Why the US still needs the F-15

Summary

The F-15 Eagle, introduced in 1976, has been a dominant force in air superiority for the US Air Force, with a legacy of over 100 kills and no losses to enemy action. Designed in response to the Soviet MiG-25 Foxbat, the F-15 excels in speed, maneuverability, and versatility. From its first kill in 1979 to the Gulf War and beyond, the F-15 has proven its adaptability, with the upgraded F-15EX Eagle II set to extend its service life into the 2050s. The aircraft's impressive performance and continued deployment in modern conflicts underscore its status as a formidable fighter jet.

Takeaways

• 🛫 The F-15 Eagle was developed in response to the Soviet MiG-25 Foxbat, aiming to maintain American air superiority.
• 🎯 Designed for air-to-air combat, the F-15 features speed, maneuverability, and advanced avionics, including a 360-degree canopy view.
• 🚀 The F-15's engines provide such powerful thrust that it can accelerate vertically, exceeding the aircraft's weight and drag.
• 💥 The F-15 has an impressive combat record with over 100 air-to-air kills and has never been downed by enemy action.
• ✈️ The F-15 entered service in 1976 and has been continuously upgraded, with the F-15EX Eagle II set to extend its service life into the 2050s.
• 🔧 The F-15 demonstrated its resilience by maintaining controlled flight even after a mid-air collision that resulted in the loss of a wing.
• 🌌 In 1985, the F-15 was used in an anti-satellite mission, successfully destroying a satellite in orbit and marking the first 'space ace'.
• 🏹 During Desert Storm, the F-15 was instrumental in achieving air superiority, claiming 36 of the 39 air-to-air victories by the U.S. Air Force.
• 🔭 The F-15E Strike Eagle variant is a multi-role fighter, capable of both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions with advanced targeting systems.
• 🌐 The F-15 is operated by several air forces worldwide, including those of Qatar, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, and Japan.
• 🛡 Despite the advent of newer aircraft like the F-35 and F-22, the F-15 remains a vital component of the U.S. Air Force's arsenal due to its proven capabilities.

Q & A

What was the primary role of the F-15 Eagle when it was first deployed in 1977?

The F-15 Eagle was deployed as NATO’s first line of defense against Soviet aggression, specifically to counter the perceived threat of the Soviet MiG-25 Foxbat.

Why was the F-15 Eagle developed in response to the MiG-25 Foxbat?

The MiG-25 Foxbat, developed by the Soviets in the late 1960s, was perceived as a significant threat to American air superiority due to its high speed and altitude capabilities, prompting the US to develop the F-15 Eagle to maintain air dominance.

How has the F-15 Eagle demonstrated its value in air-to-air combat?

The F-15 Eagle has been in service for almost half a century, proving its value as an air-to-air dogfighter, with an impressive record of more than 100 kills without ever being downed by enemy action.

What is the significance of the F-15EX Eagle II model?

The F-15EX Eagle II is an upgraded model of the F-15, set to begin deploying in the near future, potentially extending the lifespan of the F-15 until the 2050s.

What were the limitations of the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom that led to the development of the F-15?

The F-4 Phantom lacked maneuverability compared to lightweight MiGs, resulting in heavy losses during the Vietnam War, which highlighted the need for a fighter jet that could excel in close-range dogfights.

What were the key design features of the F-15 that contributed to its air-to-air combat capabilities?

The F-15 was designed for speed, maneuverability, and versatility, with a low weight-to-wing area ratio, shoulder-mounted wings for sharp turns without losing speed, and twin-engines providing unmatched thrust.

What was the first F-15's kill and how did it happen?

The F-15's first kill occurred in 1979 when an Israeli Defence Force pilot shot down a Soviet-made MiG-21B while patrolling the northern border of Israel.

How did the F-15 demonstrate its ability to maintain controlled flight with severe damage?

In 1983, following a mid-air collision, an Israeli pilot was able to bring a crippled F-15, which had lost its entire starboard wing, out of a nosedive using the aircraft’s powerful afterburners, demonstrating its stability even with significant damage.

What was the unique mission of the F-15 in 1985, and what was the outcome?

In 1985, Major Wilbert Pearson used an F-15 to launch a missile at a satellite moving at 17,500 mph, located 300 miles above him, successfully becoming the first 'space ace' by destroying the satellite.

How did the F-15 perform during the Gulf War, and what was its role?

During Desert Storm, F-15 C and D models flew over 5,900 sorties, claiming 36 of the 39 air-to-air victories by the U.S. Air Force against Iraqi forces, achieving complete air superiority within the first ten days of the war.

