving a massive demand signal for counter-UAS capabilities,” The Merge also told TWZ directly when asked about the picture of the rocket-armed Strike Eagle. “The cost exchange afforded by APKWS rockets–and the flexibility and magazine depth by putting them on the F-15E/X–should make a meaningful difference.”
“自殺式攻擊無人機的擴散正引發(fā)對反無人機能力的巨大需求，”The Merge在被問及掛載火箭的打擊鷹戰(zhàn)機圖片時直接告訴TWZ?！癆PKWS火箭帶來的成本交換，以及將它們裝在 F-15E/X上的靈活性和彈艙深度，應(yīng)該會產(chǎn)生顯著影響?！?br />
Adding APKWS II to the F-15E’s arsenal, especially for air-to-air use, could be a factor in ongoing debates about the future of the Air Force’s Strike Eagles, as well. Congress recently blocked the service, at least until 2027, from pursuing plans to retire more than half of the heavily in-demand Strike Eagle fleet.
為F-15E配備APKWS II武器系統(tǒng)，尤其是將其用于空對空作戰(zhàn)，也可能成為空軍打擊鷹戰(zhàn)機未來發(fā)展方向辯論中的一個因素。國會最近阻止了美國空軍，使其無法在2027年前實施退役超過一半打擊鷹戰(zhàn)機機隊的計劃。
It would also not be surprising at all to see APKWS II join already growing air-to-air loadouts available to U.S. Navy F/A-18E/F Super Hornets. A year ago, Houthi drone threats in and around the Red Sea had already prompted that service to launch a crash program to increase the number of AIM-9Xs a Super Hornet could carry on a single sortie. The Navy has since officially dubbed F/A-18E/Fs armed with five AIM-120s and four AIM-9Xs as “Murder Hornets.”
APKWS II加入美國海軍F/A-18E/F超級大黃蜂的空對空武器配置也絕不令人意外。一年前，紅海及周邊地區(qū)的胡塞武裝無人機威脅已促使該軍種啟動緊急計劃，增加超級大黃蜂在一次出擊中可攜帶的AIM-9X導(dǎo)彈數(shù)量。海軍此后正式將裝備五枚AIM-120和四枚AIM-9X導(dǎo)彈的F/A-18E/F稱為“謀殺大黃蜂”。
Regardless of the threat of partial retirement, many F-15Es remain in Air Force service in the coming years, there are clear signs the jets are now in line to get an important firepower boost, including when it comes to shooting down drones, in the form of APKWS II.
無論面臨部分退役的威脅，未來幾年仍有許多F-15E將留在空軍服役，有明確跡象表明這些戰(zhàn)機現(xiàn)在有望獲得重要的火力提升，包括在擊落無人機的火力方面，以APKWS II的形式得到展現(xiàn)。
一張圖片顯示了一架美國空軍F-15E"打擊鷹"戰(zhàn)斗機在左翼下方掛載了至少三個七聯(lián)裝70 毫米火箭彈艙。如果這架飛機右翼還有三個彈艙，則總數(shù)將高達42枚火箭，同時還能攜帶8枚傳統(tǒng)空對空導(dǎo)彈。這樣的載彈量將使F-15E變成一架反無人機和巡航導(dǎo)彈的空中武器平臺，在不使用機炮的情況下，擁有高達50次的交戰(zhàn)機會。
The Air Force has already proven the extreme value of laser-guided 70mm Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II (APKWS II) rockets in the air-to-air role in combat on the F-16, news TWZ first broke earlier this year and has continued to follow very closely. Integrating APKWS II into the F-15E’s arsenal isn’t surprising, especially considering how active these aircraft have been in countering lower-performing aerial threats.
美國空軍已經(jīng)證明，F(xiàn)-16戰(zhàn)斗機執(zhí)行空對空作戰(zhàn)任務(wù)時，激光制導(dǎo)的70毫米"先進精確殺傷武器系統(tǒng) II"(APKWS II)火箭具有極高的價值，相關(guān)消息由TWZ在今年早些時候首次披露，并持續(xù)密切關(guān)注。將APKWS II整合到F-15E的武器庫中并不令人意外，尤其考慮到這些飛機在反制性能較低空中威脅方面表現(xiàn)活躍。
The picture of the rocket-armed F-15E, seen below, first appeared on social media accounts for The Merge, a military aviation podcast and associated newsletter, yesterday. “An Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle testing laser-guided rockets was spotted with a 6-pod 42-rocket loadout in flight test,” The Merge wrote in an accompanying post on Instagram.
