The undefeated F-15 Eagle continues to develop and give the US Air Force (USAF) fighter fleet advanced capabilities
Irv Burrows, the chief test pilot, piloted the first flight of the Boeing F-15 on July 27, 1972. After 50 years, the undefeated F-15 is still evolving and giving the US Air Force (USAF) fighter fleet more cutting-edge capabilities.
“Boeing is proud of the F-15’s proven performance and of our shared legacy on this platform with the U.S. Air Force and operators around the world,” said Prat Kumar, vice president of F-15 Programs, in a Boeing news release. “With its unrivaled combat performance, five decades-long production run, and continuous evolution, the F-15 has a remarkable history and continues today to be a critical asset for U.S. and allied forces. And with the development of new, advanced capabilities and the evolution of the F-15EX, the best is yet to come.”
The USAF, which required a fighter jet to preserve the country’s air superiority, requested that Boeing start the F-15 development.
Early in 1975, an F-15A known as Streak Eagle that was based at Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota broke numerous time-to-climb records. Eight time-to-climb world records were broken by the Streak Eagle between January 16 and February 1, 1975. After releasing the brakes at takeoff, it climbed to 98,425 feet in just 3 minutes, 27.8 seconds, then coasted to almost 103,000 feet before descending.
Boeing claims that the Israeli Air Force’s Eagles were the first to encounter a true aerial foe. They suffered no casualties while taking down more than 50 Syrian fighters.
The F-15E Strike Eagle was created to satisfy the USAF’s requirements for air-to-ground missions. In December 1986, it took off for its inaugural flight from St. Louis. With its superior navigation and infrared targeting system, the Strike Eagle can carry 23,000 pounds of air-to-ground and air-to-air weaponry while protecting from enemy defenses. Due to this, the Strike Eagle can fly at a low altitude and a high speed regardless of the weather or time of day.
The F-15 has been manufactured in both two-seat B and single-seat A versions. A dual-role fighter with two seats, the F-15E Strike Eagle can engage both air and ground targets.
In 1991, the F-15C, -D, and -E versions took part in Operation Desert Storm. F-15s attacked Iraqi ground targets while downing 32 of 36 USAF air-to-air victories. During Operation Allied Force in 1999, F-15s downed three Serbian MiG-29 planes while serving in Bosnia in 1994. In the 1990s, they enforced no-fly zones over Iraq. In Operation Enduring Freedom, Eagles also made direct hits on Afghan targets, and in Operation Iraqi Freedom, the F-15E variant flew air-to-ground missions.
Through its versions, the F-15 has performed that task for a variety of international customers, including Japan, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, and Qatar.
The most recent F-15, the F-15EX Eagle II, features modern sensors and avionics in addition to a cutting-edge electronic warfare system. The aircraft can transport next-generation hypersonic weaponry thanks to its unmatched payload capacity.
With digital design, automation, and tooling, the F-15’s manufacturing process has evolved over the years to incorporate cutting-edge full-size determinant assembly advanced manufacturing processes.
“Boeing’s modernized manufacturing process improves quality while decreasing time and costs,” said Kumar. “We’ve seen increased global interest in the contemporary F-15 and its next-generation capabilities.”
Around the world, more than 1,500 F-15s are in use. In March 2021, the USAF received its first F-15EX.
Photo by U.S. Air Force