What is the F-15E Strike Eagle, and how does it differ from the original F-15?

The F-15E Strike Eagle is a multi-purpose fighter variant designed for both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions, equipped with an additional crew member, a weapons system officer, and advanced targeting systems like LANTIRN for locating ground targets.

How has the F-15 been utilized in conflicts outside of the US?

The F-15 has been deployed in various conflicts globally, including Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Iraq, and serves as the backbone of several air forces outside the US, such as Qatar, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, and Japan.

What are the improvements offered by the F-15EX Strike Eagle II over the F-15E?

The F-15EX Strike Eagle II offers numerous improvements over the F-15E, including newer engines with 5,000 pounds more thrust each, allowing the F-15 to fly farther and carry a wider array of munitions.

Outlines

00:00

🛫 The F-15 Eagle: A Dominant Fighter Jet

The F-15 Eagle, introduced in 1977, was developed by the U.S. as a response to the perceived threat of the Soviet MiG-25 Foxbat. Designed for air superiority, the F-15 has been a mainstay of NATO's defense in Europe and has an impressive record, with over 100 kills and no losses due to enemy action. The F-15's design prioritized speed, maneuverability, and advanced avionics, making it a formidable air-to-air combatant. An upgraded model, the F-15EX Eagle II, is set to extend the aircraft's service life into the 2050s.

05:01

🔧 Evolution and Versatility of the F-15

The F-15 has seen multiple generations of upgrades, with the F-15C and D variants boasting increased fuel capacity and demonstrating remarkable stability even after a mid-air collision that resulted in the loss of an entire wing. The F-15's adaptability was further highlighted by its role in the anti-satellite (ASAT) mission, where it successfully destroyed a satellite in 1985, showcasing its potential as a space interceptor. The F-15 also saw action in the Gulf War, where it achieved air superiority and was instrumental in the U.S. Air Force's air-to-air victories.

10:05

🌏 Global Deployment and Continued Service of the F-15

Beyond the U.S., the F-15 forms the backbone of several air forces globally, including those of Qatar, South Korea, and Saudi Arabia. Japan operates a special variant, the F-15J, under license. The Israeli Air Force has utilized F-15s extensively, accounting for the majority of the aircraft's air-to-air kills. The F-15 has participated in numerous conflicts since the Gulf War, including operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. The latest generation, the F-15EX Strike Eagle II, offers significant performance improvements and is expected to further enhance the F-15's capabilities.

Keywords

💡F-15 Eagle

The F-15 Eagle is a highly maneuverable, single-seat U.S. Air Force fighter jet designed by McDonnell Douglas to gain and maintain air superiority. It is central to the video's theme, illustrating the jet's development, performance, and service history. The script mentions its introduction in 1977 to counter the Soviet MiG-25 Foxbat and its continued service with upgrades like the F-15EX Eagle II.

💡MiG-25 Foxbat

The MiG-25 Foxbat was a Soviet jet that sparked Western concern due to its high speed and perceived capabilities. It is significant in the video as it influenced the development of the F-15 Eagle. The script describes the MiG-25 as a catalyst for the U.S. to enhance its air superiority fighter capabilities.

💡Air superiority

Air superiority is the ability of one side in a conflict to control the airspace over a battlefield. It is a key concept in the video, as it was the primary purpose for the development of the F-15. The script discusses how the F-15 has been used to maintain air superiority in various conflicts.

💡McDonnell Douglas

McDonnell Douglas was an American aerospace manufacturer responsible for designing and producing the F-15 Eagle. The company is mentioned in the script as the creator of both the F-15 and its predecessor, the F-4 Phantom, highlighting its role in U.S. military aviation history.

💡F-15EX Eagle II

The F-15EX Eagle II is an upgraded version of the F-15 Eagle, set to extend the aircraft's service life into the 2050s. It is a key term in the script, showcasing technological advancements and the continued relevance of the F-15 platform.

💡Desert Storm

Desert Storm refers to the Gulf War in 1990-1991, during which the F-15 played a crucial role in establishing air superiority. The script details the F-15's performance during this conflict, highlighting its effectiveness in combat.

💡F-15E Strike Eagle

The F-15E Strike Eagle is a dual-role variant of the F-15 designed for air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. It is mentioned in the script as an example of the F-15's versatility and its ability to adapt to different combat roles.

💡ASAT (Anti-Satellite)

ASAT refers to the capability to destroy or incapacitate satellites in space. The script recounts a historical event where an F-15 successfully shot down a satellite, demonstrating the jet's adaptability for unique missions beyond traditional air combat.

