What to know about the F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft
A U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle flies over Iraq on May 5, 2018. The F-15E Strike Eagle is a dual-role fighter designed to perform air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. An array of avionics and electronics systems gives the F-15E the capability t
The U.S. Air Force says F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft are used in air-to-air and air-to-ground missions and its electronic systems allow the aircraft to fly day and night at low altitude, in all weather conditions.
Dig deeper:
The aircraft can reach speeds of Mach 2.5, which is 1,650+ MPH, and has a fuel capacity of 35,550 pounds and a range of 2,400 miles.
The aircraft uses a two-member crew — a pilot and weapons officer — and is housed with a Global Positioning System (GPS) that allows for the constant monitoring of the aircraft's position and both the pilot and weapons officer have a digital moving map in their cockpits.
An F-15E Strike Eagle assigned to the 492nd Fighter Squadron flies over Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, May 10. The 492nd trains regularly to ensure RAF Lakenheath brings unique air combat capabilities to the fight. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Tech.
F-15E Strike Eagle armament
The F-15E Strike Eagle is equipped with:
- One 20mm multibarrel gun mounted internally with 500 rounds of ammunition
- Four AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles
- Four AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) or eight AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles, both nuclear and conventional
The backstory:
The Boeing Company delivered the first model of the F-15E to the 405th Tactical Training Wing, Luke AFB, Arizona, in April 1988 at a cost of $31.1 million. There are currently 219 in the U.S. forces.
The Source: Information in this article was provided by the U.S. Air Force. This story was reported from Orlando.