McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle

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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 U.S. 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 U.S. Air Force plans to keep the F-15 in service until 2025.[1]

Development

Origins

During the mid-1960s the U.S. Air Force intelligence was shocked[2] to find that the Soviet Union was building a large fighter aircraft, known as the MiG-25 "Foxbat".[3] It was not known in the West at the time that the MiG-25 was designed as a high-speed interceptor, not an air superiority fighter;[4] as such, its primary asset was speed, not maneuverability. The MiG-25's huge tailplanes and fins hinted at a very maneuverable aircraft, which worried the Air Force that its performance might be higher than its American counterparts. In reality, the MiG's large stabilizer and stabilators were necessary to prevent the aircraft from encountering inertia coupling in high-speed, high-altitude flight.

The F-4 Phantom II of the USAF and U.S. Navy was the only fighter with enough power, range and maneuverability to be given the primary task of dealing with the threat of Soviet fighters while flying with visual engagement rules.[3] As a matter of policy, the Phantoms could not engage targets without positive visual identification, so they could not engage targets at long ranges as designed. 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 the only effective weapon.[5]

The Phantom did not originally have a gun, as it was intended that only missiles would be used to engage slowly moving and maneuvering Warsaw Pact bombers and fighters at longer ranges. Experience in Vietnam showed this not to be the case and led to the addition of a gun. At first an external gun pod was tried but that proved inaccurate and increased drag. Later the 20 mm M61 Vulcan, was integrated internally on the F-4E.

F-X program

USAF F-15C taxiing for takeoff.

There was a clear need for a new fighter that overcame the close-range limitation of the Phantom while retaining long-range air superiority. After rejecting the U.S. Navy VFX program (which led to the F-14 Tomcat) as being unsuited to its needs, the U.S. Air Force issued its own requirements for the Fighter Experimental (F-X), a specification for a relatively lightweight air superiority fighter.[6] Four companies submitted proposals, with the Air Force eliminating General Dynamics and selecting Fairchild Republic, North American Rockwell, and McDonnell Douglas for the definition phase in December 1968. The companies submitted technical proposals by June 1969. The Air Force announced the selection of McDonnell Douglas on 23 December 1969.[7] 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 would replace.

F-15A cockpit.

The Eagle's initial versions were designated F-15A for the single-seat configuration and F-15B for the twin-seat. These versions 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 25 mm 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 four Sparrow missiles like the Phantom. The fixed wing was put onto a flat, wide fuselage that also provided an effective lifting surface. Some questioned if the zoom performance of the F-15 with Sparrow missiles was enough to deal with the new threat of the high-flying MiG-25 "Foxbat"; its capability would eventually be demonstrated in combat.

McDonnell Douglas F-15A (S/N 71-0280) landing approach.

The first F-15A flight was made in July 1972 with the first flight of the two-seat F-15B (formerly TF-15A) following in July 1973.[8]

The F-15 has a "look-down/shoot-down" radar that can distinguish low-flying moving targets from ground clutter. The F-15 would use computer technology with 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."[9]

The F-15 would be favored by customers such as the Israel Air Force and Japan Air Self-Defense Force, and the development of the F-15E Strike Eagle would produce a strike fighter that would replace the F-111. However, criticism from the fighter mafia that the F-15 was too large to be a dedicated dogfighter, and too expensive to procure in large numbers to replace the F-4 and A-7, led to the Light Weight Fighter (LWF) program, which led to the USAF F-16 Fighting Falcon and the middle-weight Navy F/A-18 Hornet.

The single-seat F-15C and two-seat F-15D models entered production in 1979 with the models' first flights in February and June of that year.[10] 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).[11]

Design

F-15 maximum performance takeoff.

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 feet (10,000 m) in around 60 seconds. The thrust output of the dual engines is greater than the aircraft's weight, thus giving it the ability to accelerate in a vertical climb. The weapons and flight control systems are designed so that one person can safely and effectively perform air-to-air combat.[6]

A multi-mission avionics system includes a head-up display (HUD), advanced radar, inertial guidance system (INS), flight instruments, ultra high frequency (UHF) communications, and Tactical Air Navigation (TACAN) and Instrument Landing System (ILS) receivers. It also has an internally mounted, tactical electronic-warfare system, "identification friend or foe" system, electronic countermeasures suite and a central digital computer.[12]

The area rule profiling of the fuselage is easily visible in this top down view.