💡LANTIRN

LANTIRN stands for Low Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infra-Red for Night, a system used by the F-15E for locating targets in low-light conditions. The script explains its importance in enhancing the F-15E's ground attack capabilities.

💡Bunker Buster

A Bunker Buster is a type of bomb designed to penetrate and destroy fortified underground structures. The script mentions its use by the F-15E during the Gulf War, showcasing the aircraft's advanced weaponry.

💡International adoption

The term 'international adoption' refers to the use of the F-15 by air forces outside the United States. The script provides examples of countries like Japan, South Korea, and Saudi Arabia operating variants of the F-15, emphasizing its global impact.

Highlights

The F-15 Eagle was developed in response to the Soviet MiG-25 Foxbat, perceived as a threat to American air superiority.

The F-15 has been in service with the US Air Force in Europe for nearly half a century, proving its value as an air-to-air dogfighter.

An upgraded model, the F-15EX Eagle II, is set to extend the F-15's lifespan potentially until the 2050s.

Despite numerous engagements, no F-15 has ever been downed by enemy action, highlighting its formidable capabilities.

The F-15 was designed for speed, maneuverability, and versatility, with features like a low weight-to-wing area ratio and shoulder-mounted wings.

The F-15A's impressive performance includes a climb rate of 50,000 feet per minute and speeds exceeding Mach 2.5.

The F-15's advanced avionics and radar systems, along with its weaponry, contribute to its status as a dominant fighter jet.

The F-15's first air-to-air kill was recorded in 1979, establishing its combat effectiveness.

The F-15 demonstrated its resilience by maintaining flight after a mid-air collision, showcasing its design's robustness.

In 1985, an F-15 pilot became the first 'space ace' by successfully intercepting and destroying a satellite.

During Desert Storm, F-15s achieved air superiority in the first ten days and claimed 36 of the 39 air-to-air victories.

The F-15E Strike Eagle, a multi-purpose variant, was introduced, capable of both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions.

The F-15E's LANTRIN system allowed it to excel in locating and destroying ground targets, including Iraqi SCUD missiles.

F-15s have been deployed in every major US conflict since the Gulf War, showcasing their versatility and continued relevance.

International adoption of the F-15 includes air forces of Qatar, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, and Japan, among others.

The F-15's continued service and the introduction of the F-15EX demonstrate the enduring design and adaptability of the aircraft.

Transcripts

In 1977 the F-15 behind me arrived at Bitburg  Air Force base in Germany to act as NATO’s first  

line of defence against Soviet aggression. The  Soviets' development of the MiG-25 Foxbat in the  

late 1960s ignited a fear in the West. While this  new aircraft’s actual performance was untested,  

the Foxbat was perceived to be a significant  threat to American air superiority. It was  

partly in response to this that the US began  development of the F-15 Eagle – a fighter jet  

that has dominated the skies ever since. Today, almost half a century later,  

the US Air Force is still flying F-15 Eagles  in Europe. Despite the arrival of much more  

technologically advanced fighters, the F-15  continues to prove its value as an air-to-air  

dogfighter. So much so that an upgraded model –  the F-15EX Eagle II – is due to begin deploying  

in the next few months, potentially extending  the lifespan of the F-15 until the 2050s,  

90 years after the first F-15 took  to the skies. Despite operating in  

every major conflict of the last forty  years and scoring more than 100 kills,  

an F-15 has never been downed by enemy action.  So what makes the F-15 Eagle so formidable?  

And are we justified in suggesting that the  F-15 is the greatest fighter jet of all time?

To find the answers to these questions we have  to go back to the mid-1960s and the skies over  

North Vietnam. It is here that the US Air Force  came face to face with the limitations of its  

primary air superiority fighter, the McDonnell  Douglas F-4 Phantom. Tasked with escorting  

American strike aircraft to their targets,  the burly F-4 Phantoms – like the one behind  

me – were paying a heavy price for their lack  of manoeuvrability compared to the lightweight  

MiGs sent up to intercept them. By the end of  the conflict, 382 F-4 Phantoms had been lost,  

many of them in air-to-air combat. While the Phantom excelled in the role  

of long-range multi-purpose fighter-bomber, it  was clear that the United States Air Force was  

severely lacking a fighter jet that could hold  its own in a close-range dogfight. In 1965 the  

US launched the top-secret Project FX to set  the parameters for a new fighter. By 1968,  

the competition had been launched to design  a 30,000 pound all-weather aircraft that  

could escape radar and visual detection,  while also carrying a fearsome armament  

of missiles, guns and rockets and the latest  in radar technology. Its main purpose would  

be the maintenance of air superiority. The winning aircraft was designed by  

none other than McDonnell Douglas, the same  company that had created the F-4 Phantom.

