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While some of the F-15C/Ds have been replaced by the F-22 Raptor, there is no slated replacement for the F-15E in its primary "deep strike" mission profile.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-15E Strike Eagle multi-role fighter known as "Hellcat" which was attached to the 494th Fighter Squadron "Panthers", 48th Fighter Wing, which was deployed to RAF Lakeenheath England, during 2024. Pre-order! Ship Date: July 2025.

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

Release Date: ?

Historical Account: "Panthers" - The first six of a dozen F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft with the 494th Fighter Squadron "Mighty Black Panthers" of the 48th Fighter Wing, have returned to RAF Lakenheath, UK, from their deployment to the CENTCOM area of operations. The aircraft, flying as TABOR 71-76, and supported by Blue 21 (KC-135 #58-0103), Blue 22 (KC-135 #58-0094) and Blue 23 (KC-135 #62-3509), landed at their home base at around 13:00LT on May 8th, 2024.

The Strike Eagles had been deployed as part of the 494th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, to bolster the U.S. posture in the area amid the Gaza crisis in October 2023.

The aircraft were based at Muwaffaq Salti/Al-Azraq Air Base in Jordan, one of the usual deployment locations for US aircraft in the area.

Along with Israeli and other U.S. and allied aircraft, from there, the F-15Es contributed to the nightly air defense of Israel from April 13th to the 14th, 2024, when 170 one-way "kamikaze" drones, 120 Medium-Range Ballistic Missiles, and 30 Land-Attack Cruise Missiles were fired towards Israel during an unprecedented attack launched by Iran alongside Houthi terrorist group in Yemen as well as Iranian-backed proxies in Iraq.

During that night, the F-15E Strike Eagles from the 494th Fighter Squadron, and the 335th Fighter Squadron, from Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina (also deployed in the CENTCOM AOR), achieved a combined "kill score" of 70 Iranian drones.

President Biden praised the Strike Eagle aircrews "for their exceptional airmanship and skill in defending Israel from an unprecedented aerial attack by Iran. These brave service members make us all proud", he said.

Images of the F-15Es deployed to the CENTCOM area of operations usually showed the Strike Eagles carrying two AIM-120 AMRAAMs (Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles) and two AIM-9X Sidewinder AAMs (Air-to-Air Missiles) along with a Sniper ATP (Advanced Targeting Pod) and various JDAMs (Joint Direct Attack Munitions). However, as happened with the F/A-18E/F Super Hornets aboard USS Eisenhower in the Red Sea, the anti-drone mission may have seen the aircraft launching with a different/specific load out considering the need to counter a significant amount of incoming UAVs.

What's certain is that the 494th FS fired plenty of AIM-9X, as the photos, taken yesterday at RAF Lakenheath by our contributor Stewart Jack show. Indeed, many of the F-15Es, have been adorned with nose art (a tradition for deployed aircraft) along with red-colored Sidewinder (and other bomb) markings, suggesting each of the silhouettes of the AIM-9 missile represents at least one missile fired in combat.