裝備火箭彈的F-15E的照片，如下所示，昨天首次出現(xiàn)在軍事航空播客The Merge及其相關(guān)簡報的社交媒體賬號上。The Merge在 Instagram 的帖子中寫道：“一架空軍F-15E“打擊鷹”正在測試激光制導(dǎo)火箭，在飛行測試中發(fā)現(xiàn)了配備6個掛架共42枚火箭的載荷?！?br />
Though The Merge says the aircraft was carrying six rocket pods at the time, only three are clearly visible in the image on the jet’s left underwing pylon, but a symmetric load makes perfect sense. Pods full of laser-guided APKWS II rockets are relatively easy to spot since the weapons are longer than unguided 70mm types and their noses protrude noticeably from the front as a result. As it exists now, APKWS II consists primarily of a laser guidance section sandwiched between one of a variety of warhead types and a standard 70mm rocket motor.
盡管The Merge表示該飛機當(dāng)時攜帶了六個火箭掛架，但在噴氣機左側(cè)翼下掛架上的圖像中只有三個清晰可見，但對稱載荷是完全合理的。裝滿激光制導(dǎo)APKWS II火箭的掛架相對容易識別，因為該武器比無制導(dǎo)的70毫米類型更長，并且由于它們的鼻子明顯從前面突出，因此很容易識別。目前，APKWS II主要由一個激光制導(dǎo)段夾在多任務(wù)彈頭和標(biāo)準(zhǔn)70 毫米火箭發(fā)動機之間組成。
In addition to the rocket pods, the Strike Eagle has an inert AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) without control fins and a flight test data pod under its left wing. An AN/AAQ-33 Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod (ATP) and an AN/AAQ-13 navigation pod (which incorporates a forward-looking infrared sensor and a terrain-following radar) are seen loaded on the stations under the jet’s left and right air intakes, respectively.
除了火箭彈艙，F(xiàn)-15E"打擊鷹"還攜帶了一枚無控制舵面的AIM-120先進中程空空導(dǎo)彈（AMRAAM）測試彈，其左翼下方還掛載了一個飛行測試數(shù)據(jù)艙。在飛機左、右進氣口下方的位置上，可以看到AN/AAQ-33"狙擊手"先進目標(biāo)指示艙（ATP）和AN/AAQ-1導(dǎo)航吊艙（該艙集成了前視紅外傳感器和地形跟蹤雷達）。
The F-15E seen in the picture also has an “ET” tail code, reflecting an aircraft assigned to the 96th Test Wing headquartered at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida.
圖片中的 F-15E 也帶有“ET”尾號，這表明該飛機被分配給了位于佛羅里達州愛格林空軍基地的96測試聯(lián)隊。
“I can confirm the pic was taken here at Eglin AFB,” Gabriel Myers, a spokesperson for the 96th Test Wing, told TWZ when asked for more information about the image of the rocket-toting F-15E. “The Eglin AFB test community through strong partnerships have aggressively conducted integrated test of the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System. By working at speed to ensure advanced capabilities have the intended effects, we increase warfighter readiness and lethality to meet the global demands of the joint force.”
當(dāng)被問及更多有關(guān)攜帶火箭的F-15E圖片的信息時，96測試聯(lián)隊發(fā)言人加布里埃爾·邁爾斯告訴TWZ：“我可以確認(rèn)這張照片是在愛格林空軍基地拍攝的?！?“通過強大的合作伙伴關(guān)系，愛格林空軍基地的測試部門積極開展了先進精確殺傷武器系統(tǒng)的綜合測試。通過快速工作以確保先進能力產(chǎn)生預(yù)期效果，我們提高了作戰(zhàn)人員的戰(zhàn)備狀態(tài)和殺傷力，以滿足聯(lián)合部隊的全球需求?！?br />
When the F-15E might be cleared to operationally employ APKWS II rockets is unclear.
F-15E何時被批準(zhǔn)運作APKWS II火箭尚不清楚。
“Unfortunately, we can’t speak to specific timelines [for the test work], but we can say it was done rapidly,” Myers continued.