Designed to excel in air-to-air combat, the  F-15 was engineered for speed, manoeuvrability,  

and versatility. The airframe’s low weight-to-wing  area ratio and shoulder-mounted wings allowed  

it to make sharp turns without losing speed.  Meanwhile its twin-engines provided unmatched  

thrust. In fact, the combined thrust of its  engines could exceed the aircraft’s weight  

and drag, allowing it to accelerate vertically.  The F-15A had an impressive climb rate of 50,000  

feet per minute and speeds exceeding Mach 2.5.  The single canopy provided a 360-degree view out  

of the cockpit, allowing the pilot to more  easily identify threats. Packed inside this  

innovative airframe were advanced avionics and  radar systems. For weaponry, McDonnell opted for  

the tried and tested General Electric M61 20mm  rotary cannon and the AIM-9L Sidewinder missile.

On 16 June 1972, the first F-15A rolled out of the  McDonnell Douglas production plant in St. Louis,  

taking its maiden flight the following month.  A year later a two-seat version, the F-15B,  

took to the skies for the first time.  The F-15 entered service in January 1976. 

The F-11A behind me was one of those early Eagles  to join US squadrons overseas. Veteran British  

test pilot Paul Millett recalls taking an F-15  on a test flight soon after it entered service.

I managed to get a flight at Bitburg  with the United States Air Force and  

that that's probably the highest performance  aeroplane by a long way that I've ever flown.  

That compared with aircraft like the  F-104 is a wonderful handling machine,  

and at slow speed you can do anything with it  as well. It probably has got a few vices but in  

one flight, I didn't find any vices at all.  I thought, it was a real pilot's aeroplane.

The F-15's first kill came in 1979. While  patrolling the northern border of Israel, Israeli  

Defence Force pilot Marom-Melnik shot down a  Soviet-made MiG-21B. This was followed by further  

action throughout the Arab-Israeli conflict  and Israel’s war with Lebanon in 1982. Once  

the adversary of the F-4 Phantom in Vietnam,  Soviet-made MiGs proved no match for the new F-15.

By this time, the second generation of F-15s were  in operation. The F-15C and two-seater D variant  

benefitted from several improvements, including  2,000 pounds of additional internal fuel.

The F-15 even demonstrated its ability to  maintain controlled fl-lc- ight with just  

one wing following a mid-air collision  in 1983. Shortly after the impact,  

the Israeli cvpilot was able to bring the  crippled F-15 out of a nosedive using the  

aircraft’s powerful afterburners. Due to the fuel  vapour that poured from the wing area, the pilot  

didn’t realise that his entire starboard wing had  been shorn off. It wasn’t until the F-15 landed at  

a nearby airstrip that the extent of the damage  became apparent. McDonnell Douglas even sent  

out representatives to the aircraft to verify the  account. The conclusion was that if the F-15 flew  

fast enough it could remain stable, even without  wings. In other words, it could become a rocket.

The F-15’s comparison with a rocket took on a  new meaning in 1985. By this time, the second  

generation of F-15s were in operation. The F-15C  and two-seater D variant benefitted from several  

improvements, including 2,000 pounds of additional  internal fuel. While Israeli pilots were putting  

F-15s through their paces in the Arab-Israeli  conflict, the United States Air Force was  

diverting some of its F-15s to a very different  mission. The anti-satellite, or ASAT, arms race  

began as soon as Sputnik entered orbit in 1957.  Fuelled by fears of nuclear-armed satellites, the  

US military launched a program to design a weapons  system that could shoot down military satellites.  

Over the years, the B-47 Stratojet, B-58 Hustler,  and F-4 Phantom had all been considered as a  

suitable weapons platform, but none had succeeded  in shooting down a satellite. Now it was the turn  

of the F-15. On 13th September 1985, Major Wilbert  Pearson took his F-15 into a steep vertical climb  

to 36,000 feet over the Pacific Ocean. At 12:42PM  Pearson launched a 3,000 pound missile at a  

Solwind P78-1 satellite moving at 17,500 mph,  located 300 miles above him:. Pearson scored  

a direct hit, and in doing so, became the first  space ace. This successful test demonstrated the  

potential of using modified fighter aircraft  to intercept and destroy satellites in orbit.

