Editing McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle (section)

==Operational history==

===Introduction and early service===
The largest operator of the F-15 is the [[United States Air Force]]. The first Eagle, an F-15B, was delivered on 13 November 1974.<ref name=scutts>Scutts 1989, p. 47.</ref> In January 1976, the first Eagle destined for a combat squadron, the [[555th Fighter Squadron|555th TFS]], was delivered.<ref name=scutts /> These initial aircraft carried the [[Hughes Aircraft]] (now [[Raytheon]]) APG-63 radar. The F-15 in early service was plagued by reliability and durability problems of its F100-PW-100 engines, whose ambitious specifications were critical for the aircraft's high performance. Furthermore, the issues were exacerbated by pilots making many more abrupt throttle changes than in previous fighters and engines due to the thrust available. The issues were addressed by the improved F100-PW-220 engines first delivered in 1986.<ref name="dtic.mil">{{cite web|url=http://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a282467.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140628172616/http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a282467.pdf|url-status=live|archive-date=28 June 2014|title=The Development of the F100-PW-220 and F110-GE-100 Engines: A Case Study of Risk Assessment and Risk Management|website=dtic.mil|publisher=RAND|date=21 July 1994|access-date=17 April 2018}}</ref>

[[File:Israeli Air Force jets Fly-over Auschwitz concentration camp.jpg|thumb|Israeli Air Force F-15 Eagle fighters [[Israeli Air Force flight over Auschwitz|overflying]] [[Auschwitz concentration camp|Auschwitz Concentration Camp]], 2003]]
The first kill by an F-15 was scored by Israeli Air Force (IAF) ace [[Moshe Melnik]] in 1979.<ref name=1st>{{cite web |url=https://www.boeing.com/news/frontiers/archive/2003/december/i_ids5.html |title=An Eagle evolves |publisher=Boeing |date=January 2004 |access-date=24 September 2010 |archive-date=24 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110524164238/http://www.boeing.com/news/frontiers/archive/2003/december/i_ids5.html |url-status=live}}</ref> During IAF raids against Palestinian factions in Lebanon in 1979–1981, F-15As reportedly downed 13 Syrian MiG-21s and two Syrian MiG-25s. Israeli F-15As and Bs participated as escorts in [[Operation Opera]], an air strike on an Iraqi [[nuclear reactor]]. In the [[1982 Lebanon War]], Israeli F-15s were credited with 41 Syrian aircraft destroyed (23 MiG-21s and 17 MiG-23s, and one [[Aérospatiale Gazelle|Aérospatiale SA.342L Gazelle]] helicopter). During [[Operation Mole Cricket 19]], Israeli F-15s and F-16s together shot down 82 Syrian fighters (MiG-21s, MiG-23s, and MiG-23Ms) without losses.<ref name="grant">{{Cite journal |volume= 85 |issue= June 2002 |last= Grant |first= Rebecca |title= The Bekaa Valley War |journal= Air Force Magazine Online |access-date= 22 September 2017 |url= http://www.airforce-magazine.com/MagazineArchive/Pages/2002/June%202002/0602bekaa.aspx |url-status=usurped |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120314212226/http://www.airforce-magazine.com/MagazineArchive/Pages/2002/June%202002/0602bekaa.aspx |archive-date= 14 March 2012}}</ref>

