Date: 2024-10-07 Page is: DBtxt003.php txt00025942
MILITARY
AIRCRAFT: F15 FALCON
Quora: Why is the F15 Eagle still in service, if it is as outdated as some suggest?
AIRCRAFT: F15 FALCON
Quora: Why is the F15 Eagle still in service, if it is as outdated as some suggest?
Original article:
Peter Burgess COMMENTARY
Peter Burgess
Written by Erika Fernandez ... Knows about Fighter Aircraft
The F-15 Eagle was designed by McDonnell Douglas (now part of Boeing) in the late 1960s to meet the U.S. Air Force’s need for a dedicated air superiority fighter. It first flew in 1972 and entered service in 1976. It has a top speed of Mach 2.5, which is 2.5 times faster than the speed of sound and faster than its successor, the F-22 Raptor.
The F-15 Eagle is still in service because it has several advantages that make it a valuable asset for the U.S. Air Force and its allies. The F-15 was originally designed to have a service life of 4,000 hours, but testing showed that it could sustain 16,000 hours of flight. The latest version of the F-15, the F-15EX, is expected to have a service life of 20,000 hours, which means it could serve for 35 years or more. That would make it the longest continuously serving fighter of all time, with a lifespan of 82 years.
Also the F-15 is cheaper to buy and operate than newer stealth fighters like the F-22 and the F-35. The F-15EX costs about $87.7 million per unit, while the F-22 costs about $150 million and the F-35 costs about $95 million. The F-15 also costs less to fly per hour than the stealth fighters, which require more maintenance and support.
The F-15 can carry more weapons than any dedicated stealth fighter, thanks to its large wing area and external hardpoints. It can carry up to eight air-to-air missiles and a 20mm cannon for air-to-air combat, or up to seven 2,000-lb bombs and eight air-to-air missiles for air-to-ground missions. It can also act as a missile carrier for stealth fighters, launching missiles on cue from its stealthier cousins.
Another advantage is its advanced avionics. The F-15 has a sophisticated electronic system that integrates a head-up display, a pulse-Doppler radar, an inertial navigation system, a tactical navigation system, an electronic warfare system, and a central digital computer. These systems enable the pilot to detect, track, and attack enemy aircraft in any weather condition, day or night, while operating in friendly or enemy-controlled airspace.
These are some of the main reasons why the F-15 Eagle is still in service, despite being considered outdated by some. It is a versatile, reliable, and powerful fighter that can perform multiple roles and missions. It is not meant to replace the stealth fighters, but to complement them and provide additional capabilities.