The heads-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.[13]

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 (the maximum being 120 nautical miles (220 km) away) down to close range, and at altitudes down to treetop level. The radar feeds target information into the central computer for effective weapons delivery. The capability of locking onto targets as far as 50 nautical miles (90 km) with an AIM-120 AMRAAM enables true beyond visual range (BVR) engagement of targets. 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.[14]

An F-15E with speed brake deployed.

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.[15]

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.[16]

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.[16] However, they degrade performance by increasing drag and cannot be jettisoned in-flight (unlike conventional external tanks). Each conformal fuel tank can hold 750 U.S. gallons (2,840 L) of fuel.[17] These tanks increase range thus reducing the need for in-flight refueling. 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.[11] The U.S. Air Force only fits CFTs to its F-15Es, but American CFTs were provided to Israel which utilizes them (as needed) on their entire fleet.

M61 Vulcan mounted on the side of right engine intake.

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.[18] 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.[14]

The APG-63(V)2 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar has been retrofitted into a limited number of U.S. Air Force F-15C aircraft. This upgrade includes most of the new hardware from the APG-63(V)1, but adds an AESA to provide increased pilot situational awareness. The AESA radar has an exceptionally agile beam, providing nearly instantaneous track updates and enhanced multi-target tracking capability. The APG-63(V)2 is compatible with current F-15C weapon loads and enables pilots to take full advantage of AIM-120 AMRAAM capabilities, simultaneously guiding multiple missiles to several targets widely spaced in azimuth, elevation, or range.

Operational history

F-15D from the 325 Fighter Wing based in Tyndall AFB, releasing flares

The largest operator of the F-15 is the United States Air Force. The first Eagle (F-15B) was delivered 14 November 1974.[19] In January 1976, the first Eagle destined for a combat squadron, the 555th TFS, was delivered.[19] These initial aircraft carried the Hughes Aircraft (now Raytheon) APG-63 radar.

The F-15 Multistage Improvement Program (MSIP) 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-15Cs 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. The improvements were retrofitted to existing F-15s.[20]

The first kill in an F-15 was by IAF ace Moshe Melnik in 1979.[21] 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.[1]

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 June 1984, and shot down two Iraqi Mirage F1s during the Gulf War.[22][23][24]

F-15C fires AIM-7 Sparrow.

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 SCUD missile launchers and artillery sites using the LANTIRN system.[25]

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. After air superiority was achieved in the first three days of the conflict, many of the later kills were reportedly of Iraqi aircraft fleeing to Iran, rather than actively trying to engage U.S. aircraft. The single-seat F-15C was used for air superiority, and the F-15E was heavily used in air-to-ground attacks. An F-15E achieved an aerial kill of another Iraqi Mi-8 helicopter using a laser-guided bomb during the air war. The F-15E sustained two losses to ground fire in the Gulf War in 1991.[26]

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.

In 1994, two U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawks were downed by USAF F-15Cs who thought they were Iraq Hinds in the Northern no-fly zone of Iraq in a friendly fire incident.[27]

USAF F-15Cs shot down four Yugoslav MiG-29s using AIM-120 missiles during NATO's 1999 intervention in Kosovo, Operation Allied Force.[26]

As of 2007, the F-15 in all air forces has an air-to-air combined kill record of 103 kills to 0 losses in air combat.[28][29] The U.S. and Israel maintain that to date, the air superiority versions of the F-15 (A/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.

Satellite killer

ASM-135 test launch.

From January 1984 to September 1986, an F-15A was used as a launch platform for five ASM-135 anti-satellite (ASAT) missiles. The F-15A went into a Mach 1.22, 3.8 g climb of 65° and released the ASAT missile at an altitude of 38,100 feet (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 345 statute mile (555 km) orbit, which was successfully destroyed by sheer kinetic energy. The pilot, USAF Major Wilbert D. "Doug" Pearson, became the only pilot to destroy a satellite.[30][31]

The ASAT missile was designed to be a standoff anti-satellite weapon, with the F-15A acting as a first stage. The Soviet Union could interpret a U.S. rocket launch with a spy satellite loss, but an F-15 carrying an ASAT would blend in among hundreds of F-15 flights.