Israel was the only operator to use and develop the air-to-ground abilities of the air-superiority F-15 variants, doing so because the fighter's range was well beyond other combat aircraft in the Israeli inventory in the 1980s. The first known use of F-15s for a strike mission was during [[Operation Wooden Leg]] on 1 October 1985, with six F-15Ds attacking PLO Headquarters in Tunis with one [[GBU-15]] guided bomb per aircraft and two F-15Cs restriking the ruins with six Mk-82 unguided bombs each.<ref>[http://www.aerospaceweb.org/aircraft/fighter/f15/ "McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) F-15 Eagle air superiority fighter"] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509174729/http://www.aerospaceweb.org/aircraft/fighter/f15/ |date=9 May 2008}}. ''aerospaceweb.org''. Retrieved: 24 September 2010.</ref> This was one of the few times air-superiority F-15s (A/B/C/D models) were used in tactical strike missions.<ref>{{cite news |author=David Cenciotti |url=https://theaviationist.com/2012/11/27/fuel-tank-gaza/#.ULTbdeRlG3I |title=F-15 fuel tank washes ashore in the southern Gaza Strip: Hamas claims it is from downed Israeli plane |publisher=The Aviationist site |date=27 November 2012 |access-date=2 February 2014 |archive-date=28 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140128053621/http://theaviationist.com/2012/11/27/fuel-tank-gaza/#.ULTbdeRlG3I |url-status=live}}</ref> Israeli air-superiority F-15 variants have since been extensively upgraded to carry a wider range of air-to-ground armaments, including [[Joint Direct Attack Munition|JDAM GPS-guided bombs]] and [[Popeye (missile)|Popeye missile]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/the-amazing-saga-of-how-israel-turned-its-f-15s-into-mu-1701606283|title=The Amazing Saga Of How Israel Turned Its F-15s Into Multi-Role Bombers|first=Tyler|last=Rogoway|website=jalopnik.com|date=8 May 2015|access-date=26 June 2017|archive-date=6 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170706105707/http://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/the-amazing-saga-of-how-israel-turned-its-f-15s-into-mu-1701606283|url-status=live}}</ref>

The first American combat use of the F-15 was during [[United States invasion of Grenada|Operation Urgent Fury]]. F-15s of the [[33rd Fighter Wing|33rd Tactical Fighter Wing]] provided air cover alongside [[United States Navy|U.S. Navy]] [[Grumman F-14 Tomcat|F-14 Tomcats]] for [[United States Marine Corps|Marines]] and the [[82nd Airborne Division]] for contingency operations in Grenada.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.jcs.mil/portals/36/documents/history/monographs/urgent_fury.pdf |title=Operation Urgent Fury |last=Cole |first=Ronald H. |publisher=Joint History Office |location=Washington, D.C. |date=1997}}{{page needed|date=January 2025}}</ref>

[[Royal Saudi Air Force]] F-15C pilots reportedly shot down two [[Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force|Iranian Air Force]] [[McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II|F-4E Phantom IIs]] in a [[Action of June 5, 1984|skirmish]] on 5 June 1984.<ref>Smith, William E. [http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,951187,00.html "The Gulf: Pushing the Saudis too far"] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220522080745/http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,951187,00.html |date=22 May 2022}}. ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'', 18 June 1984. Retrieved: 26 January 2008.</ref><ref>Halloran, Richard. [https://www.nytimes.com/1984/06/06/world/2-iranian-fighters-reported-downed-by-saudi-air-force.html "2 Iranian fighters reported downed by Saudi Air Force"] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170903034950/http://www.nytimes.com/1984/06/06/world/2-iranian-fighters-reported-downed-by-saudi-air-force.html |date=3 September 2017}}. ''[[The New York Times]]'', 6 June 1984, p. 1. Retrieved: 26 January 2008.</ref>

====Anti-satellite trials====
[[File:ASAT missile launch.jpg|thumb|upright|[[ASM-135]] ASAT test launch from F-15A ''76-0084'' in 1985]]

