The F-15 is considered to be one of the best fighter in the world. PAF personales i heard also have some experience with flying that jet in service with Saudi Arabia. The F-15E is the latest version of the Eagle, a Mach 2.5-class twin-engine fighter. More than 1,300 F-15s are in service worldwide with the US Air Force, US Air National Guard and the air forces of Israel, Japan and Saudi Arabia, including over 220 F-15E fighters. US Air Force F-15E aircraft have been almost exclusively used for close-air support.
The F-15E aircraft can carry payloads up to 23,000lb. The aircraft can carry up to four Lockheed Martin/Raytheon AIM-9LM infrared-guided Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, up to four Raytheon AIM-7F/M radar-guided Sparrow air-to-air missiles, or eight Raytheon AMRAAM radar-guided, medium-range air-to-air missiles. Ranges for these missiles are: Sidewinder: 8km; Sparrow: 45km; and AMRAAM: 50km. The range of air-to-ground ordnance includes guided GBU-10, -12, -15 and -24 bombs, and Raytheon AGM-65 Maverick infrared-guided missiles. Maverick's range is 25km. The first units of GBU-15 glide bomb upgraded with global positioning system (GPS) guidance have been delivered for deployment on the F-15E. The Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) was cleared for carriage on the F-15E in February 2005.
The Raytheon APG-70 synthetic aperture radar displays high-quality images of ground targets. APG-70 is able to create and freeze the high-resolution ground maps during quick sweeps of the target area, lasting only seconds.
F-15Es are equipped with Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-229 low-bypass turbofan engines, which provide 29,000lb of thrust per engine. Using the digital electronic engine control system, the pilot can accelerate from idle power to maximum afterburner within four seconds.
F-15E's role is as a long-range interdiction and air superiority aircraft, which can deal with the threat of Su-30MKI that PAF needs to counter in anyway. Although F-15E is one expensive fighter due to its maintannce and its unit cost, but the fighter seems to be a good option for air superiority role versus Su-30MKI.
F-15E has a ferry range of more than 3,500 miles. which is awesome for PAF as F-15E will not have to come again and again to the base every time for a reload, because it also has upto 15 hardpoints which gives it the ability of 23,000lbs.
I would like to know what are your opinions for this aircraft. Although this fighter was lost during BVR fight with Su-30MK of India, but still it is a good fighter. The reasons behind the lost were that USAF wanted more funds for its RAPTOR program, and to induct more of these 5th generation fighters. There were many factors which included fight without any support from AWAC's, where USAF takes the edge.
Sources:
http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/f15/
http://www.aeroflight.co.uk/types/usa/boei.../F-15_Eagle.htm
http://www.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?fsID=101
The F-15E aircraft can carry payloads up to 23,000lb. The aircraft can carry up to four Lockheed Martin/Raytheon AIM-9LM infrared-guided Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, up to four Raytheon AIM-7F/M radar-guided Sparrow air-to-air missiles, or eight Raytheon AMRAAM radar-guided, medium-range air-to-air missiles. Ranges for these missiles are: Sidewinder: 8km; Sparrow: 45km; and AMRAAM: 50km. The range of air-to-ground ordnance includes guided GBU-10, -12, -15 and -24 bombs, and Raytheon AGM-65 Maverick infrared-guided missiles. Maverick's range is 25km. The first units of GBU-15 glide bomb upgraded with global positioning system (GPS) guidance have been delivered for deployment on the F-15E. The Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) was cleared for carriage on the F-15E in February 2005.
The Raytheon APG-70 synthetic aperture radar displays high-quality images of ground targets. APG-70 is able to create and freeze the high-resolution ground maps during quick sweeps of the target area, lasting only seconds.
F-15Es are equipped with Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-229 low-bypass turbofan engines, which provide 29,000lb of thrust per engine. Using the digital electronic engine control system, the pilot can accelerate from idle power to maximum afterburner within four seconds.
F-15E's role is as a long-range interdiction and air superiority aircraft, which can deal with the threat of Su-30MKI that PAF needs to counter in anyway. Although F-15E is one expensive fighter due to its maintannce and its unit cost, but the fighter seems to be a good option for air superiority role versus Su-30MKI.
F-15E has a ferry range of more than 3,500 miles. which is awesome for PAF as F-15E will not have to come again and again to the base every time for a reload, because it also has upto 15 hardpoints which gives it the ability of 23,000lbs.
I would like to know what are your opinions for this aircraft. Although this fighter was lost during BVR fight with Su-30MK of India, but still it is a good fighter. The reasons behind the lost were that USAF wanted more funds for its RAPTOR program, and to induct more of these 5th generation fighters. There were many factors which included fight without any support from AWAC's, where USAF takes the edge.
Sources:
http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/f15/
http://www.aeroflight.co.uk/types/usa/boei.../F-15_Eagle.htm
http://www.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?fsID=101
