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McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) F-15E Eagle Fighter Bomber |
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DESCRIPTION:
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. In comparison with earlier F-15 models, the F-15E is in many respects an entirely new aircraft. An uprated Pratt & Whitney F110-229 engine is installed, although the General Electric F110-129 is also available. Cockpit enhancements include redesigned controls, a new HUD, and addition of new multi-purpose glass cockpit displays. The aft seat provides four display screens for the weapons systems officer who also controls the APG-70 synthetic aperture radar and LANTIRN targeting pods. These new avionics give the F-15E terrain-following capability as well as the ability to carry laser-guided bombs and other guided air-to-surface munitions. Low-level flight performance is further improved through structural strengthening with additional titanium components added to the rear fuselage. Nevertheless, the F-15's low wing-loading still results in a rough ride during low altitude flight. By the early 1990s, over 200 F-15E aircraft had been delivered to the US. Over 160 more have been supplied to or ordered by Israel, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, and Singapore. South Korea is also considering an additional order that would keep the production line open until at least 2011.
Last modified 17 March 2012
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| HISTORY: | |
| First Flight | 11 December 1986 |
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Service Entry
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April 1988
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| CREW: |
two: pilot, weapons systems officer
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ESTIMATED COST:
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(F-15E) $43 million [1998$] (F-15E) $108 million [2006$] (F-15K) $100 million [2006$] |
| AIRFOIL SECTIONS: | |
| Wing Root | NACA 64A(.055)5.9 |
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Wing Tip
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NACA 64A203
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| 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) |
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Canard Area
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not applicable
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| 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) |
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Max Payload
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24,500 lb (11,115 kg)
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| 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 |
+9.0 / -3.0
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| 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
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| 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 compared to the F-15C/D; at least 223 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-15XP | Designation originally given to the F-15F single-seat and two-seat aircraft ordered by Saudi Arabia |
| 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 for 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; armaments include SLAM-ER, JDAM, and AIM-9X; 40 built by October 2008 and 21 more 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-15SA | Two-seat model for Saudi Arabia similar to the F-15K and incorporating advanced features of the F-15SE; 72 to be converted from the F-15S fleet plus another 84 new aircraft to be 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; 18 delivered by 2010 out of 24 ordered |
| F-15T | Original designation for the F-15SG |
| F-15SE |
"Silent Eagle" concept proposed as a derivative of the F-15E with stealthy characteristics including canted
vertical tails, conformal fuel tanks modified to carry weapons internally, and skin treatments to reduce
radar cross section; intended primarily for the export market and could be modified from existing airframes
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KNOWN COMBAT RECORD:
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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) Yemen - Houthi rebel airstrikes (Saudi Arabia, 2009) Libya - Operation Odyssey Dawn (USAF, 2011) |
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KNOWN OPERATORS:
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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) |
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