The McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) F-15E Strike Eagle is an all-weather multirole fighter, derived from the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle. The F-15E was designed in the 1980s for long-range, high speed interdiction without relying on escort or electronic warfare aircraft. United States Air Force (USAF) F-15E Strike Eagles can be distinguished from other U.S. Eagle variants by darker camouflage and conformal fuel tanks mounted along the engine intakes.

The Strike Eagle has been deployed in Operation Desert Storm, Operation Allied Force, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Odyssey Dawn carrying out deep strikes against high-value targets, combat air patrols, and providing close air support for coalition troops. It has also seen action in later conflicts and has been exported to several countries.

The F-15E will be upgraded with the Raytheon APG-82 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar after 2007, and the first test radar was delivered to Boeing in 2010. It combines the processor of the APG-79 used on the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet with the antenna of the APG-63(V)3 AESA being fitted on the F-15C. The new radar upgrade is to be part of the F-15E Radar Modernization Program. The new radar was named APG-63(V)4 until it received the APG-82 designation in 2009. The RMP also includes a wideband radome (to allow the AESA to operate on more radar frequencies), and improvements to the environment control and electronic warfare systems.

While some of the F-15C/Ds have been replaced by the F-22 Raptor, there is no slated replacement for the F-15E in its primary "deep strike" mission profile. The Strike Eagle is a more recent variant of the F-15, and has a sturdier airframe rated for twice the lifetime of earlier variants. The F-15Es are expected to remain in service past 2025. The USAF has pursued the Next-Generation Bomber, a medium bomber concept which could take over the Strike Eagle's "deep strike" profile. The F-35A Lightning II is projected to eventually replace many other attack aircraft such as the F-16 Fighting Falcon and A-10 Thunderbolt II, and may also take over much of the F-15E's role; however, the F-15E has better combat range under payload.

Pictured here is a stunning 1:72 scale diecast replica of a USAF Boeing F-15D Eagle Multi-Role Fighter that was attached to the 390th Fighter Squadron, 366th Fighter Wing, then deployed to Mountain Home AFB, during 2003. Sold Out!

Dimensions:
Wingspan: 7-inches
Length: 10-1/2-inches

Release Date: March 2015

Historical Account: "Wild Boars" - For almost ten years, 390th Electronic Combat Squadron activities centered on maintaining readiness to respond to combat tasking and training aircrews in the EF-111A tactical jamming aircraft. In the last few years of its mission as an EF-111A squadron, the 390 ECS participated in combat twice. First, aircraft of the 390 ECS participated in Operation Just Cause, the December 1989 invasion of Panama to restore democracy and oust dictator Manuel Noriega. Then, in August 1990, the squadron deployed aircraft and personnel to Saudi Arabia in Operation Desert Shield. When the war with Iraq began, the 390 ECS flew electronic countermeasures sorties to support coalition air strikes in Desert Storm. Following the six week war, the deployed aircraft returned to Mountain Home and continued the squadron's peacetime mission. The squadron's participation in Operation Desert Storm earned it an Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V", as part of the 48th Tactical Fighter Wing (Provisional).

With the inactivation of the 389th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron in June 1991, the 390 ECS remained the only flying squadron of the 366 TFW. Ongoing commitments in the Middle East brought additional deployments in 1992. In January of that year, the 390 ECS sent a small force of EF-111A aircraft to Dhahran, Saudi Arabia to relieve the England-based 42d Electronic Combat Squadron as the EF-111A contingent of USAF forces in Saudi Arabia. Later, another small detachment from the 390 ECS deployed to Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, again relieving the 42 ECS at that ongoing operation. The squadron periodically rotated aircraft and personnel to both of these locations, maintaining continuous presence's both at Incirlik and Dhahran.

The new composite wing structure for the 366th Wing brought major changes to the 390th in late 1992. The squadron transferred its EF-111A forces to the 429th Electronic Combat Squadron on 11 September 1992. In effect, all the personnel, equipment and aircraft of the 390 ECS began operating as the 429 ECS on this date, moving all of the assets and functions of one squadron to another. This was not, however, a redesignation of the 390 ECS as the 429 ECS. Instead, on the same date, the squadron became redesignated as the 390th Fighter Squadron. With this new designation came entirely new personnel and equipment, with the 390th Fighter Squadron equipped with the F-15C Eagle. This change came about due to the planned relocation of EF-111A forces to Cannon AFB, New Mexico and the ongoing reorganization of the 366th Wing as the Air Force's first composite air intervention wing.