The [[ASM-135 ASAT|ASM-135]] missile was designed to be a standoff [[anti-satellite weapon|antisatellite]] (ASAT) weapon, with the F-15 acting as a [[first stage (rocketry)|first stage]]. The Soviet Union could correlate a U.S. rocket launch with a spy satellite loss, but an F-15 carrying an ASAT would blend in among hundreds of F-15 flights. From January 1984 to September 1986, two F-15As were used as launch platforms for the ASAT missile. The F-15As were modified to carry one ASM-135 on the centerline station with extra equipment within a special centerline pylon.<ref name=Jenkins_p31>Jenkins 1998, p. 31.</ref><ref>[https://www.homestead.afrc.af.mil/News/story/id/123068364/ "Celestial Eagle: Historic F-15 antisatellite mission remembered"]. [https://www.homestead.afrc.af.mil/News/story/id/123068364/] ''US Air Force''. Retrieved: 24 September 2010.</ref> The launch aircraft executed a Mach 1.22, 3.8 g climb at 65° to release the ASAT missile at an altitude of {{convert|38100|ft|m|abbr=on|sigfig=3}}.<ref name=asat /><ref name=AF_mag_can>{{cite web |last=Grier |first=Peter |url=https://www.airforcemag.com/MagazineArchive/Pages/2009/February%202009/0209tomato.aspx |title=The flying tomato can |work=Air Force magazine |date=February 2009 |access-date=24 September 2010 |archive-date=24 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224234738/http://www.airforcemag.com/MagazineArchive/Pages/2009/February%202009/0209tomato.aspx |url-status=live}}</ref> The flight computer was updated to control the zoom-climb and missile release.

The third test flight involved a functional [[P78-1]] solar observatory satellite in a {{convert|345|mi|km|adj=on}} orbit, which was destroyed by [[kinetic energy]].<ref name=asat>Karambelas, Gregory and Sven Grahn, eds. [http://www.svengrahn.pp.se/histind/ASAT/F15ASAT.html "The F-15 ASAT story"] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080105173346/http://www.svengrahn.pp.se/histind/ASAT/F15ASAT.html |date=5 January 2008}}. ''svengrahn.pp.se''. Retrieved: 30 December 2010.</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Eberhart |first=J. |date=1985 |title=ASAT Target Was Working Research Satellite |url=http://www.jstor.org/stable/3970241 |journal=Science News |volume=128 |issue=13 |page=197 |doi=10.2307/3970241 |issn=0036-8423 |jstor=3970241}}</ref> The pilot, USAF Major [[Wilbert Pearson|Wilbert D. "Doug" Pearson]], became the only pilot to destroy a satellite.<ref name=AF_mag_can /> The ASAT program involved five test launches. The program was officially terminated in 1988.<ref name=Jenkins_p31 /><ref name=AF_mag_can />

===Gulf War and aftermath===
The USAF began deploying F-15C, D, and E model aircraft to the [[Persian Gulf]] region in August 1990 for Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. During the [[Gulf War]], the F-15 accounted for 36 of the 39 air-to-air victories by the U.S. Air Force against Iraqi forces. Iraq has confirmed the loss of 23 of its aircraft in air-to-air combat.<ref>"The First Night" by Cooper, Sadik (IAPR, Vol.26)</ref> The F-15C and D fighters were used in the air-superiority role, while F-15E Strike Eagles were used in air-to-ground attacks mainly at night, hunting [[Al Hussein (missile)|modified Scud missile]] launchers and artillery sites using the LANTIRN system.<ref name=Davies_31>Davies 2002, pp. 31–40.</ref> According to the USAF, its F-15Cs had 34 confirmed kills of Iraqi aircraft during the 1991 Gulf War, most of them by missile fire: five [[Mikoyan MiG-29]]s, two [[MiG-25]]s, eight [[MiG-23]]s, two [[MiG-21]]s, two [[Sukhoi Su-25]]s, four [[Sukhoi Su-22]]s, one [[Sukhoi Su-7]], six [[Dassault Mirage F1]]s, one [[Ilyushin Il-76]] cargo aircraft, one [[Pilatus PC-9]] trainer, and two [[Mil Mi-8]] helicopters. According to [[Naval History and Heritage Command|NHHC]], F-15s may have also shot down a friendly [[Grumman F-14 Tomcat|F-14 Tomcat]].<ref>"In my opinion, one of our F14s was most likely shot down by an F-15. Although the F-14 was officially listed as being downed by an Iraqi surface-to-air missile, there were no SAM batteries in that area"/H-058-1: Operation Desert Storm, Part 6 (January 1991). Samuel J. Cox, Director, Naval History and Heritage Command./H-Gram Journal № 058. January 15, 2021. P.26</ref> In addition, the F-15E achieved its first-ever air-to-air kill on 14 February 1991, destroying an Iraqi [[Mil Mi-24|Mi-24 "Hind"]] helicopter with a [[GBU-10 Paveway II|GBU-10]] laser-guided bomb.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schogol |first=Jeff |date=2022-07-07 |title=How an F-15 scored an air-to-air kill by dropping a bomb on an enemy helicopter |url=https://taskandpurpose.com/history/air-force-f-15-gulf-war-bomb-iraqi-helicopter/ |access-date=2023-07-11 |website=Task & Purpose |language=en-US}}</ref> Air superiority was achieved in the first three days of the conflict; many of the later kills were reportedly of Iraqi aircraft fleeing to Iran, rather than engaging American aircraft. Two F-15Es were lost to ground fire, and another was damaged on the ground by a Scud strike on [[King Abdulaziz Air Base]].<ref>[http://www.1stfighter.com/history/1991.html#prof "1st. Fighter Wing timeline."] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090819140043/http://www.1stfighter.com/history/1991.html#prof |date=19 August 2009}} ''istfighter.com'' Retrieved: 24 September 2010.</ref>

