This article mainly introduces the famous American F-15 "Eagle" fighter, the full text is about 5100 words.
Presumably, military fans are familiar with the American F-15 Hawk fighter. The information about the F-15 fighter is very rich on the Internet, and there are many wonderful articles and stories. This article makes a brief panoramic depiction of the F-15 fighter from the aspects of development overview, main characteristics, model categories, service status, actual combat applications, aircraft history anecdotes and basic performance. Most of the content is extracted from various public information at home and abroad, especially the derivative models and data parts have been examined. Space is limited, there may also be some mistakes, military fans friends axe right.
F-15“鹰” Eagle
Overview of development
The F-15 Eagle was a twin-engine heavy supersonic aircraft developed for the U.S. Air Force in the early 1970s by McDonnell Douglas (now part of Boeing), primarily for the air supremacy of theaters and ground attack capabilities.
In the mid-1960s, given the lessons of the Vietnam War, the U.S. Air Force began to consider the development of new fighters to replace previous generation fighters such as the F-4 Phantom II, which was later developed into the famous F-X fighter program.
In October 1965, the U.S. Air Force issued a specification to begin bidding, and in September 1968, the tender documents were again amended to propose new requirements, naming the F-X ZF-15A.
In December 1969, the U.S. Air Force finally selected McDonnell Douglas' proposal as prime contractor, signing a contract to build 20 prototypes, two of which were two-seat trainers and three for static test aircraft.
F-15's mother-in-law set makeup photo
Prototype test flight photos
On July 27, 1972, the first prototype, the YF-15F-1, flew for the first time. The first production F-15A was test flown in September 1974, with delivery to the U.S. Air Force in November of the same year and to the Langley Air Force Air Force Wing in January 1976.
In 1981 the U.S. Air Force tendered for dual-mission fighters, and in 1984 the F-15 was selected as a majorly improved version of the F-15E Attack Hawk fighter-bomber. On December 11, 1986, the F-15E prototype flew for the first time, and delivery to the U.S. Air Force began in April 1988. The F-15 series is continuously improved and derived, and more than 1520 models are produced.
The F-15's overall performance is superior to any of its predecessors. Although it has been in service for decades, its potential has not been exhausted, and the graceful streamlined shape, good reliability and applicability, coupled with impressive records, make the F-15 always the absolute main force of the US Air Force, and the title of "American Eagle" is well deserved.
Main features
F-15C Quad View
The F-15 features a twin-engine, twin-tailed, two-sided intake, and a fixed upper wing aerodynamic layout. The wing adopts a large swept angle cut-tip delta wing, no leading edge maneuvering flaps, and the wingtip adopts a tapered twist design with fixed curvature. The full-motion horizontal tail is mounted on a rearward extension of the tail brace with a zigzag leading edge to improve aerodynamic efficiency at a large angle of attack. Large area dual vertical tail fins are available for high-speed flight and maneuvering.
The huge intake tract, this photo clearly shows the variable section design of the intake tract, and the two intake tracts are in different states
Clear internal structure of the intake tract
The intake tract adopts an adjustable external pressure four-wave supersonic inlet, which can automatically match the air intake section according to the flight state to achieve better flight adaptability. The upper edges of the inlet are provided with a protruding fairing, which acts as a root rectifier and creates vortex currents at large angles of attack, which can delay wing stalls and improve tail efficiency. The fairing structure extends backward through the wing roots to form tail braces, and horizontal and vertical tail wings are installed.
The flight control system is a dual system, one is a traditional hydraulic control, and the other is an automatic control stabilization system that simulates line-based operation.
Prominent bubble-shaped cockpit for excellent view from the pilot
The F-15 was in overhaul condition, with the surface hatches of the fuselage all open and the metal structure fully presented
The fuselage is an all-metal semi-hard shell structure, and the fuselage is divided into three sections: front, middle and rear. In order to reduce the weight of the structure, a large number of titanium alloys are used, the proportion is 26%, the proportion of aluminum alloy materials accounts for about 37.3%, and the proportion of composite materials is only 2.2%.
The front section of the aluminium alloy structure includes the nose radome, cockpit and electronics cabin. Large bubble cockpit, integral windshield, high seat position, excellent visibility for the pilot, and more space at the rear of the cockpit. The middle section is connected to the wing, and the part is made of titanium alloy structure. The rear section is a mainly titanium alloy engine compartment. The later development of the ground attack type further strengthened the fuselage structure, and large conformal fuel tanks could be mounted on both sides of the fuselage.
