Aircraft | F-15 "Eagle"(McDonnell Douglas Corp. ) |
Type | Tactical fighter |
Year | July 1972 |
Engine | Two Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-220 or 229 turbofan engines with afterburners C/D models) 23,450 pounds each engine |
Wingspan | 42.8 feet (13 meters) |
Length | 63.8 feet (19.44 meters) |
Height | 18.5 feet (5.6 meters) |
Weight | MTOW (C/D models) 68,000 pounds (30,844 kilograms) |
Max. speed | 1,875 mph (Mach 2.5 plus) |
Ceiling | 65,000 feet (19,812 meters) |
Range | 3,450 miles (3,000 nautical miles) ferry range with conformal fuel tanks and three external fuel tanks |
Crew | 1 :F-15A/C
2:F-15B/D/E: |
Armament | One internally mounted M-61A1
20mm 20-mm:940 rounds of ammunition
four AIM-9L/M Sidewinder four AIM-7F/M Sparrow air-to-air missiles or eight AIM-120 AMRAAMs |
The F-15's superior maneuverability and acceleration are achieved through
high engine thrust-to-weight ratio and low wing loading. Low wing-loading
(the ratio of aircraft weight to its wing area) is a vital factor in maneuverability
and, combined with the high thrust-to-weight ratio, enables the aircraft
to turn tightly without losing airspeed.
A multimission avionics system sets the F-15 apart from other fighter
aircraft. It includes a head-up display, advanced radar, inertial navigation
system, flight instruments, ultrahigh frequency communications, tactical
navigation system and instrument landing system. It also has an internally
mounted, tactical electronic-warfare system, "identification friend or
foe" system, electronic countermeasures set and a central digital computer.
The head-up display projects on the windscreen all essential flight
information gathered by the integrated avionics system. This display, visible
in any light condition, provides the pilot information necessary to track
and destroy an enemy aircraft without having to look down at cockpit instruments.
The F-15's versatile pulse-Doppler radar system can look up at high-flying
targets and down at low-flying targets without being confused by ground
clutter. It can detect and track aircraft and small high-speed targets
at distances beyond visual range down to close range, and at altitudes
down to treetop level. The radar feeds target information into the central
computer for effective weapons delivery. For close-in dogfights, the radar
automatically acquires enemy aircraft, and this information is projected
on the head-up display. The F-15's electronic warfare system provides both
threat warning and automatic countermeasures against selected threats.
A variety of air-to-air weaponry can be carried by the F-15. An automated
weapon system enables the pilot to perform aerial combat safely and effectively,
using the head-up display and the avionics and weapons controls located
on the engine throttles or control stick. When the pilot changes from one
weapon system to another, visual guidance for the required weapon automatically
appears on the head-up display.
The Eagle can be armed with combinations of four different air-to-air
weapons: AIM-7F/M Sparrow missiles or AIM-120 advanced medium range air-to-air
missiles on its lower fuselage corners, AIM-9L/M Sidewinder or AIM-120
missiles on two pylons under the wings, and an internal 20mm Gatling gun
in the right wing root.
Low-drag, conformal fuel tanks were especially developed for the F-15C
and D models. Conformal fuel tanks can be attached to the sides of the
engine air intake trunks under each wing and are designed to the same load
factors and airspeed limits as the basic aircraft. Each conformal fuel
tank contains about 114 cubic feet of usable space. These tanks reduce
the need for in-flight refueling on global missions and increase time in
the combat area. All external stations for munitions remain available with
the tanks in use. AIM-7F/M Sparrow missiles, moreover, can be attached
to the corners of the conformal fuel tanks.
The F-15E is a two-seat, dual-role, totally integrated fighter for all-weather,
air-to-air and deep interdiction missions. The rear cockpit is upgraded
to include four multi-purpose CRT displays for aircraft systems and weapons
management. The digital, triple-redundant Lear Siegler flight control system
permits coupled automatic terrain following, enhanced by a ring-laser gyro
inertial navigation system.
For low-altitude, high-speed penetration and precision attack on tactical
targets at night or in adverse weather, the F-15E carries a high-resolution
APG-70 radar and low-altitude navigation and targeting infrared for night
pods.
The single-seat F-15C and two-seat F-15D models entered the Air Force
inventory beginning in 1979. These new models have Production Eagle Package
(PEP 2000) improvements, including 2,000 pounds (900 kilograms) of additional
internal fuel, provision for carrying exterior conformal fuel tanks and
increased maximum takeoff weight of up to 68,000 pounds (30,600 kilograms).
The F-15 Multistage Improvement Program was initiated in February 1983,
with the first production MSIP F-15C produced in 1985. Improvements included
an upgraded central computer; a Programmable Armament Control Set, allowing
for advanced versions of the AIM-7, AIM-9, and AIM-120A missiles; and an
expanded Tactical Electronic Warfare System that provides improvements
to the ALR-56C radar warning receiver and ALQ-135 countermeasure set. The
final 43 included a Hughes APG-70 radar.
F-15C, D and E models were deployed to the Persian Gulf in 1991 in support
of Operation Desert Storm where they proved their superior combat capability
with a confirmed 26:0 kill ratio. F-15 fighters accounted for 36 of the
39 Air Force air-to-air victories. F-15Es were operated mainly at night,
hunting SCUD missile launchers and artillery sites using the LANTIRN system.
They have since been deployed to support Operation Southern Watch, the patrolling of the UN-sanctioned no-fly zone in Southern Iraq; Operation Provide Comfort in Turkey; in support of NATO operations in Bosnia, and recent air expeditionary force deployments.
Source-United States Air Force
A Serbian MiG-29 , which was spalshed by a F-15 over the Bosnia-Serbia air space.