On 11 November 1990, a [[Royal Saudi Air Force]] (RSAF) pilot defected to [[Sudan]] with an F-15C fighter during Operation Desert Shield. Saudi Arabia paid US$40 million (~${{Format price|{{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=40000000|start_year=1990}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}) for return of the aircraft three months later.<ref>"Defection of Saudi F-15 Fighter Pilot Damaging to US War Effort", Defence and Foreign Affairs Weekly, 23 December 1990</ref> RSAF F-15s shot down two Iraqi [[Dassault Mirage F1|Mirage F1s]] during the Operation Desert storm.<ref>Peeters, Sander. {{cite web|url=http://www.acig.info/CMS/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=181&Itemid=47|title=Different Middle Eastern air-to-air victories since 1964|website=acig.info|access-date=7 April 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304085958/http://www.acig.info/CMS/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=181&Itemid=47|archive-date=4 March 2016}}</ref> One Saudi Arabian F-15C was lost to a crash during the Persian Gulf War in 1991.<ref>Cikhart, Jakub. [http://www.dstorm.eu/pages/en/other/losses.html "Damaged and lost allied planes and helos."] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140817132641/http://www.dstorm.eu/pages/en/other/losses.html |date=17 August 2014}} ''dstorm.eu''. Retrieved: 7 April 2015.</ref> The IQAF claimed this fighter was part of two USAF F-15Cs that [[Samurra Air Battle|engaged]] two Iraqi MiG-25PDs, and was hit by an R-40 missile before crashing.<ref>Cooper, Tom. "Operation Samarrah", October 2010.</ref>

[[File:DF-ST-92-07383-C.jpg|thumb|An RSAF F-15 approaches a KC-135 for refueling during [[Desert Shield|Operation Desert Shield]].]]
They have since been deployed to support [[Operation Southern Watch]], the patrolling of the [[Iraqi no-fly zones]] in Southern Iraq; [[Operation Provide Comfort]] in Turkey; in support of [[NATO]] operations in Bosnia, and recent air expeditionary force deployments. In 1994, two U.S. Army [[Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk]]s were mistakenly downed by USAF F-15Cs in northern Iraq in a [[1994 Black Hawk shootdown incident|friendly-fire incident]].<ref>Jenkins 1998, p.&nbsp;47.</ref> USAF F-15Cs shot down four Yugoslav [[MiG-29]]s using [[AIM-120]] and AIM-7 Radar guided missiles during NATO's 1999 intervention in Kosovo, [[Operation Allied Force]].<ref name=Maxwell>[https://web.archive.org/web/20060626110913/http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/avc/avc.asp U.S. Air Force Historical Research Agency]. </ref>

