In Operation Epic Rage, the US Air Force relies primarily on one jet: the F-15E Strike Eagle. They grab hold of her USA Iranian missile depots and drone bases from the air. Loud “Business Insider“The Air Force uses the multi-role fighter aircraft to destroy Iran’s missile arsenal and drone bases from the air. Thanks to its role as a fighter-bomber, the aircraft can both engage air targets and drop bombs.

This is how the F-15E was born

The F-15E goes back to a program from the 1980s. The US Air Force wanted an aircraft that could penetrate deep into enemy territory and operate alone. As the specialist magazine “19FortyFive” reports that the manufacturer McDonnell Douglas strengthened the F-15 and converted it into a two-seat attack machine. The F-15E flew for the first time in 1986 and was used from 1988.

Speed, range and engines

The F-15E is extremely fast, reaching a top speed of 3,000 kilometers per hour. This corresponds to about 2.5 times the speed of sound. Two Pratt & Whitney F100 engines each deliver more than 100 kilonewtons. The Strike Eagle can fly around 3,800 kilometers without refueling and is resupplied in the air by KC-135 tankers. So it will remain in use over Iran for a long time.

Double cockpit and clever displays

What is striking in comparison to the original F-15 is the double crew. The pilot sits in the front and the weapons systems officer sits in the back. He takes care of radar, sensors and weapons. This division is particularly helpful for night missions. In the cockpit, the crew uses a head-up display, according to “Business Insider”.

It projects “flight and tactical information directly onto the windshield.” This allows the pilots to track targets and use weapons “without taking their eyes off the screen.”

Sensors and weapon mix

The centerpiece is the AN/APG-70 radar. According to 19FortyFive, it detects distant targets, maps terrain and allows low-altitude flight to evade enemy radars. Early jets used the Lantirn system for night and low-level flight, modern F-15E target containers such as “Sniper” which provide high-resolution images.

When it comes to armament, the F-15E relies on a mix: an internal 20-millimeter cannon with 500 rounds, AIM-9 Sidewinder and AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles, and numerous bombs. Important are JDAM kits that transform simple bombs into GPS-guided precision weapons. This means the F-15E can hit Iranian command posts or drone bases and at the same time defend itself against enemy jets.

Tricky mistake by the allies

The F-15E shows its greatest weakness where it is dependent on others: in coordination, identification and airspace control. During Operation Epic Fury, Kuwait’s air defenses accidentally shoot down three F-15Es. According to the trade magazine “19FortyFive”, this is the worst “friendly fire” incident of this century. All six crew members save themselves with the ejector seat. Kuwait admitted the mistake.