F-15E Strike Eagle
American all-weather multirole strike fighter, prominent in the Gulf War for precision strike and deep interdiction missions.
| Crew | 1 pilot + 1 WSO |
| Length | 19.4 m (63.7 ft) |
| Wingspan | 13.1 m (42.8 ft) |
| Height | 5.6 m (18.5 ft) |
| Wing area | 56 m² (602.8 sqft) |
| Empty weight | 14,379 kg (31,700 lbs) |
| Max. takeoff weight | 36,741 kg (81,000 lbs) |
| Powerplant | 2 × turbofans Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-229 10,782 kgf each |
| Ejection seat | McDonnell Douglas ACES II |
| Maximum speed | 2655 km/h (Mach 2.65) |
| Operational range | 1,272 km (790 mi) |
| Service ceiling | 18,288 m (60,000 ft) |
| Climb rate | 254.0 m/s (833.3 ft/s) |
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United States
334
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Saudi Arabia
148
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Israel
87
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South Korea
59
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Singapore
40
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Indonesia
0 +24
- Air-to-Surface AGM-65 Maverick
- Air-to-Surface AGM-84 Harpoon
- Air-to-Surface AGM-130
- Air-to-Surface AGM-158 JASSM
- Air-to-Air Medium-Range AIM-7 Sparrow
- Air-to-Air Medium-Range AIM-120 AMRAAM
- Air-to-Surface Raytheon AGM-154 JSOW
- Air-to-Air Short-Range Raytheon AIM-9 Sidewinder
- Cluster Aerojet CBU-87/B CEM
- Thermonuclear B61
- Guided Boeing GBU-31/B JDAM
- Guided Boeing GBU-38/B JDAM
- Guided Boeing GBU-39/B SDB
- Guided Boeing GBU-54
- Cluster CBU-89/B Gator
- Cluster CBU-170
- Guided GBU-72/B
- Cluster Lockheed-Martin CBU-103/B WCMD
- Cluster Lockheed-Martin CBU-104/B WCMD
- Low-Drag Mk 82
- Low-Drag Mk 84
- Laser-Guided Raytheon GBU-10 Paveway II
- Laser-Guided Raytheon GBU-12
- Laser-Guided Raytheon GBU-51/B Paveway II
- Guided Rockwell GBU-15(V)1/B MGWS
- Cluster Textron CBU-97/B SFW
- Cluster Textron CBU-105/B WCMD
5 losses recorded here in the 2026 Iran Conflict.
Recent Events — F-15E Strike Eagle
5 events →-
JUL 172026
United States
F-15E damaged in the Iranian missile attack on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base, Azraq.
Damaged
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APR 32026
United States
Shot down by Iranian air defense over southwest Iran during strike mission; both crew members rescued after two-day CSAR operation.
Shot down
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MAR 22026
United States
Third F-15E Strike Eagle shot down over Kuwait by a Kuwaiti F/A-18 Hornet in friendly fire incident during Operation Epic Fury; crew ejected safely.
Shot down
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MAR 22026
United States
Second F-15E Strike Eagle shot down over Kuwait by a Kuwaiti F/A-18 Hornet in friendly fire incident during Operation Epic Fury; crew ejected safely.
Shot down
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MAR 22026
United States
F-15E Strike Eagle shot down over Kuwait by a Kuwaiti F/A-18 Hornet in friendly fire incident during Operation Epic Fury; crew ejected safely.
Shot down
Description
The McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) F-15E Strike Eagle is an American all-weather multirole strike fighter derived from the F-15 Eagle. Designed in the 1980s for long-range interdiction without relying on escort aircraft, it entered United States Air Force service in 1988. The aircraft is distinguished by darker camouflage, conformal fuel tanks, a tandem-seat cockpit, and LANTIRN pod mounts.
Development
The USAF initiated the Tactical All-Weather Requirement Study and Dual-Role Fighter program to replace the F-111 and F-4. McDonnell Douglas modified a TF-15A demonstrator that first flew on 8 July 1980 to validate conformal fuel tanks. On 24 February 1984, the USAF selected the F-15E over the General Dynamics F-16XL, citing lower development costs, growth potential, and twin-engine redundancy. The first F-15E flew on 11 December 1986, and initial deliveries to the 405th Tactical Training Wing began in April 1988. A total of 236 F-15Es were produced for the USAF through 2001.
Design
The airframe uses the aerodynamic shape of the F-15B, updated with structural bonding in the aft fuselage. Propulsion is provided by Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-220/229 or General Electric F110-GE-129 afterburning turbofans. Non-jettisonable conformal fuel tanks carry 750 US gallons of fuel each. The tandem cockpit features a rear station with flight controls and multiple displays for the weapon systems officer. Avionics include the AN/APG-70 or AN/APG-82(V)1 AESA radar, LANTIRN or Sniper pods, and the AN/ALQ-250 EPAWSS electronic warfare suite.
Armament
The aircraft carries an internal 20 mm M61A1 Vulcan cannon with 500 rounds and up to 23,000 lb of external payload. Conformal fuel tanks feature six tandem hardpoints alongside wing and fuselage pylons. Air-to-air weapons include AIM-9, AIM-7, and AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles. Air-to-ground ordnance includes AGM-65 Maverick, AGM-130, AGM-154 JSOW, AGM-158 JASSM, Paveway laser-guided bombs, and JDAM series munitions. It can also carry up to five B61 Mod 12 nuclear bombs.
Operational History
The F-15E achieved initial operational capability in September 1989. In 1991, F-15Es deployed during Operation Desert Storm for deep interdiction strikes against Scud sites, losing two aircraft to ground fire and destroying a Mil Mi-24 helicopter. The type subsequently enforced no-fly zones over Iraq and Bosnia, participated in Operation Allied Force, and supported operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, and Syria. Export customers include Israel, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, and Singapore.
Variants
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F-15E: Two-seat all-weather long-range strike fighter produced for the United States Air Force.
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F-15I: Ground-attack variant operated by the Israeli Air Force featuring modified avionics, an Elisra electronic warfare suite, and APG-70I radar.
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F-15K: Multirole variant for the Republic of Korea Air Force equipped with infrared search and track systems and APG-63(V)1 radar.
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F-15S: Variant supplied to the Royal Saudi Air Force with modified synthetic aperture radar capabilities.
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F-15SG: Export variant developed for the Republic of Singapore Air Force featuring AN/APG-63(V)3 AESA radar.