F-15 Eagle
Mission
The
F-15 Eagle is an all-weather, extremely maneuverable, tactical
fighter designed to permit the Air Force to gain and maintain
air superiority in aerial combat.
Features
The
Eagle's air superiority is achieved through a mixture of
unprecedented maneuverability and acceleration, range, weapons
and avionics. It can penetrate enemy defense and outperform and
outfight any current enemy aircraft. The F-15 has electronic
systems and weaponry to detect, acquire, track and attack enemy
aircraft while operating in friendly or enemy-controlled
airspace. The weapons and flight control systems are designed so
one person can safely and effectively perform air-to-air combat.
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.
Background
The
first F-15A flight was made in July 1972, and the first flight
of the two-seat F-15B (formerly TF-15A) trainer 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.
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. F-15C fighters accounted for 34 of
the 37 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.
General
Characteristics
Primary
function: Tactical fighter
Contractor: McDonnell Douglas Corp.
Power plant: Two Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-220 or 229
turbofan engines with afterburners
Thrust: (C/D models) 23,450 pounds each engine
Wing span: 42.8 feet (13 meters)
Length: 63.8 feet (19.44 meters)
Height: 18.5 feet (5.6 meters)
Speed: 1,875 mph (Mach 2.5 plus)
Maximum takeoff weight: (C/D models) 68,000 pounds
(30,844 kilograms)
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: F-15A/C: one. F-15B/D/E: two
Armament: One internally mounted M-61A1 20mm 20-mm,
six-barrel cannon with 940 rounds of ammunition; four AIM-9L/M
Sidewinder and four AIM-7F/M Sparrow air-to-air missiles, or
eight AIM-120 AMRAAMs, carried externally.
Unit Cost: A/B models - $27.9 million (fiscal 98 constant
dollars);C/D models - $29.9 million (fiscal 98 constant
dollars)
Date deployed: July 1972
Inventory: Active force, 396; Reserve, 0; ANG,126. |
