F-15 Eagle

The Boeing (formerly McDonnell Douglas) F-15 Eagle is an American-built all-weather tactical fighter designed to gain and maintain air superiority in aerial combat. It first flew in July 1972. The F-15E Strike Eagle derivative is an all-weather strike fighter that entered service in 1988.

History

In the Korean war, the swept-wing F-86 Sabre was the only U.S. fighter that could challenge and defeat the Soviet-built MiG-15. In the missile age, the air superiority fighter would become less important than long-range strike (F-105 Thunderchief) or all-weather interception (F-106 Delta Dart). The F-100 Super Sabre was the first attempt to produce a barely supersonic follow-on to the Sabre. Another would be the lightweight F-104 Starfighter, which would have a short career in the USAF. The "missile with a man in it" had spectacular performance as long as it was going in a straight line not far from home base carrying a small weapons load of two AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles. Then Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara proposed to replace all US fighter types with the TFX/F-111. It would prove to be an expensive lesson in just how not to design an air combat fighter, as the requirements omitted maneuverability for a daylight dogfight.

In 1965, the fighter community was shocked when post-Korean war era MiG-17s shot down sophisticated Mach-2 F-105 Thunderchiefs on a bombing mission over Vietnam. The "Thud" had cannon and Sidewinder infrared missiles, and handling characteristics optimized for low-level handling with the slimmest possible wings earned it the nickname "Lead Sled". It was the dual J79-engined F-4 Phantom II in the USAF and US Navy that was the only fighter with enough power, range and a large enough wing and maneuverability to be given the primary task of dealing with the new threat of old Soviet fighters with visual engagement rules. Medium range AIM-7 Sparrow missiles and to a lesser degree even the AIM-9 Sidewinder were often unreliable and ineffective at close ranges where it was found that guns were often in effective range. Ironically, the Phantom had first been offered to the Navy as a fast bomber, and was sold as a platform for the medium range Sparrow radar guided missile. The F-8 Crusader was originally tasked as the USN air-superiority platform, but the follow-on F8U-3 Super Crusader also lost out to the Phantom. The gun was eliminated from the F-4 design as unnecessary because missiles would be used to engage targets at longer ranges. When experience in Vietnam showed this not to be the case, attempts to use external gun pods had mixed results.

After rejecting he Navy VFX program (which led to the F-14 Tomcat) as being unsuited to its needs, the Air Force issued its own requirements for the FX (Fighter Experimental), a specification for a relatively lightweight air superiority fighter. It would not be burdened with the heavy long-range Phoenix missiles, which had been tried in concept by the Air Force and abandoned with the Lockheed YF-12 Mach 3 interceptor. Three companies submitted proposals: Fairchild Republic, North American Rockwell, and McDonnel Douglas. The Air Force announced the selection of McDonnell Douglas on December 23, 1969. The winning design resembled the twin-tailed F-14, but with fixed wings. It would not be significantly lighter or smaller than the F-4 that it replaced.

The initial version, designated F-15A for the single-seat configuration and F-15B for the twin-seat, would be powered by new Pratt & Whitney F100 engines to achieve a combat thrust-to-weight ratio in excess of 1 to 1. A proposed 25mm Ford-Philco GAU-7 cannon with caseless ammunition was dropped in favor of the standard M61 Vulcan gun due to development problems. The F-15 retained conformal carriage of 4 Sparrow missiles like the Phantom, 2 fewer than the maximum F-14 load. The fixed wing was put onto a flat, wide fuselage that also provided an effective wing lifting surface. Some questioned if the zoom performance of the F-15 with Sparrow missile was enough to deal with the new threat of the high-flying Mach 3 MiG-25 Foxbat, which would eventually be proven in combat.

The Sparrow has less range than the now-retired Phoenix. It is a semi-active weapon, which means that the launching aircraft must continuously paint the target with radar for the missile to stay locked on. If the launcher has to maneuver to avoid incoming fire, lock may be lost. With the newer AIM-120 AMRAAM and older Phoenix, an active seeker onboard the missile can paint its own target, allowing the launching aircraft to "fire and forget" and fire at multiple targets simultaneously. The F-15 has a "look down, shoot down" radar that can distinguish low-flying moving targets such as cruise missiles or bombers against ground clutter, and serve as basic radar-surveillance mini-AWACS platforms for less capable fighters. The F-15 would use computer technology and new controls and displays to lower pilot workload and require only one pilot to save weight. Unlike the F-14 or F-4, the F-15 has only a single canopy frame with clear vision forward. The USAF introduced the F-15 as "the first dedicated USAF air superiority fighter since the F-86 Sabre Rand report, "Return of the Air Superiority Fighter

The F-15 would be favored by customers such as Israel and Japan which did not need a long-range missile capability, and the development of the F-15E Strike Eagle would produce a strike fighter that would replace the F-111.