Schematic diagram of the fuselage internal fuel tank, including fuselage fuel tank and wing fuel tank
Schematic diagram of a conformal fuel tank
Conformal fuel tank that can be removed from the ground
F-15 in the same generation of fighter design age is earlier, so the aerodynamic design is relatively conservative, but the structure is light, the engine thrust is large, the thrust ratio is high, the wing area is large, with a high thrust-to-weight ratio and a low wing load, the energy maneuver advantage is obvious, and has good scalability and development potential, is the leader in the air superiority fighter of the same generation.
Model category
F-15A: Early production version, 385 were produced between 1972 and 1979, including 18 test aircraft.
F-15 equipped with hypothetical enemy forces of the United States Air Force
F-15B: Two-seat trainer, with full combat capability of the F-15A, but without AN/ALQ-135 electronic jamming equipment, mainly the same as pilot training. A total of 60 were produced between 1972 and 1979, including 2 test machines.
F-15C: Improved, first tested in February 1979, with 488 aircraft produced between 1979 and 1985. The appearance is basically similar to the F-15A, and some improvements have been made, including: the front and rear of the inner wing have been expanded into an overall fuel tank, the internal oil capacity has increased by about 900 kg, and the conformal fuel tank can be installed on both sides of the intake tract; most of the later F100-PW-220 engines have been replaced with faster response and reduced fuel consumption; the radar has been replaced by an improved AN/APG-63 radar, and the AN/APG-70 radar has been replaced in the later stages, and since 2000, the USAf active F-15C has been gradually replaced with AN/AN/ APG-63(V)2/3 active phased array radar; electronic equipment modified digital central computer and overload alarm system, etc., to add a monitor in the cockpit.
F-15C produced in FY1985
An F-15C from the U.S. Air Force's 67 fighter squadron is receiving aerial refueling, the tanker is the KC-135R of the 909 Air Tanker Squadron
F-15D: Two-seat trainer, the shape is basically the same as the F-15B, with all the combat capabilities of the F-15C, and can also be equipped with a conformal fuel tank. A total of 92 were produced between 1979 and 1985.
The F-15D equipped with the U.S. Air Force's hypothetical enemy forces
F-15J: The F-15C produced in Japan according to the production license, with comparable performance, replaced with some of Japan's own avionics, a total of 165 were produced from 1981 to 1997, of which the first two were produced in the United States.
F-15J view
An F-15J of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force
F-15DJ: The F-15D was produced in Japan under a production license, with a total of 48 aircraft produced between 1981 and 1997.
F-15E: All-weather ground attack type, first tested on December 11, 1986, delivered in April 1988, 236 aircraft were produced between 1985 and 2004, retaining the full air combat capability of the F-15C/D, with a strong emphasis on ground attack capabilities. Improvements included: a redesign of approximately 60 per cent of the airframe structure, partially reinforced; the replacement of an F100-PW -220/229 engine with greater thrust and reliability; the addition of six mounting points on both sides of the intake tract to carry more ammunition and equipment; the upgrade of the radar to a more advanced AN/APG-70 radar; the redesign of the cockpit, with the rear-seat pilot as a weapons officer dedicated to the operation of the weapons system, and four multi-purpose displays installed in the cabin The belly of the aircraft can be mounted with a ground attack pod, so that it has a 24/7 ground attack mission.
An F-15E with an engine on and after-load take-off
An F-15E full of small-diameter bombs shows its amazing mounting ability and ground strike capability
F-15S/MTD: F-15B modified short take-off/precision landing technology demonstrator, first test flight in September 1988, using a three-wing layout (canard wing is a modified horizontal tail of the F/A-18), replaced with a digital fly-by-wire flight control system, the engine is F100-PW-220, but the use of binary vector nozzles, mainly used to verify the performance of the aircraft in short take-off and landing and air combat maneuvers during short take-off and landing and practical thrust vector control.
F-15S/MTD testing machine, visible tail nozzle is different
F-15ACTIVE: F-15B based on the modified active control technology demonstrator, the three-wing layout is directly modified from the F-15S/MTD, equipped with a powerful research computer, the engine thrust is increased, and the new axisymmetric thrust vector nozzle is replaced, which is the most important difference in appearance with the F-15S/MTD.
F-15ACTIVE testing machine, the tail nozzle structure is different
F-15I: The F-15E was exported to Israel based on the model, delivered in November 1997, a total of 25 aircraft, equipped with Israel's own tactical electronic warfare system, with the full functionality of the F-15E.
F-15K: The F-15E model exported to Korea on the basis of F110 engines and partially equipped with Korean avionics, with a total of 60 aircraft ordered in two batches.
F-15SG: The F-15E model exported to Singapore based on the F-110 engine, with full combat capability of the F-15E, and a total of 40 aircraft were ordered in two batches.