===Structural defects===
All F-15s were grounded by the USAF after a [[Missouri Air National Guard]] F-15C came apart in flight and crashed on 2 November 2007. The newer F-15E fleet was later cleared for continued operations. The USAF reported on 28 November 2007 that a critical location in the upper [[longeron]]s on the F-15C was the failure's suspected cause, causing the fuselage forward of the air intakes, including the cockpit and radome, to separate from the airframe.<ref name=image>[http://www.airforcemag.com/MagazineArchive/Documents/2008/February%202008/0208world.pdf "Air Force World, Animated image"] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203201232/http://www.airforcemag.com/MagazineArchive/Documents/2008/February%202008/0208world.pdf |date=3 February 2014}} (frames from an animated image by Boeing recreating the breakup.) ''Air Force Magazine,'' February 2008. Retrieved: 7 February 2008.</ref>

F-15A through D-model aircraft were grounded until the location received detailed inspections and repairs as needed.<ref>[https://www.acc.af.mil/News/story/id/123077340/ "F-15 A-D models ordered to stand down for additional inspections."]  ''US Air Force'', 28 November 2007. Retrieved: 1 September 2011.</ref> The grounding of F-15s received media attention as it began to place strains on the nation's air-defense efforts.<ref name=F-15_grounding_strains>Lindlaw, Scott (for Associated Press). [https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=4052845 "F-15 grounding strains U.S. air defenses."] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090607005127/http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=4052845 |date=7 June 2009}} ''[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]'' 26 December 2007.</ref> The grounding forced some states to rely on their neighboring states' fighters for air-defense protection, and Alaska to depend on [[Canadian Forces]]' fighter support.<ref name=F-15_grounding_strains />

On 8 January 2008, the USAF [[Air Combat Command]] (ACC) cleared a portion of its older F-15 fleet for return to flying status. It also recommended a limited return to flight for units worldwide using the affected models.<ref name=partial_return>[https://www.af.mil/News/story/id/123081524/ "Air Combat Command clears selected F-15s for flight."] ''Air Force'', 9 January 2008. Retrieved: 1 September 2011.</ref> The accident review board report, which was released on 10 January 2008, stated that analysis of the F-15C wreckage determined that the longeron did not meet drawing specifications, which led to fatigue cracks and finally a catastrophic failure of the remaining support structures and breakup of the aircraft in flight.<ref name=accident_report>[https://www.af.mil/News/story/id/123081718/ "F-15 Eagle accident report released."] ''US Air Force'', 10 January 2008. Retrieved: 26 January 2008.</ref> In a report released on 10 January 2008, nine other F-15s were identified to have similar problems in the longeron. As a result, General [[John D. W. Corley]] stated, "the long-term future of the F-15 is in question".<ref>[https://www.af.mil/News/story/id/123081759/ "Air Force leaders discuss F-15 accident, future."] ''U.S. Air Force'', 10 January 2008.</ref> On 15 February 2008, ACC cleared all its grounded F-15A/B/C/D fighters for flight pending inspections, engineering reviews, and any needed repairs. ACC also recommended release of other U.S. F-15A/B/C/Ds.<ref name=ACC_feb15_release>[https://www.acc.af.mil/News/story_print/id/123086680/ "ACC issues latest release from stand down for F-15s."]  ''US Air Force'', 15 February 2008.</ref>

===Later service===
[[File:144th FW F-15 Eagle.JPG|thumb|left|A USAF F-15C flying over Fresno, California, 2013]]

The F-15 had a combined air-to-air combat record of 104 kills to no losses {{as of|2008|2|lc=yes|alt=through 2008}}. The F-15's air superiority versions, the A/B/C/D models, have not suffered any losses to enemy action.<ref name=Davies_icover>Davies and Dildy 2007, inside cover.</ref><ref name=Reformers>Correll, John. {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20090530123243/http://www.airforce-magazine.com/MagazineArchive/Pages/2008/February%202008/0208reformers.aspx "The Reformers."]}} ''Air Force Magazine'', February 2008, Vol. 91 Number 2, p. 44.</ref> Over half of F-15 kills have been achieved by Israeli Air Force pilots.

