F-15 Eagle

Satellite killer

From January 1984 to September 1986, an F-15A was used as a launch platform for five ASM-135 ASAT missiles. The F-15A went into a supersonic climb and released the ASAT missile at an altitude of 11.6 km. The F-15A computer was updated to control the zoom-climb and missile release. The third test flight involved a retired communications satellite in a 555 km orbit, which was successfully destroyed by sheer kinetic energy. The pilot, USAF Major Wilbert D. "Doug" Pearson, became the first pilot ever to destroy an orbiting satellite.

The ASAT missile was designed to be a standoff anti-satellite weapon, with an undetected first stage (the F-15A).

Future

The F-15C/D model is being supplanted by the F-22 Raptor. The F-15E however will remain in service for years to come because of its different air-to-ground role and the low number of hours on their airframes. Some USAF F-15Cs have been retrofitted with Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radars and are expected to remain in service with the USAF well past 2020. The Royal Saudi Air Force has purchased several squadrons of long-range F-15S models, the Republic of Korea is purchasing upgraded F-15Ks, and Singapore is purchasing the F-15SG variant.

Variants

* F-15A: Single-seat all-weather air-superiority fighter version.
* F-15B: Two-seat training version, formerly designated TF-15A.
* F-15C: Improved single-seat all-weather air-superiority fighter version.
* F-15D: Two-seat training version.
* F-15J: Single-seat all-weather air-superiority fighter version for the Japanese Air Self Defence Force. Built under licence in Japan by Mitsubishi.
* F-15DJ: Two-seat training version for the Japanese Air Self Defence Force. Built under licence in Japan by Mitsubishi.(of F-15E)
* F-15E Strike Eagle: Two-seat all-weather long-range strike and ground-attack aircraft for the US Air Force.
* F-15I Ra'am (Thunder): Advanced version of the F-15E Strike Eagle for the Israeli Air Force.
* F-15K Slam Eagle: Advanced version of the F-15E Strike Eagle for the Republic of Korea Air Force.
* F-15S: Export version of the F-15E Strike Eagle for the Royal Saudi Air Force.
* F-15SG: Advanced version of the F-15E Strike Eagle for the Republic of Singapore Air Force.
* F-15S/MTD: One TF-15A was converted into a short take-off and landing, maneuver technology demonstrator aircraft.
* F-15 ACTIVE: One F-15S/MTD was converted into an advanced control technology research aircraft.
* F-15 IFCS: One F-15 ACTIVE was converted into an intelligent flight control systems research aircraft.
* F-15 Streak Eagle: One stripped and unpainted F-15A, demonstrated the fighter's acceleration â€" broke eight time-to-climb world records between Jan. 16 and Feb. 1, 1975. [1]

Specifications (F-15C Eagle)

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