F-15S: The F-15E model exported to Saudi Arabia on the basis of the F-15E is a simplified version of the F-15E, with a large number of Avionics of the F-15C/D, and some electronic countermeasure equipment eliminated, delivered in September 1995, a total of 70 aircraft.
F-15SA: An improved version of the F-15S, exported to Saudi Arabia with some new avionics, including the ANAPG-63(V)3 active phased array radar.
F-15QA: A model based on the F-15E exported to Qatar, with 36 aircraft ordered in 2016.
F-15SE: An invisible modification based on the F-15E, nicknamed the Silent Eagle. The first test flight was made in July 2010 and a missile launch test was conducted. Stealth improvements include a vertical rear wing tilted out by 15 degrees, a built-in bomb bay in the conformal fuel tank on both sides, a wave-absorbing coating applied to the fuselage surface, and a large-screen integrated display in the cockpit. It was cancelled due to no potential purchase customers and only 1 prototype was produced.
F-15SE prototype, visible appearance does not change much
F-15EX: The latest improvement based on the F-15E, nicknamed the "Advanced Hawk". Improvements include: improved airframe structure and a significant increase in service life; the engine is planned to use F110-GE-129 or F100-PW-229; the replacement of a digital fly-by-wire flight control system to relax the stability of maneuverability; the enhancement of electronic countermeasure capabilities and the integration of more complete electronic countermeasure equipment; the use of advanced digital and intelligent cockpits; a significant increase in the external capacity, which will reach 13 tons and can use a new composite pylon. It can carry up to 24 AIM-120 medium-range air-to-air missiles and four AIM-9 short-range missiles. The U.S. Air Force plans to procure 80 aircraft.
The frontal viewing angle of the F-15EX is basically the same as that of the F-15E, and the protrusions on both sides of the cockpit are a distinct distinction
Test flight of the F-15EX prototype
Status of service
The F-15 series fighters serve in the U.S. Air Force, The Air National Guard, and the air forces of Six countries, including Israel, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, and Qatar.
The Air Force has up to 890 F-15 fighter jets, and about 250 F-15C/D and 213 F-15Es are currently in service.
Equipment in other countries: 43 F-15A/B/C/D and 25 F-15Is of the Israeli Air Force, 165 F-15Js and 48 F-15/DJ of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, 70 F-15C/D and 70 F-15S of the Saudi Air Force, and 84 F-15SAs newly ordered, 40 F-15SGs of the Singapore Air Force and 60 F-15Ks of the South Korean Air Force.
Practical applications
F-15 fighters have fought countless battles for decades, and with their powerful combat strength, they have become the hegemon of the balance of the sky, and the record record record of service so far is to shoot down 104 enemy aircraft.
On June 27, 1979, the Israeli Air Force was intercepted by six MiG-21s of the Syrian Air Force during the bombing of the PLO in Lebanon, and six F-15A fighters escorting the fleet engaged syrian fighters in an air battle. During the battle, an F-15A used An Israeli-made "Monster Snake" 3-air-to-air missile to shoot down a Syrian MiG-21 fighter jet. This was the F-15's first air combat achievement since it entered service. Subsequently, two other F-15s used AIM-7, AIM-9 air-to-air missiles and cannons to shoot down two MiG-21 fighters.
From 8 to 11 June 1982, Israel and Syria fought one of the largest air battles in the history of the Middle East in the Bekaa Valley. Under the command of the E-2C early warning aircraft, the F-15, F-16 and other fighters of the Israeli Air Force have engaged the MiG-23 and MiG-21 fighters of the Syrian Air Force on many occasions. According to Israeli records, in three days of air combat, the F-15 shot down a total of 31 Syrian MiG series fighter jets without losing a single loss.
In the 1991 Gulf War, the F-15E played a huge role as the main force in the ground attack. An F-15E dual-plane formation set a record for dropping 16 guided bombs in 30 minutes and destroying 16 Iraqi armored vehicles. On February 14, the F-15E even relied on the Blue Shield pod to drop gbu-10 laser-guided bombs to successfully destroy a Mi-24 helicopter gunship, achieving the F-15E's only air combat result.
The environment is changing, the times are also changing, and the once undefeated eagle also has a time to go to Maicheng.
On January 8, 2018, an F-15S of the Royal Saudi Air Force was shot down by a Houthi air-to-air missile in Yemeni airspace, and soon after, the Houthis issued another statement that they had shot down a F-15S fighter for the second time.
The Houthis used the INFRAred photovoltaic system of the U.S. FLIR to track the F-15 piloted by the Saudi pilot, and then a missile hit the F-15 that fired a tracer bomb and fled with force. The U.S. military is reluctant to look at the next picture, and there are Houthi militants celebrating next to the wreckage of warplanes scattered on the ground. This video proves exactly what the F-15 fighter jet was shot down. The myth of the undefeated F15 after 45 years of service was shattered by the guerrillas.
