War Aircraft: F-15

Though the F-15 had originally been designed as a multi-role fighter, production models were never configured for ground attack duties. McDonnell Douglas then went ahead using corporate funds to illustrate the design's surface attack capabilities in the hope of securing an Air Force order. One of the original TF-15A airframes was chosen as a demonstration vehicle and modified to create the Strike Eagle. Sufficiently interested in the idea and needing a replacement for the F-111, the US Air Force submitted a requirement for an Enhanced Tactical Fighter (ETF) to industry. The competition pitted the Strike Eagle against the General Dynamics F-16XL version of the Fighting Falcon. McDonnell Douglas won the ETF contract and proceeded with design work on the new F-15E. The development phase utilized the original Strike Eagle as well as additional F-15C/D airframes modified for trials.

HISTORY:
First Flight 11 December 1986
Service Entry April 1988

CREW:
two: pilot, weapons systems officer

ESTIMATED COST:
F-15E, $43 million [1998$]
F-15K, $100 million [2006$]

AIRFOIL SECTIONS:
Wing Root NACA 64A(.055)5.9
Wing Tip NACA 64A203

DIMENSIONS:
Length 63.75 ft (19.43 m) Wingspan 42.81 ft (13.05 m) Height 18.46 ft (5.63 m) Wing Area 608 ft² (56.48 m²) Canard Area not applicable



WEIGHTS:
Empty 31,700 lb (14,380 kg) Normal Takeoff unknown Max Takeoff 81,000 lb (36,740 kg) Fuel Capacity internal: 13,125 lb (5,952 kg) external: 21,645 lb (9,820 kg) Max Payload 24,500 lb (11,115 kg)

PROPULSION:
Powerplant two Pratt & Whitney F100-220 afterburning turbofans or
two Pratt & Whitney F100-229 afterburning turbofans or
two General Electric F110-129 afterburning turbofans
Thrust (F100-220) 29,340 lb (125.52 kN)
(F100-220) 47,660 lb (212.0 kN) with afterburner
(F100-229) 35,600 lb (158.36 kN)
(F100-229) 58,200 lb (258.90 kN) with afterburner
(F110-129) 34,000 lb (151.24 kN)
(F110-129) 58,000 lb (258.0 kN) with afterburner

PERFORMANCE:
Max Level Speed at altitude: 1,665 mph (2,655 km/h) at 36,000 ft (10,975 m), Mach 2.5 at sea level: unknown cruise speed: 570 mph (915 km/h) Initial Climb Rate 50,000 ft (15,239 m) / min Service Ceiling 60,000 ft (18,290 m) Range typical: 1,370 nm (2,540 km) ferry: 3,100 nm (5,745 km) Endurance unknown g-Limits +9 / -3

ARMAMENT:
Gun one 20-mm M61A1 Vulcan cannon (512 rds)
Stations thirteen external hardpoints
Air-to-Air Missile up to eight AIM-7M Sparrow, AIM-9L/M/X Sidewinder, AIM-120A/C AMRAAM (F-15I) Python 4, Python 5
Air-to-Surface Missile AGM-65 Maverick, AGM-84 Harpoon, AGM-88 HARM, AGM-130, AGM-142 Raptor, AGM-154 JSOW, AGM-158 JASSM
(F-15K) AGM-84K SLAM-ER
Bomb GBU-10/12 Paveway II laser-guided, GBU-15 EO-guided, GBU-24/27/28 Paveway III laser-guided, GBU-31/32/38 JDAM, GBU-36/37 GAM, GBU-39 SDB, B57/61 nuclear, Mk 81/82/83/84 GP, BLU-109/110/111/116 GP, Mk 20 Rockeye, M 117, CBU-52/58/59/71/90/92/93/94 cluster, CBU-87/103 CEM, CBU-89/104 Gator, CBU-97/105 SFW
Other GAU-13 30-mm gun pod, GPU-5 pod, LAU-130/131 rocket pods, ECM pods

KNOWN VARIANTS:
F-15E Two-seat multi-role fighter with ground attack capability provided by a synthetic aperture radar, LANTIRN targeting pods containing FLIR and terrain-following radar equipment, and increased weapons load; 209 built
F-15F Proposed single-seat fighter based on the F-15E airframe incoporating the F-15E's new engines, radar, and cockpit displays, Saudi Arabia originally ordered 24 of these plus 48 two-seat combat-capable trainer models; not built
F-15H Version of the F-15E offered to Greece; not ordered in favor of the F-16C/D Advanced Block 52
F-15I Two-seat multi-role fighter similar to the F-15E purchased by Israel and equipped with F100-229 engines, night vision goggles, the Elisra SPS-2110 Integrated Electronic Warfare System, a helmet-mounted targeting system, conformal fuel tanks, and the ability to carry a variety of US and Israeli air-to-air missiles as well as air-to-surface weapons; 25 built
F-15K South Korean model similar to the F-15E but with improved avionics, an infrared search & tracking system, a helmet-mounted targeting system, structural strengthening, advanced cockpit displays, an improved APG-63 radar, and uprated F110-129 engines; 40 to be built by August 2008 and at least 20 more may be ordered
F-15S Two-seat multi-role model purchased by Saudi Arabia to supplement its 62 F-15C/D aircraft, similar to the F-15E but with a simplified radar; 72 built
F-15SG Two-seat multi-role model purchased by Singapore and similar to the F-15K but with an improved AESA radar, likely weapons to be carried include AIM-120C, AIM-9X, AGM-154A/C, and GBU-38; 24 ordered
F-15T Original designation for the F-15SG
F-15XP Designation originally given to the F-15F single-seat and two-seat aircraft ordered by Saudi Arabia

KNOWN COMBAT RECORD:
Iraq - Operation Desert Storm (USAF, Saudi Arabia, 1991)
Iraq - Operation Provide Comfort (USAF, 1991-1996)
Iraq - Operation Southern Watch (USAF, 1992-2003)
Iraq - Operation Northern Watch (USAF, 1997-2003)
Bosnia - Operation Deny Flight (USAF, 1993-1995)
Bosnia - Operation Deliberate Force (USAF, 1995)
Iraq - Operation Desert Fox (USAF, 1998)
Kosovo - Operation Allied Force (USAF, 1999)
Afghanistan - Operation Enduring Freedom (USAF, 2001-present)
Iraq - Operation Iraqi Freedom (USAF, 2003-present)
Lebanon - Hezbollah conflict (Israel, 2006)
Syria - nuclear strike (Israel, 2007)

KNOWN OPERATORS:
Israel, Tsvah Haganah le Israel - Heyl Ha'Avir (Israeli Defence Force - Air Force)
Saudi Arabia, Al Quwwat al Jawwiya al Malakiya as Sa'udiya (Royal Saudi Air Force)
Singapore (Republic of Singapore Air Force)
South Korea, Han-guk Kong Goon (Republic of Korea Air Force)
United States (US Air Force)