Future

The F-15C/D model is being supplanted in U.S. service 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.[citation needed]

On 26 September 2006, at the Air Force Association's Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition in Washington D.C., the USAF announced their plan to upgrade 178 F-15C fighters with the AN/APG-63(V)3 AESA radar. Additionally, the Air Force also plans to upgrade other F-15s with the JHMCS.[32] In keeping with that plan, the Air Force then contracted with Boeing to retrofit F-15Cs with the AN/APG-63(V)3 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radars with delivery beginning in early 2009.[33]

The Air Force will keep 178 F-15Cs as well as the 224 F-15Es in service beyond 2025.[34]

Variants

A Royal Saudi Air Force F-15 approaches a KC-135 for refueling during Operation Desert Shield.

Basic models

F-15A
Single-seat all-weather air-superiority fighter version, 365 built.
F-15B
Two-seat training version, formerly designated TF-15A, 59 built.
F-15C
Improved single-seat all-weather air-superiority fighter version, 408 built.
F-15D
Two-seat training version, 62 built.
F-15J
Single-seat all-weather air-superiority fighter version for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force built under license in Japan by Mitsubishi.
F-15DJ
Two-seat training version for the Japan Air Self-Defence Force. Built under license in Japan by Mitsubishi.
F-15N Sea Eagle
The F-15N was a proposed carrier-capable variant that would replace F-14 Tomcat in the U.S. Navy. F-15N-PHX was another proposed naval version capable of carrying AIM-54 Phoenix missile.[35]

F-15E and related

A view of an F-15E cockpit from an aerial refueling tanker.
Main article: F-15E Strike Eagle
F-15E Strike Eagle
Two-seat all-weather long-range strike and ground-attack aircraft for the U.S. Air Force.
F-15F Strike Eagle
Proposed single seat model of the F-15E.
F-15H Strike Eagle
Export model of the F-15E Strike Eagle for Hellenic 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 Strike Eagle
Export version of the F-15E Strike Eagle for the Royal Saudi Air Force.
F-15SG Strike Eagle
Advanced version of the F-15E Strike Eagle for the Republic of Singapore Air Force. Variant was formerly designated F-15T.

Research and test

File:Ifcs22.jpg
NASA F-15 IFCS #837 (71-0290) in flight.
NASA's F-15B Research Testbed, aircraft #836 (74-0141), with the Quiet Spike attachment designed to reduce and control a sonic boom.
F-15 Streak Eagle (72-0119)
One stripped and unpainted F-15A, demonstrated the fighter's acceleration – broke eight time-to-climb world records between 16 January and 1 February 1975. It was delivered to the National Museum of the United States Air Force in December 1980.[36]
F-15S/MTD (71-0290)
One TF-15A was converted into a short takeoff and landing, maneuver technology demonstrator aircraft.
F-15 ACTIVE (71-0290)
The F-15S/MTD was later converted into an advanced control technology research aircraft.
F-15 IFCS (71-0290)
The F-15 ACTIVE was then converted into an intelligent flight control systems research aircraft.
F-15 MANX
Concept name for a tailless variant of the F-15 ACTIVE, but the NASA ACTIVE experimental aircraft was never modified to be tailless.
F-15 Flight Research Facility (71-0281 and 71-0287)
Two F-15A aircraft were acquired in 1976 for use by NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center for numerous experiments such as: Highly Integrated Digital Electronic Control (HiDEC), Adaptive Engine Control System (ADECS), Self-Repairing and Self-Diagnostic Flight Control System (SRFCS) and Propulsion Controlled Aircraft System (PCA).[37] 71-0281 was returned to the Air Force and became a static display at Langley AFB in 1983.
F-15B Research Testbed (74-0141)
Acquired in 1993, it is a highly modified F-15B used by NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center.[38]

Operators

See also: F-15E Strike Eagle

for operators of F-15E-based variants.

