ROKAF F-15K Slam Eagle Fleet to Receive Advanced EPAWSS Electronic Warfare Upgrade

BAE Systems has been selected to provide its advanced AN/ALQ-250 Eagle Passive/Active Warning and Survivability System (EPAWSS) to the Republic of Korea Air Force’s (ROKAF) F-15K Slam Eagle combat aircraft. The company confirmed it received a contract from Boeing to integrate this critical electronic warfare (EW) suite, aiming to bolster the survivability and mission effectiveness of the ROKAF’s 59-strong F-15K fleet.

This comprehensive modernization initiative is part of a broader program designed to equip the ROKAF’s F-15K aircraft with state-of-the-art protection against evolving aerial threats. The EPAWSS, characterized by its fully digital architecture, offers 360-degree threat detection, significantly enhancing pilot situational awareness. It also provides advanced electronic countermeasures, enabling the F-15K to operate more effectively in complex and electromagnetically dense environments often associated with sophisticated adversary air defense systems.

The integration of EPAWSS is expected to complement the F-15K’s inherent strengths—its high speed, extended range, and substantial payload capacity—by providing superior situational awareness for both air-to-air and air-to-ground engagements. This upgrade is being executed under the U.S. Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program, in collaboration with South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA). A key objective is to fortify the ROKAF’s airpower against current and emerging threats, while simultaneously strengthening interoperability between the F-15K fleet and U.S. forces.

The AN/ALQ-250 EPAWSS is already in full-rate production for the U.S. Air Force, equipping newly manufactured F-15EX Eagle II aircraft and modernizing existing F-15E Strike Eagle variants. The system’s capabilities are continuously refined through ongoing software and firmware updates, based on operational feedback. Design and manufacturing activities for the EPAWSS systems are primarily conducted at BAE Systems’ facility in Austin, New Hampshire, USA.

The F-15K, locally known as the “Slam Eagle,” is a customized derivative of the F-15E Strike Eagle, serving as a cornerstone of South Korea’s air combat capabilities. It undertakes diverse missions, including deep penetration strikes, air defense, and precision attack operations, regularly assigned to alert duties over the Korean Peninsula. The ROKAF strategically deploys the F-15K in complementary roles alongside its F-35A stealth fighters, leveraging the F-15K’s superior payload, range, and two-seat cockpit configuration for sustained strike missions and command-and-control functions.

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