F-15 Eagle

F-15C
Wingspan:
42 feet.
Length:
63 feet
Height:
18 feet, 5 inches
Weight:
68,000 lbs (Max)
Speed:
1,650 plus/ Mach 2.3
Ceiling:
50,000 + feet
Range:
330 to 720 miles (combat)
Power:
Two Pratt and Whitney F100-PW-100 Turbofan engines
Armament:
One M61A1 Vulcan 20mm Cannon
Four AIM-7 Sparrow missile
Four AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles
Crew:
1
Service:
Air Force

F-15E
Wingspan:
42 feet, 9 inches.
Length:
63 feet, 8 inches
Height:
18 feet, 5 inches
Weight:
73,000 lbs (Max)
Speed:
1,650 plus
Ceiling:
50,000 + feet
Range:
960 miles (combat)
Power:
Two Pratt and Whitney F100-P-220 Turbofan engines w/ afterburners and 25,050 pounds thrust
Armament:
One M61A1 Vulcan 20mm Cannon
(A mix of the following depending on mission:)
AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles
MK-82 500 lb general purpose bombs
MK-84 2,000 lb general purpose bombs
GBU-12 (500 lb laser-guided bomb)
GBU-10 (2,000 lb laser-guided bomb)
CBU-89 Anti-personnel cluster munitions
CBU-52 Anti-armor cluster munitions
Crew:
2
Service:
Air Force
* The Air Force designed the Eagle as an air superiority fighter, but found it was effective for use as an attack plane as well. Later versions of the F-15 designated the F-15E are designed and equipped for all-weather and night operations.
Iraqi Counterpart--
Iraq's number one air superiority fighter will be the advanced MiG-29, code-named Fulcrum by NATO. Highly maneuverable, and well-designed, the MiG-29 is a serious threat when flown in the right hands. However, Iraq has a limited number of these aircraft and with the embargo of spare parts by the Soviet Union, a number of these planes may not be flying in a war. Initial reports have shown half of the planes destroyed by American aircraft, and the other half fleeing to the sanctuary of Iranian airbases.
The other fighters likely to engage in air-combat are the French Mirage F-1, MiG-21 and MiG-25. Of these, the F-1 is considered the most serious threat. The Mirage is extremely popular in the Third World, and both Kuwait and the Arab state of Qatar purchased them. A number of the Iraqi F-1's are designed to give air support to ground troops, but initial reports have shown Iraqi Air Forces more content to stay in their hangars then support their troops.
Action in Desert Storm--
From day 1 of the Air war, F-15E's were used in an attack role against Iraqi ground positions. Using sophisticated night-fighting equipment called the LANTIRN (Low-altitude Navigation and Target Infrared for Night), the F-15E was credited with a number of successful kills on enemy airfields and communication's systems. Other F-15s, flown by both the Saudis and the U.S. in a combat air patrol role were successful in bringing down several of Iraq's best fighters in air-to-air combat.
A total of 118 F-15C's were deployed flying 5,906 missions during Desert Storm. The F-15C's achieved 33 of the 38 air-to-air kills in Operation Desert Storm. No F-15C's were lost. Two F-15E's were lost during combat. 48 F-15E's were in place at the start of hostilities.
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