On 16 September 2009, the last F-15A, an [[Oregon Air National Guard]] aircraft, was retired, marking the end of service for the F-15A and F-15B models in the United States.<ref>Hughel, Staff Sgt. John. [http://www.ng.mil/news/archives/2009/10/101309-Final.aspx "Final F-15A model retired from Oregon Guard."] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110924104706/http://www.ng.mil/news/archives/2009/10/101309-Final.aspx |date=24 September 2011}} ''ng.mil'', 13 October 2009. Retrieved: 26 August 2011.</ref> With the retirement of those early models, the F-15C and D models continued operational service to supplement the new [[Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor|F-22 Raptor]] in frontline US service. Because the DOD was primarily focused on asymmetric [[counterinsurgency]] warfare in the Middle East in the 2000s, the F-22 procurement was curtailed to just 187 operational aircraft and the USAF had to extend F-15C/D operations well beyond its planned retirement date in order to maintain adequate numbers of air superiority fighters; in 2007, the USAF planned to keep 179 F-15C/Ds along with 224 [[McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle|F-15Es]] in service beyond 2025.<ref name=fighter_force>Tirpak, John A. [https://www.airforcemag.com/article/0307force/ "Making the Best of the Fighter Force."] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220122113839/https://www.airforcemag.com/article/0307force/ |date=22 January 2022}} ''Air Force magazine'', March 2007.</ref> During the 2010s, USAF F-15C/Ds were regularly based overseas with the [[Pacific Air Forces]] at [[Kadena AB]] in Japan<ref>[http://www.kadena.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=9581 "18th Operations Group."] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303181331/http://www.kadena.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=9581 |date=3 March 2016}} ''[[Kadena Air Base]]'', 11 September 2007. Retrieved: 2 February 2014.</ref> and with the [[U.S. Air Forces in Europe]] at [[RAF Lakenheath]] in the United Kingdom.<ref>[http://www.lakenheath.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=4212 "48th Operations Group."] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303182909/http://www.lakenheath.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123067590 |date=3 March 2016}} ''[[RAF Lakenheath]] website'', 1 August 2013.</ref> Other regular USAF F-15s are operated by ACC as adversary/aggressor platforms at [[Nellis AFB]], Nevada, and by [[Air Force Materiel Command]] in test and evaluation roles at [[Edwards AFB]], California, and [[Eglin AFB]], Florida. All remaining combat-coded F-15C/Ds are operated by the [[Air National Guard]].

