3D Aircraft
Screensaver
(F-15 Eagle from 3D Military
Pack)
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Mission
The F-15 Eagle is an all-weather, extremely
maneuverable, tactical fighter designed to permit the
Air Force to gain and maintain air superiority in aerial
combat. |
Features
The Eagle's air superiority is achieved through a
mixture of unprecedented maneuverability and
acceleration, range, weapons and avionics. It can
penetrate enemy defense and outperform and outfight any
current enemy aircraft. The F-15 has electronic systems
and weaponry to detect, acquire, track and attack enemy
aircraft while operating in friendly or enemy-controlled
airspace. The weapons and flight control systems are
designed so one person can safely and effectively
perform air-to-air combat.
The F-15's superior maneuverability and acceleration are
achieved through high engine thrust-to-weight ratio and
low wing loading. Low wing-loading (the ratio of
aircraft weight to its wing area) is a vital factor in
maneuverability and, combined with the high
thrust-to-weight ratio, enables the aircraft to turn
tightly without losing airspeed.
A multimission avionics system sets the F-15 apart from
other fighter aircraft. It includes a head-up display,
advanced radar, inertial navigation system, flight
instruments, ultrahigh frequency communications,
tactical navigation system and instrument landing
system. It also has an internally mounted, tactical
electronic-warfare system, "identification friend or
foe" system, electronic countermeasures set and a
central digital computer.
The head-up display projects on the windscreen 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.
The F-15's versatile 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 down to close range, and
at altitudes down to treetop level. The radar feeds
target information into the central computer for
effective weapons delivery. 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.
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.
The Eagle can be armed with combinations of four
different air-to-air weapons: AIM-7F/M Sparrow missiles
or AIM-120 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 20mm Gatling gun in the right wing root.
Low-drag, conformal fuel tanks were especially developed
for the F-15C and D models. Conformal fuel tanks 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. Each
conformal fuel tank contains about 114 cubic feet of
usable space. These tanks reduce the need for in-flight
refueling on global missions and increase time in the
combat area. All external stations for munitions remain
available with the tanks in use. AIM-7F/M Sparrow
missiles, moreover, can be attached to the corners of
the conformal fuel tanks.
The F-15E 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.
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 low-altitude navigation and targeting infrared
for night pods
Background
The first F-15A flight was made in July 1972, and the
first flight of the two-seat F-15B (formerly TF-15A)
trainer was made in July 1973. The first Eagle (F-15B)
was delivered in November 1974. In January 1976, the
first Eagle destined for a combat squadron was
delivered.
The single-seat F-15C and two-seat F-15D models entered
the Air Force inventory beginning in 1979. These new
models have Production Eagle Package (PEP 2000)
improvements, including 2,000 pounds (900 kilograms) of
additional internal fuel, provision for carrying
exterior conformal fuel tanks and increased maximum
takeoff weight of up to 68,000 pounds (30,600
kilograms).
The F-15 Multistage Improvement Program 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 a Hughes APG-70 radar.
F-15C, D and E models were deployed to the Persian Gulf
in 1991 in support of Operation Desert Storm where they
proved their superior combat capability. F-15C fighters
accounted for 34 of the 37 Air Force air-to-air
victories. F-15Es were operated mainly at night, hunting
SCUD missile launchers and artillery sites using the
LANTIRN system.
They have since been deployed to support Operation
Southern Watch, the patrolling of the UN-sanctioned
no-fly zone in Southern Iraq; Operation Provide Comfort
in Turkey; in support of NATO operations in Bosnia, and
recent air expeditionary force deployments.
General Characteristics
Primary function: Tactical fighter
Contractor: McDonnell Douglas Corp.
Power plant: Two Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-100, 220 or 229
turbofan engines with afterburners
Thrust: (C/D models) 23,450 pounds each engine
Wing span: 42.8 feet (13 meters)
Length: 63.8 feet (19.44 meters)
Height: 18.5 feet (5.6 meters)
Speed: 1,875 mph (Mach 2.5 plus)
Maximum takeoff weight: (C/D models) 68,000 pounds
(30,844 kilograms)
Ceiling: 65,000 feet (19,812 meters)
Range: 3,450 miles (3,000 nautical miles) ferry range
with conformal fuel tanks and three external fuel tanks
Crew: F-15A/C: one. F-15B/D/E: two
Armament: One internally mounted M-61A1 20mm 20-mm,
six-barrel cannon with 940 rounds of ammunition; four
AIM-9L/M Sidewinder and four AIM-7F/M Sparrow air-to-air
missiles, or eight AIM-120 AMRAAMs, carried externally.
Unit Cost: A/B models - $27.9 million (fiscal 98
constant dollars); C/D models - $29.9 million (fiscal 98
constant dollars)
Date deployed: July 1972
Inventory: Active force, 396; Reserve, 0; ANG,126. |
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