With the recent retirement of the FB-111, the F-15E has become the USAF's premier deep strike/interdiction aircraft. While the USAF's new F-22 will be able to carry A/G ordinance internally and externally, the F-15E will still continue to serve as the principle A/G weapons delivery platform until a new design is approved. Due to the recent budget crisis that the US military have been experiencing, this could be some time to come.

The original F-15 design has come a long way from its role as an interceptor. While externally it may look similar to a mere two-seat Eagle, The F-15E is very much its own aircraft. Born out of a desire to replace the F-111, the US Air Force looked to a private venture created by McDonnell Douglas to create a strike version of their F-15 Eagle air superiority fighter.

The idea was to create a fighter-bomber which could conduct its strike mission with a minimum of support and without the need for accompaniment by escort fighters. While the original prototype, dubbed the "Strike Eagle" was a modified F-15B, today's F-15E is a different aircraft both inside and out.

While essentially retaining the same dimensions of a two-seat Eagle, The F-15E's structure has been redesigned and strengthened, increasing its takeoff weight from 68,000 to 81,000 pounds. Giving the F-15E a beefier appearance are two Conformal Fuel Tanks (CFTs) which attach to either side of the fuselage, serving a dual role. Each CFT is capable of carrying 723 US gallons of fuel with less drag than would be present using standard external tanks.

Each CFT also features six stub-pylons for the mounting of ordinance. The stubs are placed tangentially, causing less drag than would be present with the use of the standard Multiple Ejection Racks mounted to the wing stations. This new placement arranges the bombs in two rows along the sides of the aircraft. This reduction in drag translates into slightly higher speeds and increased range. The F-15E still retains the ability to mount standard MERs on the wing and centerline pylons in order to carry additional ordnance.

Ensuring accurate delivery of this ordinance is the APG-70 radar and the Lockheed-Martin LANTIRN (Low-Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infra-Red for Night) system. The APG-70 is based on an improved F-15C's APG-63 pulse-doppler radar. The most notable feature of the APG-70 is its ability to produce photo-realistic patch maps of a given area down to the 8.5 foot (2.6 m) resolution at 10 nautical miles from the target. Resolution diminishes to a maximum of 127 feet (38.7 m) at 160 nautical miles.

The LANTIRN system is made up of two separate pods, one mounted under each air-intake of the F-15E. One pod is primarily for low-level navigation in poor weather conditions while the other pod performs targeting roles. The AAQ-13 navigation pod under the right intake features a Texas Instruments terrain following radar.

This radar has been coupled with the flight controls and throttle to provide a hands-off terrain-following course while maintaining a constant altitude down to a minimum of 200 feet. Mounted above the TFR pod is the Forward Looking Infra-Red (FLIR). Through a small window at the front of the unit, the FLIR provides the pilot with a 1:1 IR image of the world which is superimposed on the aircraft's Heads Up Display, allowing the pilot see at night.

Beneath the left intake, the AAQ-14 targeting pod is made up of a sepparate attack FLIR and laser designator/range-finder housed inside a small aerodynamic turret at the front of the cylindrical pod. This FLIR offers several levels of magnification to allow for identification of targets from considerable distance. The laser designator/range-finder is correlated with the attack FLIR and can provide accurate ranges to designated objects. In addition, it is capable of sending specially-coded bursts of laser for the guidance of laser-guided bombs.

Controlling this avionics package is a crew of two who occupy a cockpit optimised for the strike role and designed to ensure an efficient division of labour. The pilot is seated in the front while the Weapons System Operator (WSO) is seated directly behind the pilot. Both cockpits feature flight controls though the WSO is typically not a qualified pilot. The pilot's station features a Kaiser ID2349/A wide-angled HUD below which is mounted the Up-Front Controller which is used to select radio channels and to enter in navigational data.

Mounted on either side of the UFC are a pair of 6"x6" Kaiser monochromatic Multi-Function Displays. Below the UFC is mounted a 5"x5" Sperry colour Multi-Function Display. Each of these three MFDs can display a wide variety of data as well as radar and FLIR images. Superimposed on these displays are menu options that can be selected via buttons mounted to the bezel of each MFD, or through the HOTAS controls mounted on the stick and throttle.

The WSO station features a row of four MFDs with two Sperrys at the ends of the row, and two Kaisers occupying the two inner positions. In addition to the normal flight controls, the WSO has a separate hand-controller on each side of the seat in order to more efficiently control the sensors and the displays.

To survive in the skies above the modern battlefield, the F-15E is outfitted with an electronic warning/defence package designed to detect threats, classify them, and provide adequate protection against those threats. The heart of this defensive system is known as the Tactical Early Warning System (TEWS). The TEWS alerts the pilot to threats to the aircraft and administers countermeasures against those threats. Electronic countermeasures are delivered via the ALQ-135C radar jammer through antennas located at the tip of the right vertical stabiliser and in fairings at the end of each tail-boom. Countermeasures can also be delivered by way of the Tracor ALE-45 chaff/flare dispensers.