Current operators of the F-15 in light blue, F-15E in red, both in dark blue
Two F-15J Eagle aircraft of the 202nd TFS, JASDF, take off in formation during the joint USA/Japan exercise Cope North 85-4, August 1985.
 Israel
  • Israeli Air Force has operated F-15s since 1977. These aircraft are currently organized into two squadrons of F-15A/B and one squadron of F-15C/Ds. The first 25 F-15A/B were reconditioned USAF evaluation machines with degraded-systems, equipping IDFAF squadron 133rd. The second batch was temporarily embargoed as a result of the 1982 Lebanon War.[39]
 Japan
  • Japan Air Self-Defence Force acquired 203 F-15Js and 20 F-15DJs from 1981, of which 2 F-15Js and 12 F-15DJs were made in U.S. and the rest by Mitsubishi under license. These aircraft are currently operated by 2 Hikotai (squadron) of 2. Kokudan (Air Wing), Chitose Air Base, 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. In June 2007, the Air Self-Defense Force decided to upgrade certain F-15 aircraft with synthetic aperture radar pods; these aircraft will replace RF-4 aircraft currently in service.[40]
 Saudi Arabia
  • Royal Saudi Air Force has operated 4 squadrons of F-15C/D (55/19) since 1981. They are based at Dhahran, Khamis Mushayt and Taif air bases. A stipulate in Camp David Peace Agreement limited the number of Saudi F-15 to 60, holding surplus air frames in Luke AFB for RSAF pilot training. This limitation was later abandoned.
 United States

Incidents

On 1 May 1983, during an Israeli Air Force training dogfight, an F-15D collided with an A-4 Skyhawk. Unknown to pilot Zivi Nadavi, and his copilot, the right wing of the Eagle was torn off roughly two feet (60 cm) from the fuselage. The pilot managed to regain control of the aircraft and prevented it from stalling, ultimately landing the crippled aircraft successfully. The F-15 was able to stay in the air because of the lift generated by the large horizontal surface area of the fuselage, the large and effective elevators and the surviving wing. Landing at twice the normal speed to maintain the necessary lift, although the tailhook was torn off completely during the landing, Zivi managed to bring his F-15 to a complete stop approximately 20 feet (6 m) from the end of the runway. He was later quoted that "(I) probably would have ejected if I knew what had happened."[42][43]

On 2 November 2007, an F-15C crashed during a training operation in Missouri. The pilot ejected safely. The crash is initially believed to have been the result of an inflight breakup due to structural failure. On 3 November 2007, all non-mission critical models of the F-15 were grounded pending the outcome of the crash investigation.[44] The following day, the grounding was extended to include non-mission critical F-15s currently engaged in combat missions in the Middle East.[45] By November 13, 2007 over 1,100 were grounded worldwide after Israel, Japan and Saudi Arabia grounded their aircraft as well.[46] On November 14, the F-15E model was cleared to fly after each airframe is inspected.[47] On November 28 2007, the U.S. Air Force reported a critical location in the upper longerons on the F-15C model is suspected of causing the failure. The F-15A-D aircraft will remain grounded until the location receives more detailed inspections and be repaired if needed.[48]

Specifications (F-15C Eagle)

Orthographically projected diagram of the F-15 Eagle.
Orthographically projected diagram of the F-15 Eagle.

Data from USAF fact sheet,[41] Jane's All the World's Aircraft,[49] Davies[50]

General characteristics

Performance

An F-15 with inlets in different positions.

Armament

Avionics

  • Radar:
    • Raytheon AN/APG-63 or AN/APG-70 or
      • Although several F-15C aircraft were produced with APG-70 radar, all have been retrofitted to the AN/APG-63(V)1 configuration
    • Raytheon AN/APG-63(V)1 or
    • Raytheon AN/APG-63(V)2 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) or
    • Raytheon AN/APG-63(V)3 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA)
  • Countermeasures:
    • AN/APX-76 or AN/APX-119 IFF interrogator
    • AN/ALQ-128 radar warning suite
    • AN/ALR-56 radar warning receiver
    • ALQ-135 internal countermeasures system
    • AN/ALE-45 chaff/flare dispensers

