It is one of the planes that is the pride of the American air fleet. An F-15 Eagle, an extremely maneuverable tactical fighter, was shot down by Iranian forces on Friday. This is the first time since the start of the Middle East War that an American plane has fallen in combat.
The plane, presented as an F-15, was targeted while flying over central Iran, in the province of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad. The pilot managed to eject and was exfiltrated during a raid, but the aviator next to him has not yet been located.
Initially, the Iranian Tasnim agency indicated that it was an F-35, described by Donald Trump as an “almost invisible fighter”. But the photos and videos released suggest that it is more of an F-15 Eagle, according to Axios.
One mission: gain and maintain superiority in the air
Designed in the 1970s, the F-15 Eagle is a tactical fighter aircraft designed to ensure air superiority, summarizes the US Air Force. Its mission is to pursue and destroy enemy aircraft, day and night and regardless of the weather, to enable the United States to gain and maintain air superiority on a battlefield.
Its strengths: a speed of up to Mach 2 (3020 km/h), great maneuverability and a significant carrying capacity. Its high thrust-to-weight ratio and low wing loading allow it to make tight turns without losing speed.
Another strong point of the F-15 Eagle: an advanced avionics system. Its head-up display allows the pilot to follow essential information without taking their eyes off their objective. In addition, its pulse Doppler radar is capable of detecting and tracking targets over long distances, including at low altitude.
A plane that can carry several missiles
In terms of armament, the American plane can carry several air-to-air missiles, including four AIM-120 AMRAAM and four AIM-9 Sidewinder or even a 20 mm M-61A1 cannon. Its automated system allows you to quickly switch from one type of weapon to another in combat mode.
According to the US Air Force, the cost of an aircraft is around $27.9 million for the first versions (F-15 A and B) and $29.9 million for the F-15 C and D, in constant value since 1998.
The more recent F-35 has a different philosophy. It is intended to be more stealthy and difficult to detect than an F-15, with a less significant radar signature. The device is also slower. Its speed is Mach 1.6 (approximately 1,930 km/h). The two devices are often considered complementary within American aviation.
Several versions of the F-15 Eagle have been released since it entered service in 1976. “The F-15C, D and E were deployed to the Persian Gulf in 1991 as part of Operation Desert Storm, where they demonstrated their superiority in combat,” says the US Air Force. “The F-15Cs have won 34 of the US Air Force’s 37 aerial victories,” continues the American Air Force, adding that the planes have also been deployed in southern Iraq, Turkey and Afghanistan.
The incident that occurred in central Iran on Friday could mark a symbolic turning point for this plane known for its performances. Already at the end of March, the Revolutionary Guards claimed to have hit and seriously damaged an American F-35 in the Iranian sky.
