Col. Christopher Sage, 4th Fighter Wing commander, believes the F-15E is an imperative part to the Air Force mission and the future of combat air power.

On Dec. 11, 2016 the iconic F-15E Strike Eagle celebrated its first flight 30th anniversary.

Still today, the U.S. Air Force (USAF) considers the “Mudhen” (as the F-15E Strike Eagle is nicknamed by its aircrews) to be one of the most proficient multi-role, air-to-air and air-to-ground strike fighters in its inventory.

In fact, after flying thousands of missions during worldwide combat operations, the aging F-15E is still relevant and capable of supporting current combatant commander’s requirements.

As explained by Airman 1st Class Kenneth Boyton, 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs in his article Strike Eagle still soars after 30 years, the F-15E was designed as a fighter bomber aircraft with a back seat for a second crew member to operate a ground attack weapons delivery system. The cockpit contains the latest advanced avionics, controls and displays. The redesigned airframe was built with a stronger structure allowing heavier takeoff weights and doubled the original F-15 Eagle’s service life.

Advanced technology and avionics assist the F-15E to fly day or night at low altitudes and in all weather conditions. The jet can also carry nearly every air-to-ground weapon in the Air Force arsenal, including AIM-7F/M Sparrows, AIM-9M Sidewinders and AIM-120 advanced medium range air-to-air missiles.

“The way the F-15E is built is a huge reason why it’s such a respected and capable aircraft,” said Maj. Michael Jokhy, 335th Fighter Squadron assistant director of operations. “The F-15E Strike Eagle can hold a lot more gas and weapons than other multi-role aircraft in our inventory.”

In fact the extra fuel allows the Strike Eagle to stay where it’s needed longer, providing more life-saving close-air-support. Additionally, Jokhy said the extra weapons the Strike Eagle can carry are a great safeguard and reminds the enemies of the U.S. who has the world’s most dominant airpower.

An F-15E from the then 335th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base (AFB), North Carolina, destroyed an Iraqi Mi-24 Hind helicopter with a laser-guided bomb during Operation Desert Storm in 1991. The F-15E also flew into enemy territory multiple times while under heavy anti-aircraft artillery fire and demolished Scud missile sites proving its air-to-air and air-to-surface capabilities.

The F-15E was the only fighter able to attack ground targets around the clock, in all weather conditions during the 1990s Balkan conflict.

The U.S. Air Force currently has 219 F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft, mainly utilized for close air support during operations.

According to the Department of Defense, as of Dec. 2, U.S. and coalition aircraft have conducted more than 16,592 strikes in Iraq and Syria in support of Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR). The Strike Eagle has contributed to destroying or damaging more than 31,900 targets as part of OIR, further degrading and defeating the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

The 335th and 336th Fighter Squadrons and maintenance units frequently deploy to areas of responsibility in Southwest Asia to aid with the DOD’s lines of effort which include providing military support to our partners, impeding the flow of foreign fighters, stopping ISIL’s financing and funding and exposing ISIL’s true nature.

During the 335th Fighter Squadron’s most recent deployment, F-15E Strike Eagle pilots and weapons systems officers flew more than 9,250 combat hours, dropped more than 2,000 bombs and killed more than 80 high-value ISIL individuals.

To further enhance the already devastating capability of the F-15E Strike Eagle, the jets at Seymour Johnson are currently receiving upgrades through Boeing Co.’s Radar Modernization Program.

“We’re doing [the upgrade] on all of the F-15E models,” said Jonathan Pierce, Boeing Co. F-15E site lead. “This radar update is going to drastically improve the aircraft’s air-to-air and air-to-ground radar, making it significantly more capable.”

The old legacy APG-70 mechanically-scanned radar is being replaced with a new active electronically-scanned radar system, APG-82. It’s designed to retain functionality of the old legacy radar system while providing expanded mission employment capabilities.

“What I’m most looking forward to with the modification is that it will be more in line with what other fighters have across the combat Air Force,” said Capt. Bryan Hladik, 336th FS pilot. “The upgraded radar will further enhance our abilities to target [ISIL] through the weather. On days that visual acquisition of the target is not possible due to clouds, we will be able to take precise air-to-ground maps and target [Joint Direct Attack Munition] with a very high level of accuracy.”

Col. Christopher Sage, 4th Fighter Wing commander, believes the F-15E is an imperative part to the Air Force mission and the future of combat air power.

“On its 30th anniversary, the F-15E is still a phenomenal and capable war-fighting machine. It controls the sky and dominates the ground,” said Sage. “It’s an important piece of equipment our Air Force uses to maintain air superiority in support of global operations and national defense.”

This article by Dario Leone originally appeared on The Aviation Geek Club in 2016.

Image: Wikimedia