The F-15 Eagle is a great aircraft that has thrived even after the F-22 Raptor was introduced.
The F-15 Eagle is one of the world’s most-produced air superiority fighter jets. But why? It isn’t the most advanced in the US Air Force, that’s the F-22 Raptor which is a fifth-generation fighter while the Eagle is a fourth-generation aircraft.
The Raptor is no longer in production despite being the more advanced fighter. Additionally, the F-15 Eagle has never been defeated in aerial combat. So what are the secrets to the success of America’s most numerous air superiority fighter jet?
Here is everything you need to know about the F-15 Eagle — the fighter jet that outlasted the F-22 Raptor.
8. Still Being Produced
The F-15 Eagle was first flown in 1972 and entered service 45 years ago, in 1976. The world in which the Eagle was born was that of the Cold War, since then the Cold War has ended and military technology has become ever more stealthy.
The F-15 Eagle is a fourth-generation fighter jet. Today, fifth-generation fighter jets are in production, and sixth-generation are in development. And yet, in all of this, the F-15 has managed to remain relevant and is still being produced for the US Air Force.
7. Undefeated In Aerial Combat
The F-15 Eagle is one of the most successful fighter jets in the world. It remains unbeaten and has so far claimed some 100 kills. 100 kills to zero is a very impressive record. Most of these kills have been in Israeli service and the Israelis have still not lost an Eagle to aerial combat.
During the 1991 Gulf War, the US’s F-15’s claimed some 34 confirmed kills against the Iraqi Air Force. These included five Mikoyan MiG-29s, two MiG-25s, eight MiG-23s, two MiG-21s, two Sukhoi Su-25s, four Sukhoi Su-22s, one Sukhoi Su-7, six Dassault Mirage F1s, one Ilyushin Il-76 cargo aircraft, one Pilatus PC-9 trainer, and two Mil Mi-8 helicopters. Most of these were shot down with missiles.
6. Specifications Of The Strike Eagle
The F-15E is a twin-seater and has a max takeoff weight of 81,000lb. Its max speed is 1,650 mph and able to reach over Mach 2.5 at high altitude.
Its combat range is 791 miles and has a ferry range of 2,400 miles with extra fuel tanks. It is also able to carry the 4× AIM-7 Sparrow, the 4× AIM-9 Sidewinder, and the 8× AIM-120 AMRAAM Air-to-air missiles.
5. The F-15 Was Originally Planned To Be Purely An Air Superiority Fighter Jet.
The F-15 Eagle has excelled itself. It was originally envisioned as purely an air superiority fighter jet. Yet over the years with various upgrades, it has proven to be much more useful and versatile.
It is now an all-weather tactical fighter, while the F-15 Strike Eagle variant is a multi-role all-weather strike fighter. In fact, the Strike Eagle is used to carry out deep strikes against high-value targets. In addition, it is used for patrols and even close air support.
4. No Clear Replacement For The F-15E Strike Eagle
To date, there is no clear replacement for the F-15E Strike Eagle. It would seem obvious that the Raptor won’t be doing it. It’s just too expensive. It’s possible the F-35 could be adapted to fill the F-15E’s role.
Or, possibly, there won’t be a fifth-generation replacement at all, and replacement will wait until the planned Long Range Strike Bomber. That is a sixth-generation fighter aircraft that’s in development, and we know little about it at the moment. But it seems clear the Eagle will be in service for many years to come.
3. F-15E Strike Eagle’s Improvements
Since its inception, the Eagle has undergone many major changes and upgrades. And today there are many variants of the fighter along with more proposed ones. Indeed, the Strike Eagle is a major variant of the Eagle.
These improvements have upgraded the Eagle’s electronics, payload capabilities, and stealth among many other things.
2. Proposed Fifth Generation Variant – F-15SE Silent Eagle
At one point, there was a proposal to upgrade the Eagle so comprehensively that it would have been thought of as a fifth-generation fighter jet. In 2015 Boeing proposed a 2040C Eagle upgrade that would enable the F-15 Eagle to have been relevant through to 2040.
That would have meant that the F-15 Eagle would have been in service for 75 or so years. Not bad! It isn’t clear if the Air Force is currently interested in an F-15 Eagle equipped with 5th generation technology or not.
1. F-15E Vs F-22 Raptor
The F-22 Raptor is the fifth generation air superiority fighter designed to be the new main American air superiority fighter. It was actually the world’s first fifth-generation aircraft for quite a long while. The Raptor is more advanced and far more stealthy. But the Raptor has one very big Achilles Heel.
The F-22 Raptor is very expensive. Expense is something that can kill projects like the Zumwalt Class Destroyers and of course the Raptor. The F-15E Eagle on the other hand is relatively capable while at a fraction of the cost.
In summary, the F-15 Eagle is a great aircraft that has thrived even though the F-22 Raptor has been introduced.
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