The F-15 Eagle eventually saw combat with  the US Air Force in 1990, when it faced the  

aircraft it had been designed to destroy, the  Mig-25 Foxbat. Feared by the US for its speed,  

manoeuvrability and impressive armament,  the Soviet-made Foxbat had forced the US  

to improve the specifications for the F-15 when  it first debuted in the late 1960s. Designed to  

intercept hypersonic bombers, the MiG-25 still  holds the record for the fastest fighter jet  

of all time. And yet in every other metric,  the F-15 surpasses the once-feared Foxbat.  

This advantage would come to bear in 1990. Following Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait on 2  

August 1990, F-15s provided the defensive  umbrella for the mass build-up of combat  

power to the region. During Desert Storm, 120  F-15 C and D models flew over 5,900 sorties,  

claiming an impressive 36 of the 39 air-to-air  victories by U.S. Air Force against Iraqi  

forces. Within the first ten days of the war,  complete air superiority had been achieved.

The First Gulf War also provided the  testing ground for the newest model  

of F-15 – the Strike Eagle. The F-15E Strike  Eagle was designed as a multi-purpose fighter,  

equipped to locate and destroy ground targets, as  well as air-to-air opposition. To achieve this,  

the new aircraft had an additional crew member.  Behind the pilot sat a weapons system officer,  

who operated the cutting-edge Low  Altitude Navigation and Targeting  

Infra-Red for Night system, known as  LANTRIN, to locate targets. In the Gulf,  

F-15Es were employed with an 11-ton payload  and a Bunker Buster - a guided bomb developed  

to destroy strengthened underground bunkers. This new weapons system required F-15 crews to  

undertake additional training. Military  aircraft simulators, like this one,  

are used to train aircrew in target-finding and  weapons delivery without the dangers of real  

combat flight. This F-15 Weapon System Trainer  was used by the 48th Fighter Wing based at RAF  

Lakenheath in Suffolk, not far from our museum  at Duxford. Although the trainer was static,  

different scenarios were programmed into  it by operators sitting in a separate unit.

By the end of the First Gulf War, the F-15E  had proven its versatility as an air-to-ground  

fighter. Using their innovative LANTRIN  targeting system, F-15s became adept at  

destroying Iraqi SCUD missiles at night.  As a result of allied precision attacks,  

the number of enemy missiles launched  dropped from an average of five per day  

in the first ten days of the war to one  per day for the last thirty-three days.

The F-15 has been deployed to every major  conflict that the US has been involved in  

since the Gulf War. F-15s served in  Bosnia in 1994 and Kosovo in 1999,  

where they downed three Serbian MiG-29 fighters.  In 2001 F-15s served in Afghanistan and were  

deployed on operations over Iraq from  2003. Aircrews of the 48th Fighter Wing,  

based at Lakenheath, were deployed in these  operations. RAF Lakenheath is the largest  

U.S. Air Force base in the UK and the only  USAFE fighter wing in Europe operating F-15s.

Outside of the US, the F-15 serves as  the backbone of several air forces,  

including the air defence forces of Qatar, South  Korea, and Saudi Arabia. The largest customer of  

the F-15 outside of the United States is  Japan, who operate the F-15J, a special  

variant produced under license by Mitsubishi. The Israeli Air Force has operated F-15s since  

1977 and can lay claim to 61 of the F-15’s 102  air-to-air kills. In April 2024, U.S. Air Force  

F-15E Strike Eagles were involved in shooting  down more than 70 Iranian drones fired at Israel.  

The potential sale of the latest generation of  F-15 – the EX Strike Eagle II – to Israel has  

generated headlines as the debate rages over the  moral implications of Israel’s aerial strategy. 

The US is busy filling its own ranks with this  new jet, which offers numerous improvements on  

the F-15E. The newer engines can produce  a whopping 29,000 pounds of thrust apiece,  

5,000 tonnes more than the F-15E’s engines. The F-15 can fly farther than other American  

fighter types and can carry a wider array of  munitions. Its air-to-air combat credentials have  

ensured that the US has maintained air superiority  in every conflict zone they’ve been deployed to,  

while the introduction of the multi-purpose Strike  Eagle has expanded the F-15’s repertoire. Sure, it  

might not be as advanced as the F-35 Joint  Strike Fighter, as cost effective as the  

F-16 Fight Falcon, or as stealthy as the F-22  Raptor, but the fact that the F-15 is still a  

vital part of the United States’ armament is  itself testament to the aircraft’s design.