McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle - The ultimate MIG Killer

The McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) F-15 Eagle is an all-weather tactical fighter designed to gain and maintain air superiority in aerial combat. It was developed for the United States Air Force, and first flew in July 1972. The F-15E Strike Eagle derivative is an all-weather strike fighter that entered service in 1989.

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. Because of the advanced electronics deployed on the F-15, the aircraft was given the nickname "Starship" by users.

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 M61A-1 20 mm Gatling gun in the right wing root.

The first kill in an F-15 was by IAF ace Moshe Melnik in 1979. In 1979-81 during Israeli-Lebanese border disputes, F-15As downed 13 Syrian MiG-21 "Fishbeds" and two Syrian MiG-25 "Foxbats", the latter being the aircraft the F-15 was designed to kill. F-15A and B models were used by Israel during the Bekaa Valley operation. During the 1982 Lebanon War, the Israeli F-15s shot down 40 Syrian jet fighters (23 MiG-21 "Fishbeds" and 17 MiG-23 "Floggers") and one Syrian SA.342L Gazelle helicopter.

The USAF deployed F-15C, D and E models 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 modified SCUD missile launchers and artillery sites using the LANTIRN system. According to the USAF, its F-15Cs had 34 confirmed kills of Iraqi aircraft during the 1991 Gulf War, mostly by missile fire: five MiG-29 "Fulcrums," two MiG-25 "Foxbats," eight MiG-23 "Floggers," two MiG-21 "Fishbeds," two Su-25 "Frogfoots", four Su-22 "Fitters", one Su-7, six Mirage F1s, one Il-76 cargo plane, one Pilatus PC-9 trainer, and two Mi-8 helicopters.

Royal Saudi Air Force F-15C pilots shot down two Iraqi Mirage F1s during the Gulf War.

USAF F-15Cs shot down four Yugoslav MiG-29s using AIM-120 missiles during NATO's 1999 intervention in Kosovo, Operation Allied Force.

During Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003, F-15Es were credited with destroying 60% of the total force of the Iraqi Medina Republican Guard. They also scored hits on 65 MiGs on the ground, and destroyed key air defense and command buildings, which saw F-15Es flying deep into the well protected areas of Baghdad.

As of 2008, the F-15 in all air forces has an air-to-air combined kill record of 104 kills to 0 losses in air combat. To date, no air superiority versions of the F-15 (A/B/C/D models) have ever been shot down by enemy aircraft. Over half of the F-15's kills were made by Israeli Air Force pilots.

The U.S Air Force plans to keep the F-15 in service until 2025.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• F-15
• Eagle
• USAF
• US
• Air
• Force
• Israeli
• חיל
• האוויר
• IAF
• Ra´am
• air
• dominance
• fighter
• Boeing
• МиГ
• Сухой
• 航空自衛隊
• Japan
• Self-Defense

[380800]

When Eagles fly......MIGS DIE!!!

[cyberarmy007]

Very good, I couln't have said it any better!

[Xiber1]

F 15 can never stand against an Su 27

[cyberarmy007]

You think! Have you solid arguments? The SU-27 has seen limited action since it first entered service.

....and the SU-27 is a kamikaze aircraft at airshows!

[cyberarmy007]

I thought so. No answer, nothing but hot air!

[ukrainesuperpower87]

F-15 is coward "mig killer". It was used mostly against oudated migs (generation behind).

It was used in good conditions in superior numbers against weak extermely outnumbered enemy (Iraq, Serbia) .

Few Mig-29s that F-15 faced were poor maintained downrgraded-export version. outnumered too.

[cyberarmy007]

Spare me your excuses! Which countries have MIGs? Third world countries and rogue nations as North Korea! Outdated? What can we do about it? Shoot down! Oh, by the way there is as of 2010 a new F-15! The Silent Eagle. Bye, Bye MIG and Sukhoi......

[69erGoneWrong]

"As of 2008, the F-15 in all air forces has an air-to-air combined kill record of 104 kills to 0 losses in air combat. To date, no air superiority versions of the F-15 (A/B/C/D models) have ever been shot down by enemy aircraft." HELLZ YEA. F-15 FTW

[im4g1nation]

@ukrainesuperpower87 The Mig-29 was released after the F-15 and in the first gulf war Numerous updated Mig-29's from the Iraqis where dominated by the F-15 and F-16's roaming the skys, and dont say iraqi pilots are bad, Iraq was the 4th largest army in 1991.

[BusinessKi11ER]

I would like to see Russian pilot vs US pilot, different story

[zoran3119]

@69erGoneWrong propaganda no t real america no have valid aviation american combat vs granny mig this no have good radar sysems sancionated states .america no have minimal possibylity vs sirian migs 

[zoran3119]

hehehe this its copited of mig 25 1mig 21 its superior of f 22

[Azill17]

@cyberarmy007 been shot down at libya (2011)

[greywolf424]

@Sevenstorm666 YOU NEVER SHOT DOWN A FUCKING F-15 SO QUIT LYING ABOUT IT

[Sevenstorm666]

@greywolf424 ok but if we tack down f117 stealth trust me f 15 is not a problem..... just tipe f 117 down over serbia and you will see the crash site in budjanovci...... f 15 did not crash in serbia but there is a report of 3 of them damaged over serbia.... and they are on a scrap yard

[greywolf424]

@Sevenstorm666 YES I AM QUITE SURE SINCE AMERICA ISN'T THE ONLY COUNTRY ON THE PLANET.