Design

The F-15's maneuverability is derived from low wing loading (weight to wing area ratio) with a high thrust-to-weight ratio enabling the aircraft to turn tightly without losing airspeed. The F-15 can climb to 30,000 ft (10 000 m) in around 60 seconds. The weapons and flight control systems are designed so one person can safely and effectively perform air-to-air combat.

A multimission avionics system includes a Head-Up Display, advanced radar, inertial navigation system, flight instruments, ultra high 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 suite and a central digital computer.

The head-up display projects, through a combiner, 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 APG-63/70 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. Because of the advanced electronics deployed on the F-15, the aircraft was given the nickname "Starship" by users.

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 AMRAAM 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 20 mm Gatling gun in the right wing root.

Low-drag conformal Fuel Tanks (CFTs) were developed for the F-15C and D models. They 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. However, they degrade performance by limiting the maximum G-force the aircraft can safely pull. They also cannot be jettisoned in-flight (unlike conventional external tanks). The US Air Force only fits CFT's to its F-15E's, but American CFT's were provided to Israel which utilizes them (as needed) on their entire fleet. Each conformal fuel tank contains about 114 cu. ft. (3200 L) 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. Moreover, Sparrow or AMRAAM missiles can be attached to the corners of the conformal fuel tanks.

The F-15E Strike Eagle 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 LANTIRN pods to provide thermal imagery.

Service history

The first F-15A flight was made in July 1972, and the first flight of the two-seat F-15B (formerly TF-15A) was made in July 1973. The first Eagle (F-15B) was delivered in November 1974. In January 1976, the first Eagle destined for a combat squadron was delivered. These initial aircraft carried the Hughes Aircraft (now Raytheon) APG-63 radar.

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 lb (900 kg) of additional internal fuel, provision for carrying exterior conformal fuel tanks and increased maximum takeoff weight of up to 68,000 lb (30 700 kg).

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 the enhanced-capability Hughes APG-70 radar which was carried forward into the F-15E. The earlier MSIP F-15C's with the APG-63 were later upgraded to the APG-63(V)1, which significantly improves reliability and maintainability while providing performance similar to the APG-70. A limited number of F-15C aircraft have also been fitted with the APG-63(V)2 AESA radar.

F-15A and B models were utilized by Israel during the Bekaa Valley operation.

F-15C, D, and E models were deployed to the Persian Gulf in 1991 in support of Operation Desert Storm where they 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 No-Fly Zone in Southern Iraq; Operation Provide Comfort in Turkey; in support of NATO operations in Bosnia, and recent air expeditionary force deployments.

Operators

The USAF currently operates 396 F-15s and the United States Air National Guard operated 126 in 2005.
The Heyl ha'Avir (Israeli Air Force) has operated F-15s since 1977. These aircraft are currently organised into 2 squadrons of F-15A/B and 1 squadron of F-15C/D.
The Japan Air Self-Defence Force aquired 203 F-15Js and 20 F-15DJs from 1981, of which 2 F-15Js and 12 F-15DJs were made in US and the rest by Mitsubishi under license. These aircraft are currently operated by 2 Hikotai (squadron) of 2. Kokudan (Air Wing), Chitose AB, 1 Hikotai of 5. Kokudan, Nyutabaru AB, 1 Hikotai of 6. Kokudan, Komatsu AB, 2 Hikotais of 7. Kokudan, Hyakuri AB and 1 Hikotai of 8. Kokudan, Tsuiki AB.
The Royal Saudi Air Force has operated 4 squadrons of F-15C/D (55/19) since 1981.
The South Korean Air Force opperates is in the proccess of purchasing F-15Ks

Kill record

As of 2005, the F-15 in all air forces has a combined kill record of 104 kills to zero losses in air combat (at least as confirmed by its users, and excluding the case of a Japanese F-15J that shot down another F-15J in 1995 due to an AIM-9 Sidewinder safety malfunction during air-to-air combat training with live weapons). The US and Israel maintain that to date, the air superiority versions of the F-15 (F-15A/B/C/D models) have never been shot down by an enemy.

Over half of the F-15's kills were made by Israeli Air Force pilots. In 1979–81 during Israeli-Lebanese border disputes, F-15As downed 13 Syrian MiG-21 'Fishbeds' and 2 Syrian MiG-25 'Foxbats', the latter being the aircraft the F-15 was designed to kill. In the 1982 Lebanon War, the Israeli F-15s shot down 40 Syrian jet fighters (23 MiG-21s and 17 MiG-23 'Floggers') and 1 Syrian SA.342L Gazelle helicopter. In 1985 during Syrian/Israeli skirmishes, Israel reported the downing of 2 Syrian MiG-23s by F-15s.

Royal Saudi Air Force F-15C pilots shot down two F-4E Phantom IIs flown by the Iranian Air Force in a border skirmish in 1984, and shot down two Iraqi Mirage F1s during the Gulf War.