邁爾斯繼續(xù)說：“不幸的是，我們不能談?wù)摼唧w的時間表[用于測試工作]，但我們可以說它完成得很迅速。”
In U.S. service, on the fixed-wing side, the precision-guided rockets have been integrated onto Marine Corps AV-8B Harriers and F/A-18C/D Hornets and U.S. Air Force F-16C/D Vipers and A-10 Warthogs. Marine AH-1Z Viper and UH-1Y Venom helicopters, as well as U.S. Navy MH-60R/S Seahawks and U.S. Army AH-64D/E Apaches, can also employ APKWS II.
在美國軍隊中，在固定翼飛機方面，精確制導(dǎo)火箭已集成到海軍陸戰(zhàn)隊AV-8B“鷂”式攻擊機和F/A-18C/D“大黃蜂”戰(zhàn)斗機、美國空軍 F-16C/D“毒蛇”戰(zhàn)斗機和 A-10“戰(zhàn)豬”攻擊機上。海軍陸戰(zhàn)隊的 AH-1Z“毒蛇”直升機和 UH-1Y“毒液”直升機，美國海軍的 MH-60R/S“海鷹”直升機和美國陸軍 AH-64D/E“阿帕奇”直升機，也可以使用 APKWS II。
A full air-to-air loadout for the F-15E currently consists of eight missiles. Four missiles – either short-range AIM-9 Sidewinders or AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) – can be loaded on launch rails on either side of the Strike Eagle’s two underwing pylons. Two more AIM-120s can be carried on pylons on each of the conformal fuel tanks (CFT) attached to the sides of the fuselage. The jets can also carry a wide array of air-to-ground munitions and other stores on the pylons under their wings, on the CFTs, and on their ventral centerline hardpoint.
F-15E當(dāng)前的全空對空武器配置包括8枚導(dǎo)彈。其中4枚導(dǎo)彈——無論是短程AIM-9響尾蛇導(dǎo)彈還是AIM-120先進中程空對空導(dǎo)彈（AMRAAM）——可以裝載在攻擊之鷹兩側(cè)機翼下的掛架上。另外兩枚AIM-120可以掛載在每個與機身兩側(cè)連接的保型油箱（CFT）的吊艙上。F-15E還可以在機翼下掛架、保型油箱以及它們腹部的中心線的硬掛載點各種空對地彈藥和其他掛載物。
Adding APKWS II to the F-15E’s already very expansive arsenal would give the jet an additional lower-cost tool for precisely engaging a variety of ground targets, as well. These can include light armored vehicles. As the newly-emerged picture highlights in showing 21 engagement opportunities on a single pylon, the laser-guided rockets offer significant benefits when it comes to magazine depth.
為F-15E戰(zhàn)機已非常龐大的武器庫增添APKWS II，將為其提供一種額外的低成本精確打擊工具，可針對多種地面目標(biāo)，包括輕型裝甲車輛。正如新曝光的照片所示，單個掛架提供的21個打擊機會凸顯了激光制導(dǎo)火箭在彈倉深度方面的顯著優(yōu)勢。
But it’s the Strike Eagle and APKWS II combo’s potential in the air-to-air role that is perhaps most exciting. As we noted earlier, Air Force F-16s first began employing the laser-guided rockets in an anti-air optimized configuration to shoot down Houthi drones during operations over and around the Red Sea last year, which TWZ was first to report. The Air Force had announced back in 2019 that it had demonstrated APKWS II’s ability to be used as an air-to-air weapon in a test wherein an F-16 downed a surrogate for a subsonic cruise missile, something we were also first to report on. APKWS II is also combat-proven in the surface-to-air role against drones, as well as in air-ground modes and surface-to-surface modes.
但最令人興奮的是F-15E“打擊鷹”和APKWS II組合在空對空作戰(zhàn)中的潛力。正如我們之前提到的，美國空軍F-16戰(zhàn)機首次在空優(yōu)配置下使用激光制導(dǎo)火箭，以擊落胡塞武裝無人機，這一行動發(fā)生在去年紅海及周邊地區(qū)的作戰(zhàn)中，TWZ率先報道了此事。美國空軍早在2019年就宣布，在測試中證明了APKWS II作為空對空武器的能力，當(dāng)時F-16擊落了一枚亞音速巡航導(dǎo)彈靶彈，我們也是率先報道此事的。APKWS II在對無人機防空、空對地模式以及地對地模式中也都經(jīng)受了實戰(zhàn)檢驗。
Since January, F-16s have been observed flying the Middle East carrying air-to-air loadouts that include one or two seven-shot 70mm rocket pods, as well as traditional air-to-air missiles and LITENING targeting pods. This had already underscored the magazine depth benefits of APKWS II. A typical air-to-air for the Viper consists of six air-to-air missiles. Just having a pair of rocket pods on one pylon effectively triples the number of anti-air engagement opportunities per sortie. The F-15E with six seven-shot rocket pods, along with eight air-to-air missiles, goes far beyond that capacity.