The Houthis fired two missiles at the time to attack the F15 fighters, the R-73 missile and the R-27T missile, the second R-27T missile shot down the F-15 fighter. Footage released at the time showed Saudi pilots firing tracer bullets quickly after spotting their opponents firing missiles and had the fighters scramble to try to escape. However, in the end, he did not escape and was shot down by the missile.
Basic Performance (F-15C)
Dimensional data
Wingspan: 13.05 m
Length: 19.43 m
Height: 5.63 m
Wing area: 56.5 m2
Wing swept angle: 45°
Wing spread ratio: 3.02
Lower wing angle: 1°
Weight data
Empty weight: 12973 kg
Normal takeoff weight: 20244 kg
Maximum takeoff weight: 30,845 kg
Maximum internal fuel: 6103 kg
Maximum bomb load: 7258 kg
Flight performance data
Maximum level flight speed: M2.5/2655 km/h (12192 m altitude)
Cruising speed: 915 km/ h
Practical ceiling: 19810 meters
Limit overload: +9g/-3g
Rate of climb: 254 m/s
Combat radius: 1240 km
Maximum range: 3930 km
Transfer range: 4630 km (without conformal fuel tank)
5,745 km (with conformal fuel tank)
Power plant
Two F100-PW-100 turbofan engines from Pratt Whitney have a maximum thrust of 62.5 kN and an afterburner of 105.9 kN.
Most of the later versions were equipped with F100-PW-220 engines, with a maximum thrust of 65.3 kN and an afterburner thrust of 105.9 kN.
On-board equipment
AN/APG-63 pulse Doppler radar (partial batch refitted with AN/APG-70 radar), AN/AWG-20 fire control system, AN/ASN-109 inertial navigation system, AN/ASN-108 flight attitude and directional reference system, AN/ARN-118 "Tacon" navigation system, AN/ALQ -119 electronic jamming pod and tactical electronic warfare system (TEWS), etc.
weapons
Cannon:
1 M61A1 Vulcan 20 mm 6-barrel cannon with a reserve of 940 rounds.
missile:
It can carry 4 AIM-7F/M Sparrow medium-range air-to-air missiles, 4 AIM-120 medium-range air-to-air missiles, 4 AIM-9L/M Sidewinder short-range air-to-air missiles and 4 AGM-88 Hamm anti-radiation missiles.
Basic Performance (F-15E)
Dimensional data
Wingspan: 13.05 m
Length: 19.43 m
Height: 5.63 m
Wing area: 56.5 m2
Wing swept angle: 45°
Wing spread ratio: 3.02
Lower wing angle: 1°
Weight data
Empty weight: 14379 kg
Normal takeoff weight: No data
Maximum takeoff weight: 36,740 kg
Maximum internal fuel: 9818 kg
Maximum bomb load: 11,110 kg
Flight performance data
Maximum level flight speed: M2.5/2655 km/h (12192 m altitude)
Cruising speed: 915 km/ h
Practical ceiling: 18290 meters
Limit overload: +9g/-3g
Combat radius: 1270 km
Transit range: 5745 km
Power plant
2 sets of F100-PW-220 turbofan engines produced by Pratt Whitney, with a maximum thrust of 65.3 kN and an afterburner thrust of 105.9 kN;
After 1991, it was equipped with an F100-PW-229 turbofan engine with a maximum thrust of 79.2 kN and an afterburner thrust of 129 kN.
On-board equipment
AN/APG-70 fire control radar, infrared laser tracking, "Blue Shield" pod, circular laser gyro inertial navigation system and three-degree line control system.
weapons
Cannon:
1 M61A1 Vulcan 20 mm 6-tube cannon with 512 rounds of ammunition.
Missiles and Bombs:
It can carry 4 AIM-7F/M Sparrow air-to-air missiles, 8 AIM-120 medium-range air-to-air missiles, 4 AIM-9L/M Sidewinder short-range air-to-air missiles and 4 AGM-65 missiles. In addition, it can also carry CBU-52, CBU-59, CBU-71, CBU-87, CBU-89, MK-20, MK-82, MK-84 and other bombs.
F-15 fighter jet flying in tandem with the B-2 stealth bomber
An F-15E fighter-bomber on a mission over Afghanistan, photo taken in 2007
The captain of the flight is an amateur aviation enthusiast who likes to collect and organize all kinds of weapons and equipment. Some of the materials, data and photos come from public information on domestic and foreign websites, and some pictures come from the Internet. This article can be used as a reference cabinet and favorite for military enthusiasts, especially aviation enthusiasts, and welcomes military fans to discuss and exchange in the comment area.