Summary and Key Points: Steve Balestrieri, a national security columnist and former US Army Special Forces officer, evaluates the F-15E Strike Eagle’s performance in Operation Epic Fury following a confirmed friendly fire incident in Kuwait.
-Utilizing Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-229 engines, the F-15E achieves speeds exceeding Mach 2.5, maintaining a superior thrust-to-weight ratio for vertical acceleration.
A U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle flies over the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Jan. 7, 2025. The F-15E’s superior maneuverability and acceleration are achieved through its high engine thrust-to-weight ratio and low-wing loading. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. William Rio Rosado)
F-15E Strike Eagles taxi into formation June 12, 2019, at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho. This was a rare opportunity to capture the Gunfighter family, including the 391st, 389th and 428th Fighter Squadrons, before a morning flight. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sergeant Jeremy L. Mosier)
-This 19FortyFive report analyzes the transition to the F-15EX Eagle II, exploring its 29,500-lb payload capacity, EPAWSS electronic warfare suites, and the potential integration of Next Generation Jammer Pods to replace legacy electronic attack platforms.
Mach 2.5 and 23,000 lbs of Ordnance: Why the F-15E Strike Eagle Still Rules the Skies (Despite Iran War Tragedy)
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that on Sunday, March 1, three U.S. F-15E Strike Eagles flying in support of Operation Epic Fury were shot down over Kuwait due to an apparent friendly fire incident.
CENTCOM added that all six crew members ejected safely, were recovered, and are in stable condition.
“Kuwait has acknowledged this incident, and we are grateful for the efforts of the Kuwaiti defense forces and their support in this ongoing operation,” CENTCOM added.
CENTCOM said Sunday that three American service members have been killed and five others were seriously wounded. Reports have not yet confirmed that the casualties were among American personnel based in Kuwait.
The F-15E Strike Eagle Is Still The Fastest US Fighter
An F-15E Strike Eagle assigned to the 492nd Fighter Squadron flies over Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, May 10. The 492nd trains regularly to ensure RAF Lakenheath brings unique air combat capabilities to the fight. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Tech. Sgt. Matthew Plew)
An F-15E Strike Eagle assigned to the 492nd Fighter Squadron flies over Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, May 10. The 492nd trains regularly to ensure RAF Lakenheath brings unique air combat capabilities to the fight. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Tech. Sgt. Matthew Plew)
Fighter jets are designed to fly at high supersonic speeds, avoid radar detection, and carry advanced weapons. Modern jets use stealth technology, smart sensors, and even artificial intelligence. These features enable pilots to identify enemies and quickly strike first.
The United States leads the world in fighter jet technology. Its F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II are the most technologically advanced fighters today.
However, speed is also important. And the fastest fighter aircraft in the US inventory remains the F-15E Strike Eagle.
Meet The F-15E Strike Eagle
The F-15E Strike Eagle is a two-seat dual-role fighter designed to perform air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. An array of avionics and electronics systems gives the F-15E the capability to fight at low altitude, day or night, and in all weather.
The aircraft is crewed by two personnel: a pilot and a weapons systems officer. Previous F-15 models were assigned air-to-air roles; the “E” model is a dual-role fighter. It can fight its way to a target over long ranges, destroy enemy ground positions, and fight its way out.
The F-15E’s Power Plant
The F-15E is powered by two Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-220 or F100-PW-229 engines, which incorporate advanced digital technology to improve performance. F-15E pilots can accelerate from idle power to maximum afterburner in less than four seconds, a 40 percent improvement over the previous engine control system.
Faster engine acceleration means quicker takeoffs and crisper response while maneuvering. The F100-PW-220 engines can produce 50,000 pounds of thrust (25,000 each), and the F100-PW-229 engines 58,000 pounds of thrust (29,000 each). The maximum speed is Mach 2.5+ or more than 1,875 mph.
In comparison, the F-35 Lightning II has a top speed of Mach 1.6, and the F-22 Raptor, while also incredibly fast, is slightly slower than the Strike Eagle at Mach 2.2.