自1月以來，人們觀察到F-16戰(zhàn)斗機在中東地區(qū)飛行，攜帶的空對空武器配置包括一個或兩個七發(fā)裝70毫米火箭彈艙，以及傳統(tǒng)的空對空導(dǎo)彈和LITENING目標(biāo)指示吊艙。這已經(jīng)凸顯了APKWS II的彈藥深度優(yōu)勢。對于毒蛇戰(zhàn)斗機來說，典型的空對空配置包括六枚空對空導(dǎo)彈。僅在一個掛架上掛載兩個火箭彈艙就能使每次出擊的反空襲機會增加兩倍。而裝備了六個七聯(lián)裝火箭彈艙和八枚空對空導(dǎo)彈的F-15E，其能力遠(yuǎn)超這一水平。
（后方的F16掛載了雙聯(lián)裝火箭彈發(fā)射艙）
APKWS II is also a significantly lower-cost anti-air weapon than traditional air-to-air missiles in U.S. military inventory today. The APKWS II guidance kit, which is the most expensive part of the munition, has a unit cost of around $15,000 to $20,000. The warhead and motor add a few thousand dollars more to the total unit price. Current generation AIM-9X Sidewinders each cost in the region of $450,000, while the latest AIM-120 variants are $1 million or more apiece.
APKWS II也是美國軍方目前庫存中成本相對于傳統(tǒng)空對空導(dǎo)彈顯著低廉的對空武器。APKWS II制導(dǎo)套件是彈藥中最昂貴的部分，單價約為15,000至20,000美元。戰(zhàn)斗部和發(fā)動機使總單價再增加幾千美元。目前AIM-9X響尾蛇導(dǎo)彈每枚成本約45萬美元，而最新型的AIM-120變體單價則高達100萬美元或更高。
Even with the air-to-air specific upgrades developed for APKWS II, it does still has limitations when employed against aerial threats, as TWZ has noted in the past in the context of F-16 counter-drone missions:
即使APKWS II配備了針對空對空作戰(zhàn)開發(fā)的升級，在應(yīng)對空中威脅時它仍然存在局限性，正如TWZ在過去F-16反無人機任務(wù)中指出的那樣：
“In an air-to-air engagement, the laser designator in the LITENING pod could be used to ‘laze’ or designate the target. LITENING’s sensor turret can be slaved to the radar on the aircraft carrying it, or vice versa. So-called buddy lasing, where one aircraft designates the target for another, could also be useful in this case, especially given the speed differential between typical Houthi drones and F-16s. One jet could keep the target steadily lazed while the other makes its attack run.”
“在空對空交戰(zhàn)中，LITENING吊艙中的激光指示器可以用來‘激光照射’或鎖定目標(biāo)。LITENING的傳感器塔可以與攜帶它的飛機雷達同步，反之亦然。所謂僚機激光照射，即一架飛機鎖定目標(biāo)供另一架飛機攻擊，在這種情況下也非常有用，特別是考慮到典型胡塞無人機與F-16之間的速度差異。一架飛機可以持續(xù)鎖定目標(biāo)，而另一架飛機進行攻擊?！?br />
“APKWS IIs are usable against drones, as well as subsonic cruise missiles, in the first place because those are relatively steady, non-reactionary, low-performance targets. The rockets are not dogfighting weapons.”
“APKWS II首先可用于打擊無人機，以及亞音速巡航導(dǎo)彈，因為這些目標(biāo)是相對穩(wěn)定、非反應(yīng)性的低性能目標(biāo)。這些火箭并非狗斗武器?！?br />
BAE Systems, the prime contractor for the APKWS II, is now developing a dual-mode guidance package that adds a passive infrared seeker to give the rocket a quasi-fire-and-forget capability. A laser designator would still be needed to provide initial cueing, but the launch platform would be able to move much more rapidly from engaging one target to the next with the addition of the infrared guidance mode, as you can read more about here.