Popular culture

References

Notes
  1. ^ Making the Best of the Fighter Force, Air Force magazine, March 2007.
  2. ^ "In July 1967 at the Domodedovo airfield near Moscow, the Soviet Union unveiled a new generation of combat aircraft.. condenamed [sic] Foxbat by NATO.": Development in Modern Fighting Aircraft, 1983
  3. ^ a b Davies 2002, p. 9-11.
  4. ^ Bowman 1980, p. 193.
  5. ^ Jenkins 1998, p. 5-9.
  6. ^ a b Eden and Moeng 2002, p. 944.
  7. ^ Jenkins 1998, p. 9-11.
  8. ^ Spick 2000, p. 130-131.
  9. ^ RAND report, "Return of the Air Superiority Fighter."
  10. ^ Jenkins 1998, p. 33-34.
  11. ^ a b Green and Swanborough 1998, p. 371.
  12. ^ Gunston 1986, p. 194.
  13. ^ Huenecke 1987, p. 227-230.
  14. ^ a b Jenkins 1998, p. 97-104.
  15. ^ Huenecke 1987, p. 232-236.
  16. ^ a b Lambert 1993, p. 521.
  17. ^ Jenkins 1998, p. 111.
  18. ^ Lambert 1993, p. 523.
  19. ^ a b Scutts 1989, p. 47.
  20. ^ Davies 2002, p. 56-57.
  21. ^ "An Eagle evolves", Boeing, January 2004.
  22. ^ Pushing the Saudis Too Far
  23. ^ 2 Iranian Fighters Reported Downed by Saudi Air Force
  24. ^ F-15 in Saudi Service
  25. ^ Davies 2002, p. 31-40.
  26. ^ a b U.S. Air Force Historical Research Agency.
  27. ^ Patrolling Iraq's Northern Skies.
  28. ^ F-15 In Service on vectorsite.net
  29. ^ Excluding the case of a Japanese F-15J that shot down another F-15J in 1995 due to an AIM-9 Sidewinder safety malfunction. F-15J page on globalsecurity.org
  30. ^ "Biographies: Major General Wilbert D. "Doug" Pearson Jr". {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  31. ^ The F-15 ASAT story
  32. ^ Air Force Will Get New Bomber, Upgrades To Fighters, Spacewar.com, 5 October 2006.
  33. ^ "Boeing Awarded $70 Million Contract for Enhanced F-15C Radar", Boeing, 9 October 2007.
  34. ^ Making the Best of the Fighter Force, Air Force magazine, March 2007.
  35. ^ Jenkins 1998, p. 71-72.
  36. ^ National Museum of the United States Air Force. McDonnell Douglas F-15 Streak Eagle fact sheet.
  37. ^ Dryden Flight Research Center. F-15 Flight Research Facility fact sheet.
  38. ^ Dryden Flight Research Center. F-15B Research Testbed fact sheet.
  39. ^ Gething 1983
  40. ^ "Lockheed Martin to Upgrade Radar for Reconnaissance Version of Japan's F-15", Lockheed Martin press release, 19 June 2007.
  41. ^ a b c USAF fact sheets: F-15 Eagle Access date: 4 December 2006
  42. ^ No Wing F15 - crew stories - USS BenningtonAccess date: 31 July 2006
  43. ^ "F-15 flying with one wing by an Israeli pilot".
  44. ^ Air Force suspends some F-15 operations, U.S. Air Force, 4 November 2007.
  45. ^ Air Force grounds F-15s in Afghanistan after Missouri crash, CNN, 5 November 2007.
  46. ^ Warwick, Graham. "F-15 operators follow USAF grounding after crash." Flight International, 14 November 2007.
  47. ^ "F-15E Strike Eagles to fly again in Iraq, Afghanistan", CNN.com, November 14 2007.
  48. ^ "F-15 A-D models ordered to stand down for additional inspections", U.S. Air Force, November 28, 2007.
  49. ^ Lambert 1993, p. 522.
  50. ^ Davies 2002, Appendix 1
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  • Mehuron, Tamar A., Assoc. Editor. "2007 USAF Almanac- Equipment." Air Force Magazine, Journal of the Air Force Association, Vol. 90, Issue 5, May 2007. ISSN 0730-6784. "2007 USAF Almanac- Equipment"
  • Scutts, Jerry. Supersonic Aircraft of USAF. New York: Mallard Press, 1989. ISBN 0-792-450-13-2.
  • Spick, Mike. The Great Book of Modern Warplanes. St. Paul Minnesota: MBI, 2000. ISBN 0-7603-0893-4.

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