It also helped that the F-15 had a low wing load and with the low weight-to-thrust ratio, the fighter is capable of doing sharp turns without losing airspeed. With a range of 966km and ceiling of 19.2km that can be climbed in 15.25km/s, the F-15 was extremely well equipped. Mainly armed with the N61A1 20mm Vulcan cannon in the fuselage, the F-15 can carry four AIM-7 Sparrows, AIM-9 Sidewinder AAMs and loads of other options up to 7 267kg ranging from rockets, missiles and bombs with its five hardpoints. With two Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-100 turbofans that allow 11 340kg of afterburner thrust, the F-15 is a nimble and relatively low profile fighter with maximum take-off weight at 25 402kg, achieving maximum speed of 2 655km/h rather easily. This record is mostly due to the fighter’s maneuverability combined with high acceleration, work range, advanced avionics and range of weapons. The F-15 is probably fighter with the best combat record, with 100.5 victories over zero losses. However, the F-15’s first fight was not with USAF, but with exporter Israel who shot down four Syrian MiG-21s in June 1977. Early 1976 saw the first front-line combat squadron delivery, and things carried on from there. The F-15 had a legacy to stand up to.į-15A made its first flight in 1972, and two years later the first USAF F-15B Eagle was delivered for service. As such, the F-15 needed to be an all-weather, high manoeuvrable fighter that would keep the US Air Force at the top in air superiority. The F-15 Eagle was designed to be successor to the F-4.
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