APKWS II的主要承包商BAE目前正在開發(fā)一種雙模式制導(dǎo)套件，該套件增加了一個被動紅外導(dǎo)引頭，使火箭具備準(zhǔn)發(fā)射后不管的能力。盡管仍然需要激光指示器提供初始引導(dǎo)，但紅外制導(dǎo)模式的加入將使發(fā)射平臺能夠更快地從攻擊一個目標(biāo)切換到下一個目標(biāo)。
Pairing F-15E with APKWS II, even just with the guided rocket’s existing capabilities, would offer additional advantages in the air-to-air role given the range and endurance of the Strike Eagle, as well as its substantial overall payload capacity. The F-15E is also a two-seat aircraft, which allows the pilot to remain fully focused on flying the aircraft while the back-seater handles targeting duties.
將F-15E與APKWS II搭配使用，即使僅利用制導(dǎo)火箭的現(xiàn)有能力，也能在空對空作戰(zhàn)中提供額外優(yōu)勢，這得益于"打擊鷹"的射程和續(xù)航能力，以及更大的整體載彈量。F-15E還是一種雙座飛機，允許飛行員全神貫注于駕駛飛機，而副駕駛則負(fù)責(zé)目標(biāo)鎖定任務(wù)。
Together with aerial refueling support, an F-15E armed with APKWS II rockets and traditional air-to-air missiles could provide a far more persistent counter-air screen with a huge magazine depth against drones and some cruise missile types. This kind of general scenario is what Air Force Strike Eagle crews found themselves in on multiple occasions while defending Israel from Iranian attacks last year, during which, running out of missiles became the limiting factor.
結(jié)合空中加油支援，裝備APKWS II火箭和傳統(tǒng)空對空導(dǎo)彈的F-15E能夠提供更持久的反空防御屏障，并擁有巨大的彈藥深度來對抗無人機和某些巡航導(dǎo)彈。這種場景正是空軍"打擊鷹"機組人員在去年多次防御伊朗對以色列的襲擊時所處的境地，其中導(dǎo)彈耗盡成為主要限制因素。
Specifically, while responding to Iran’s drone and missile attacks on Israel in April 2024, F-15Es had to land to rearm while threats were still flying overhead. At least one Strike Eagle crew switched to their aircraft’s 20mm M61 Vulcan cannon after running out of missiles, but was unable to shoot anything down.
具體來說，在2024年4月應(yīng)對伊朗對以色列的無人機和導(dǎo)彈襲擊時，F(xiàn)-15E戰(zhàn)斗機不得不在威脅仍在空中時降落以重新裝彈。至少有一架"打擊鷹"機組人員在耗盡導(dǎo)彈后使用飛機的20毫米M61火神機炮，但未能擊落任何目標(biāo)。
“The drone war is kind of like a video game. You just gotta get the jets up in the air and position them correctly for an intercept. The radar will easily see them after they’re launched and then it’s just how many missiles you have versus how many drones are launched. The technical aspect of detecting them and downing them is easy,” Daren “Shotgun” Sorenson, a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel who flew F-15Es, told TWZ in an interview last summer. “It’s easy work. You can do it all day long until you run out of missiles.”
“無人機戰(zhàn)有點像電子游戲。你只需要讓戰(zhàn)斗機升空并正確部署以進行攔截。它們起飛后雷達很容易發(fā)現(xiàn)它們，然后就是你的導(dǎo)彈數(shù)量與敵方無人機數(shù)量的對比。探測它們并擊落它們在技術(shù)方面很簡單，”去年夏天接受TWZ采訪的退役空軍上校達倫“霰彈槍”索倫森，曾駕駛F-15E戰(zhàn)斗機，“這是輕松的工作。你可以一直做，直到耗盡導(dǎo)彈?！?br />
The Air Force also recently sent a detachment of F-15Es to the highly strategic island of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, explicitly to provide force protection for forces currently there, including B-52 bombers, a deployment TWZ was first to report. This only further underscores the key role Strike Eagles are already playing in shielding high-value assets, especially from drones and cruise missiles.