The F-15E was the unsung hero of Desert Storm. The aircraft logged approximately 7,700 combat hours in the air during the conflict, with each of the two squadrons present in the theatre flying some 1,200 missions. F-15Es were among the first aircraft to lead the strike against Iraq during the opening night of the war, and appeared over the skies of Baghdad. From that initial attack, they struck at strategic targets such as communication facilities, key bridges, and command & control facilities deep in the heart of Iraq.

F-15Es were key players at night in the hunt for SCUD missiles in the desert near the Jordanian border. Due to the F-15E's precision-strike capability, it could carry the fight to the enemy day and night. In addition to these types of sorties, F-15Es also participated in tactical strikes against tanks in the Kuwaiti Theatre of Operations. Armed with laser-guided GBU-10s, F-15Es routinely assisted A-10s in missions dubbed "tank-plinking." The F-15E represents the best platform upon which to base both simulated A/G and A/A sorties. In addition, it offers a wide-range of multi-player options. While simulation pilots could be working co-operatively in the A/G role, the design of the F-15E also allows for another kind of co-operative game-play with one individual fulfilling the piloting role and the other performing the navigating and targeting tasks.

In addition, the A/A fight could be simulated without creating an entirely new simulation package. The designer could either allow for the F-15E to fly with a payload of missiles; or with some changes in flight model, weights, and cockpit art the designer could model the F-15C. This would allow for an entirely different fight to be simulated without having to start from scratch. The F-15C option could be included in the initial package or as an addition to the original title for later marketing.

Jane's Combat Simulations is creating a simulation based on the F-15. Since the late 1800's, the name Jane's has stood as the most complete record of the world's military technology. Beginning with "Jane's Fighting Ships" they eventually added "Jane's All The World's Aircraft" as well as other almanacs of defence systems to their list of publications. Together, all of these publications fall under a single umbrella known as "Jane's Information Group." World-wide, Jane's is regarded as the most respected source for information pertaining to defensive systems and geopolitical developments.

1995 saw a triple alliance form between software companies Origin and Electronic Arts (who later absorbed Origin), and Jane's Information Group. Any simulation developer who was able to form an association with Jane's would almost automatically ensure themselves the reputation of unparalleled realism due to Jane's attention to detail and vast database on the subject of defence systems. With the alliance between organisations, "Jane's Combat Simulations" was formed.

Former Microprose simulation designer Andy Hollis (F-15 Strike Eagle series, Gunship, F-19 Stealth Fighter) came aboard and formed the "Skunkworks" division of Jane's Combat Simulations. The mandate of Skunkworks is the creation of highly detailed, highly authentic simulations of weapon systems.

To date, Jane's Skunkworks division has produced Jane's AH-64D Longbow, a simulation of the latest version of the US Army's Apache attack helicopter. The second version of this title features increased realism and effects with the same detailed avionics, and ability to also fly the Kiowa Warrior or Blackhawk transport. It has become a best-seller and is widely regarded as the most authentic helicopter simulation on the market.

Sales for Hollis' Strike Eagle III were very healthy, and even today it is still highly regarded by simulation enthusiasts. Based on the experience and notoriety gained from the creation of Jane's Longbow, a Skunkworks release of the USAF's premier strike aircraft will certainly be met with success. With the abundance of attention that has been lavished on the F-16 and F-22 fighters by simulation publishers of late, its about time that someone revisited the F15!

Recently the F15I made its first flight. Here is the news release from Boeing:

ST. LOUIS, September 12, 1997

The first F-15I fighter aircraft for the Israel Air Force successfully completed its first flight today.

The aircraft took off at 9:42 a.m. CDT from Lambert International Airport in St. Louis with Boeing test pilot Joe Felock and weapons system operator Major Rick Junkin of the U.S. Air Force at the controls. Normal flight assessments were conducted, as well as a comprehensive check of the aircraft's new flight control software. Flight time was one hour and thirteen minutes.

The pilot reported that the flight was smooth and that the aircraft performed flawlessly. "This plane carries on the F-15's tradition of excellence," Felock said. "During the course of the flight we achieved an altitude of 40,000 feet, reached Mach 2, and pulled some 9 G turns. It was a great flight," he said.

The two seat F-15I, known as the Thunder in Israel, incorporates new and unique weapons, avionics, electronic warfare, and communications capabilities that make it one of the most advanced F-15s ever. Israel selected the F-15I in January, 1994 after evaluating a variety of aircraft to meet its defense needs. The F-15I, like the U.S. Air Force's F-15E Strike Eagle, is a dual-role fighter that combines long-range interdiction with the Eagle's awe-inspiring air superiority capabilities.

"The F-15I program is an outstanding example of professionalism and teamwork in action," said Mike Sears, president of McDonnell Aircraft and Missiles Systems, the Boeing unit that builds the F-15. "This aircraft flew right on schedule, which is no surprise. Our working relationships with the Israel Air Force and with our suppliers in Israel are in synch, focused, and highly productive," he said.

The government of Israel has ordered 25 F-15I Thunders. The F-15I is powered by two Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-229 low bypass turbofan engines, each capable of developing approximately 29,000 pounds of thrust (20% more than the earlier engines). Its avionics include the Hughes APG-70 synthetic aperture radar, the Kaiser holographic head-up display system, and an Elbit display and sight helmet (DASH) system. The aircraft is armed with a number of precision weapons systems, including Sparrow and Sidewinder missiles.