The F-15E Strike Eagle’s thrust-to-weight ratio varies depending on its specific configuration and loadout, but it’s approximately 1.17:1 to 1.30:1 under various conditions. When configured in an air-to-air loadout, it’s about 1.28:1; with an afterburner and full load, it can reach 1.30:1. This high ratio allows the aircraft to accelerate vertically and offers superior maneuverability.
The engineering and design of the F-15E make it highly competitive with the F-22 and F-35 in air superiority and ground-attack missions, where high-altitude and high-speed performance are crucial to success.
The F-15E’s Armament
The F-15 Eagle is a formidable air-superiority fighter capable of carrying a 20mm M61A1 Vulcan Gatling gun (940 rounds), four wing pylons, fuselage pylons, and bomb racks on CFTs, with a capacity of 23,000 lb (10,400 kg) of external fuel and ordnance.
Its primary armament includes AIM-120 AMRAAM and AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles, with the Strike Eagle adding advanced air-to-ground precision-guided munitions.
The F-15’s Outstanding Combat Record
The F-15 has a remarkable air-to-air combat record of over 104 victories with zero losses. This dominance stems from its superior performance, powerful engines, advanced avionics, and air-to-air missiles.
During Operation Desert Storm, the F-15 tallied 36 of the US’s 41 air-to-air victories, including kills against MiG-29s, MiG-25s, and Mirage F1s. The United States also utilized its F-15 fleet, to significant effect, in conflicts throughout the Middle East in the 2000s and 2010s.
While no F-15s have been shot down in air-to-air combat, some have been lost to ground fire or accidents, but the overall record remains unmatched. And the Air Force has plans on keeping the F-15 relevant for years to come, as it is developing the F-15EX Eagle II.
F-15 EX Eagle II Is Coming Soon
The F-15EX Eagle II is special for its ability to carry a massive payload, including up to 22 air-to-air missiles, enabling both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. The F-15EX will obviously retain the key strengths of the F-15E, its speed and outstanding maneuverability.
Key upgrades include a fly-by-wire system, a modernized cockpit with touchscreen displays, and advanced electronic warfare capabilities. This modernized version is designed as a cost-effective complement to stealth aircraft like the F-35, providing a reliable and versatile platform for future needs.
The F-15EX Eagle II has a maximum speed of Mach 2.5 (approximately 1,900 mph or 3,058 km/h) at high altitude, although earlier reports had the top speed of the Eagle II as Mach 2.9.
Alex Hollings of Air Power has listed a couple of intriguing scenarios in which the F-15EX could thrive in a modern battlespace against potential Chinese air defenses.
While the F-15EX is a non-stealth aircraft, Hollings believes it could replace the E/A-18 Growler, as the Navy is ceasing Growler production in 2027.
“The U.S. Navy’s EA-18G Growler has nine total hardpoints for weapons, fuel tanks, and jamming equipment with the ability to fly with as much as 17,750 pounds of weapons and gear slung beneath it,” Hollings wrote.
The F-15EX isn’t stealth, but it brings speed and massive payload—built for homeland defense, standoff strikes, and teaming with F-35s and drones.
F-15EX Eagle II. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
“The Eagle II has 12 hardpoints that it could potentially be used for these sorts of systems (though it can be expanded to a whopping 23 for other weapons) and is capable of taking to the sky with a mind-boggling 29,500 pounds of ordnance and gear onboard,” he added.
Boeing said in June of last year that it was considering integrating the Growler’s new Next Generation Jammer Pods into the Eagle II to convert the fighter into an electronic attack platform capable of not just penetrating contested airspace but increasing the survivability of other 4th and 5th-generation aircraft along the way.
About the Author: Steve Balestrieri
Steve Balestrieri is a National Security Columnist. He served as a US Army Special Forces NCO and Warrant Officer. In addition to writing on defense, he covers the NFL for PatsFans.com and is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA). His work was regularly featured in many military publications.