空軍最近還派遣了一支F-15E部隊前往印度洋中的戰(zhàn)略要地迪戈加西亞島，目的是為目前駐扎在那里的部隊（包括B-52轟炸機）提供力量保護，這是TWZ首次報道的部署。這進一步強調(diào)了F-15E戰(zhàn)斗機已經(jīng)在保護高價值資產(chǎn)中發(fā)揮關(guān)鍵作用，尤其針對無人機和巡航導(dǎo)彈的威脅。
All of this also applies at least equally, if not more so, to the Air Force’s incoming F-15EX Eagle II aircraft. The F-15EX is the latest and most capable variant to emerge in the extended Strike Eagle family, and is expected to be used primarily in the homeland air defense role in U.S. service, at least initially. Last year, TWZ laid out in detail how the Strike Eagle’s performance in the anti-air role in the Middle East had bolstered the case for the EX in U.S. and Israeli service. Indonesia also plans to buy F-15s derived from the EX variant, and other foreign customers, including Poland.
所有這些至少同樣適用于空軍即將到來的F-15EX鷹II型飛機。F-15EX是打擊鷹家族中最新的、能力最強的變體，預(yù)計將主要用于美國本土防空任務(wù)，至少在初期是這樣。去年TWZ詳細(xì)闡述了F-15E在中東地區(qū)反空襲的表現(xiàn)如何支持了F-15EX在美國和以色列服役的案例。印度尼西亞以及其他外國客戶，包括波蘭，也計劃購買基于F-15EX變體的F-15，。
“The proliferation of one-way attack drones is driving a massive demand signal for counter-UAS capabilities,” The Merge also told TWZ directly when asked about the picture of the rocket-armed Strike Eagle. “The cost exchange afforded by APKWS rockets–and the flexibility and magazine depth by putting them on the F-15E/X–should make a meaningful difference.”
“自殺式攻擊無人機的擴散正引發(fā)對反無人機能力的巨大需求，”The Merge在被問及掛載火箭的打擊鷹戰(zhàn)機圖片時直接告訴TWZ?！癆PKWS火箭帶來的成本交換，以及將它們裝在 F-15E/X上的靈活性和彈艙深度，應(yīng)該會產(chǎn)生顯著影響?！?br />
Adding APKWS II to the F-15E’s arsenal, especially for air-to-air use, could be a factor in ongoing debates about the future of the Air Force’s Strike Eagles, as well. Congress recently blocked the service, at least until 2027, from pursuing plans to retire more than half of the heavily in-demand Strike Eagle fleet.
為F-15E配備APKWS II武器系統(tǒng)，尤其是將其用于空對空作戰(zhàn)，也可能成為空軍打擊鷹戰(zhàn)機未來發(fā)展方向辯論中的一個因素。國會最近阻止了美國空軍，使其無法在2027年前實施退役超過一半打擊鷹戰(zhàn)機機隊的計劃。
It would also not be surprising at all to see APKWS II join already growing air-to-air loadouts available to U.S. Navy F/A-18E/F Super Hornets. A year ago, Houthi drone threats in and around the Red Sea had already prompted that service to launch a crash program to increase the number of AIM-9Xs a Super Hornet could carry on a single sortie. The Navy has since officially dubbed F/A-18E/Fs armed with five AIM-120s and four AIM-9Xs as “Murder Hornets.”
APKWS II加入美國海軍F/A-18E/F超級大黃蜂的空對空武器配置也絕不令人意外。一年前，紅海及周邊地區(qū)的胡塞武裝無人機威脅已促使該軍種啟動緊急計劃，增加超級大黃蜂在一次出擊中可攜帶的AIM-9X導(dǎo)彈數(shù)量。海軍此后正式將裝備五枚AIM-120和四枚AIM-9X導(dǎo)彈的F/A-18E/F稱為“謀殺大黃蜂”。
Regardless of the threat of partial retirement, many F-15Es remain in Air Force service in the coming years, there are clear signs the jets are now in line to get an important firepower boost, including when it comes to shooting down drones, in the form of APKWS II.
無論面臨部分退役的威脅，未來幾年仍有許多F-15E將留在空軍服役，有明確跡象表明這些戰(zhàn)機現(xiàn)在有望獲得重要的火力提升，包括在擊落無人機的火力方面，以APKWS II的形式得到展現(xiàn)。
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