McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle
The McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) F-15E Strike Eagle is an American all-weather multirole strike fighter derived from the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle. The F-15E was designed in the 1980s for long-range, high-speed interdiction without relying on escort or electronic-warfare aircraft. United States Air Force (USAF) F-15E Strike Eagles can be generally distinguished from other US Eagle variants by darker aircraft camouflage, conformal fuel tanks (CFTs) mounted along the engine intake ramps (although CFTs can also be mounted on earlier F-15 variants) and a tandem-seat cockpit.
| F-15E Strike Eagle | |
|---|---|
| An F-15E from the 391st Fighter Squadron | |
| Role | Multirole strike fighter |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | McDonnell Douglas (1985–1997) Boeing Defense, Space & Security (1997–present) |
| First flight | 11 December 1986 |
| Introduction | 1988 30 September 1989 (IOC) |
| Status | In service |
| Primary users | United States Air Force Royal Saudi Air Force Israeli Air Force Republic of Korea Air Force For other users, see Operators |
| Produced | 1985–present |
| Number built | 525 |
| Developed from | McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle |
| Developed into | Boeing F-15EX Eagle II |
The Strike Eagle has been deployed for military operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, and Libya, among others. During these operations, the strike fighter has carried out deep strikes against high-value targets and combat air patrols, and provided close air support for coalition troops. It has also been exported to several countries. Boeing would further develop the F-15E design into the Advanced Eagle family with flight control and structural enhancements, as exemplified by the F-15EX Eagle II.