IN SERVICE
๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ UNITED STATES
F-15C/D/E/EX

McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle

Twin-engine all-weather air superiority fighter โ€” 104:0 air-to-air kill record
๐Ÿš€
MAX SPEED
Mach 2.5
2,655 km/h
โ›ฐ๏ธ
CEILING
20.0 km
65,620 ft
๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ
RANGE
3,900 km
2,422 mi
๐Ÿ“…
FIRST FLIGHT
1972
Service 1976
โœˆ๏ธ
Speed Ranking
#22 fastest of 146 aircraft in this database

โœˆ๏ธ Full Specifications

DesignationF-15C/D/E/EX
ManufacturerMcDonnell Douglas / Boeing
Country๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ United States
First Flight1972
Service Entry1976
Crew1
Length19.43 m (63.7 ft)
Wingspan13.05 m (42.8 ft)
Height5.63 m (18.5 ft)
Empty Weight12,700 kg (28,004 lb)
Max Takeoff Weight30,800 kg (67,914 lb)
Max Speed (Mach)2.5
Max Speed2,655 km/h
Service Ceiling20,000 m (65,620 ft)
Range3,900 km (2,422 mi)
Climb Rate254 m/s (50000 ft/min)
Engine2 ร— Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-220 / GE F110-GE-129
Thrust (each)Dry 65 kN ยท AB 105 kN
Production1,500
Unit Cost$87.0M USD

๐ŸŒ Operators

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ United States๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฑ Israel๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต Japanโœˆ๏ธ Saudi Arabia๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท South Koreaโœˆ๏ธ Singaporeโœˆ๏ธ Qatar

๐Ÿ” Variants

  • F-15A/B โ€” Original air superiority
  • F-15C/D โ€” Improved avionics and weapons
  • F-15E Strike Eagle โ€” Two-seat dual-role strike
  • F-15EX Eagle II โ€” Latest USAF rebuild with EPAWSS
  • F-15I Ra'am / F-15J / F-15SA / F-15SG / F-15K / F-15QA โ€” Export

โš”๏ธ Armament

Internal cannon: 1ร— M61A1 Vulcan 20mm (940 rounds) Air-to-air: 4ร— AIM-120 AMRAAM + 4ร— AIM-9X Sidewinder (or AIM-7 Sparrow) F-15EX adds 22 hardpoints, hypersonic ARRW carriage Strike Eagle: GBU-10/-12/-15/-24/-28/-31/-38, AGM-130, AGM-65, B61

Overview

The F-15 Eagle boasts the most impressive air combat record of any modern fighter: 104 kills with zero losses in aerial combat. First flying in 1972, it remains in frontline service today and will continue flying into the 2040s with the advanced F-15EX variant.

Design & Development

Designed with a thrust-to-weight ratio exceeding 1:1, the F-15 can accelerate while climbing vertically. Its large wing area provides exceptional maneuverability, while twin F100 engines deliver Mach 2.5 top speed. The motto during development was ‘Not a pound for air-to-ground’โ€”pure air superiority.

Operational History

The F-15 has served with the USAF, Israel, Japan, Saudi Arabia, and other allies. Israeli F-15s achieved the first combat kills and have an extraordinary record including downing over 50 Syrian aircraft in the Bekaa Valley in 1982 with zero losses. An Israeli F-15D even landed safely with one wing missing.

Armament & Weapons

The F-15 carries an extensive weapons suite:

  • 1ร— M61A1 Vulcan โ€” 20mm rotary cannon (940 rounds)
  • AIM-120 AMRAAM โ€” up to 8ร— beyond-visual-range missiles
  • AIM-9 Sidewinder โ€” short-range infrared missiles
  • AIM-7 Sparrow โ€” medium-range radar-guided missiles
  • F-15E Strike Eagle additions:
    • GBU-10/12/24 laser-guided bombs
    • GBU-31/38 JDAM GPS bombs
    • AGM-130 powered standoff weapon
    • CBU-87/97 cluster bombs
    • B61 nuclear bomb (tactical)

Video

Frequently Asked Questions

How fast is the F-15 Eagle?

The F-15 has a top speed of Mach 2.5+ (1,650+ mph), one of the fastest operational fighters ever.

What is the F-15’s combat record?

The F-15 has an unmatched record of 104 air-to-air victories with zero losses, achieved by Israeli and USAF pilots.

How many F-15s were built?

Over 1,500 F-15s have been built. Production continues with the F-15EX Eagle II.

Is the F-15 still in service?

Yes. The F-15 has been in service since 1976. The latest F-15EX variant entered service in 2021.

References & Sources

Related Aircraft

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Sean

Aviation enthusiast and curator of the Supersonic & Aerospace Encyclopedia. Sean has been passionate about different kinds of flight since he was little and maintains detailed specs and history for every aircraft and spacecraft featured on this site.

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