According to the USAF, its F-15C's had thirty-four confirmed kills of Iraqi aircraft during the 1991 Gulf War, mostly by missile fire: 5 MiG-29 'Fulcrums', 2 MiG-25s, 8 MiG-23s, 2 MiG-21s, 2 Su-25 'Frogfoots', 4 Su-22 'Fitters', 1 Su-7, 6 Mirage F1s, 1 Il-76 cargo plane, 1 Pilatus PC-9 trainer, and 2 Mi-8 helicopters. After air superiority was achieved in the first 3 days of the conflict, many of the later kills were reportedly of Iraqi aircraft fleeing to Iran, rather than actively trying to engage US planes. The single-seat F-15C was used for air superiority, and the F-15E was heavily used in air-to-ground attacks.

In 1994 2 US Army UH-60 Black Hawk's were downed by USAF F-15C in the Northern no-fly zone of Iraq.

USAF F-15C's also shot down 4 Yugoslav MiG-29's during NATO's 1999 intervention in Kosovo, Operation Allied Force.

One wing is enough?

On May 1 1983 during an Israeli Air Force training dogfight, an F-15D collided with an A-4 Skyhawk. The right wing of the Eagle was, unknowingly to Nadavi, torn off roughly two feet (0.6 m) from the body. The pilot, Zivi Nadavi, disobeyed his instructor's command to eject and managed to land the crippled aircraft successfully. The aircraft was able to land because of the large horizontal surface area of the tail and the amount of lift generated by the engine intake and body ^*.

Satellite killer

From January 1984 to September 1986, an F-15A was used as a launch platform for five ASM-135 ASAT missiles. The F-15A went into a supersonic climb and released the ASAT missile at an altitude of 11.6 km. The F-15A computer was updated to control the zoom-climb and missile release. The third test flight involved a retired communications satellite in a 555 km orbit, which was successfully destroyed by sheer kinetic energy. The pilot, USAF Major Wilbert D. "Doug" Pearson, became the first pilot ever to down a satellite.

The ASAT missile was designed to be a standoff anti-satellite weapon, with an undetected first stage (the F-15A).

Future

The F-15C/D model is being supplanted by the F-22 Raptor. The F-15E however will remain in service for years to come because of its different air-to-ground role and the low number of hours on their airframes. Some USAF F-15Cs have been retrofitted with Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radars and are expected to remain in service with the USAF well past 2020. The Royal Saudi Air Force has purchased several squadrons of long-range F-15S models, the Republic of Korea is purchasing upgraded F-15Ks, and Singapore is purchasing the F-15SG variant.

Variants

F-15A: Single-seat all-weather air-superiority fighter version.
F-15B: Two-seat training version, formerly designated TF-15A.
F-15C: Improved single-seat all-weather air-superiority fighter version.
F-15D: Two-seat training version.
F-15J: Single-seat all-weather air-superiority fighter version for the Japanese Air Self Defence Force. Built under licence in Japan by Mitsubishi.
F-15DJ: Two-seat training version for the Japanese Air Self Defence Force. Built under licence in Japan by Mitsubishi.
F-15E Strike Eagle: Two-seat all-weather long-range strike and ground-attack aircraft for the US Air Force.
F-15I Ra'am (Thunder): Advanced version of the F-15E Strike Eagle for the Israeli Air Force.
F-15K Slam Eagle: Advanced version of the F-15E Strike Eagle for the Republic of Korea Air Force.
F-15S: Export version of the F-15E Strike Eagle for the Royal Saudi Air Force.
F-15SG: Advanced version of the F-15E Strike Eagle for the Republic of Singapore Air Force.
F-15S/MTD: One TF-15A was converted into a short take-off and landing, maneuver technology demonstrator aircraft.
F-15 ACTIVE: One F-15S/MTD was converted into an advanced control technology research aircraft.
F-15 IFCS: One F-15 ACTIVE was converted into an intelligent flight control systems research aircraft.
F-15 Streak Eagle: One stripped and unpainted F-15A, demonstrated the fighter’s acceleration – broke eight time-to-climb world records between Jan. 16 and Feb. 1, 1975. ^*

Specifications (F-15C Eagle)

References

External links

USAF Museum - McDonnell Douglas F-15C
f15.com
F-15 Eagle official website from Boeing
http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Hangar/2848/f15.htm
http://www.airtoaircombat.com/background.asp?id=11&bg=21
http://www.faqs.org/docs/air/avf15_2.html
http://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/detail.asp?aircraft_id=21
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/home/index.html
http://www.worldsairspace.com/f15.htm

F-15 in pop culture

The F-15 was the subject of the IMAX movie Fighter Pilot: Operation Red Flag, about the RED FLAG exercises.
American Fighter Pilot a reality TV program featured pilots training to become Eagle Driver.

Gallery

Image:F-15 eagle USAF.jpg Image:EG-0033-01.gif|3-View of the F-15 ACTIVE

U.S. fighter aircraft 1970-1979

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