[[File:F-15C Florida (17149377921).jpg|thumb|A USAF F-15C of the 125th Fighter Wing]]
To keep the F-15C/D viable, the fleet saw a series of upgrades, with 179 aircraft receiving the AN/APG-63(V)3 AESA radar starting in 2010 along with eventual addition of IRST pods and cockpit enhancements.<ref name=Upgrade_radar /><ref name=F-15_upgrades_2006 /> However, problems with the aging fleet meant the F-15C faced cuts or retirement in the USAF's FY 2015 budget in response to sequestration.<ref>[https://archive.today/20130915210441/http://www.defensenews.com/article/20130915/DEFREG02/309150004 "USAF weighs scrapping KC-10, A-10 fleets."] ''Defensenews.com''. Retrieved: 15 September 2013.</ref><ref>[http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/sequester-may-force-usaf-to-retire-entire-fleets-of-aircraft-390668/ "Sequester may force USAF to retire entire fleets of aircraft."] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921042646/http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/sequester-may-force-usaf-to-retire-entire-fleets-of-aircraft-390668/ |date=21 September 2013}} ''Flightglobal.com''. Retrieved: 17 September 2013.</ref> By the mid-2010s, the aging F-15C/D fleet was no longer economically sustainable to the 2030s as hoped due to structural fatigue,{{refn|The F-15C/D airframes would have an average age of 37 years by 2021; 75% were beyond their certified service lives leading to groundings from structural issues, and life extensions were deemed too expensive.|group=N}} and the USAF chose to forgo the more comprehensive F-15 2040C upgrade proposed by Boeing; in April 2017, USAF officials announced plans to retire the F-15C/D in the mid-2020s and press other aircraft such as F-16s into roles occupied by the F-15 while exploring options to recapitalize its fighter fleet.<ref name="f-16 replaces F-15">{{cite news|last1=Insinna|first1=Valerie|title=US Air Force chief ambivalent on F-15 Eagle retirement|url=http://www.defensenews.com/articles/air-force-chief-undecided-about-f-15-eagle-retirement|work=Defense News|date=12 April 2017|access-date=23 April 2017|archive-date=13 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230313154846/https://www.defensenews.com/air/2017/04/12/us-air-force-chief-ambivalent-on-f-15-eagle-retirement/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In late 2018 and early 2019, following a series of DoD Cost Analysis and Program Evaluation (CAPE) Office studies on affordably recapitalizing the fighter fleet, the Pentagon in its FY 2020 budget requested new-build [[Boeing F-15EX Eagle II|F-15EX]]s — an advanced variant based on the export F-15QA then in production — to replace the F-15Cs and supplement the F-22s to maintain fighter fleet size, with planned total procurement of 144 aircraft.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://about.bgov.com/blog/pentagon-billion-new-boeing-fighters/ |title=Pentagon To Request $1.2 Billion for New Boeing F-15 Fighters |publisher=Bloomberg Government |date=21 December 2018 |access-date=24 December 2018 |archive-date=23 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181223074103/https://about.bgov.com/blog/pentagon-billion-new-boeing-fighters/ |url-status=live}}</ref> This allowed USAF to use the existing export production line to quickly and affordably bring fighters into operational service, as restarting the F-22 line was considered cost-prohibitive.<ref name="F15EX_selection">{{cite web |last=Clark |first=Colin |url=https://breakingdefense.com/2019/03/shanahan-ethics-agreement-out-how-the-f-15x-decision-was-made/ |title=Shanahan Ethics Agreement Out; How The F-15X Decision Was Made |work=Breaking Defense |date=22 March 2019}}</ref><ref>[https://www.airforcemag.com/f-15ex-named-the-eagle-ii/ F-15EX Named the Eagle II] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411031354/https://www.airforcemag.com/f-15ex-named-the-eagle-ii/ |date=11 April 2021}}. ''Air Force Magazine''. 7 April 2021.</ref> 

In 2022, it was announced the USAF plan to retire their fleet of F-15C/Ds by 2026, while the F-15Es would retire in the 2030s.<ref>{{cite web |first=John A. |last=Tirpak |url=https://www.airforcemag.com/air-force-would-reduce-fleet-by-250-old-aircraft-bring-on-82-plus-new-ones/ |title=Air Force Would Reduce Fleet by 250 Old Aircraft, Bring on 82-plus New Ones |website=Air Force Magazine |date=28 March 2022 |access-date=31 March 2022 |archive-date=31 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220331181843/https://www.airforcemag.com/air-force-would-reduce-fleet-by-250-old-aircraft-bring-on-82-plus-new-ones/ |url-status=live}}</ref> By April 2022, RAF Lakenheath had divested its entire fleet of F-15C/Ds, with its aircraft going on to serve in ANG squadrons.<ref>{{cite web |first=Bob |last=Archer |url=https://www.key.aero/article/493rd-fighter-squadron-and-its-f-15c-eagles-depart-europe |title=The 493rd Fighter Squadron and its F-15C Eagles depart Europe |website=key.aero |date=23 May 2022 |access-date=9 April 2025}}</ref> Kadena AB divested its Eagle fleet between December 2022 and January 2025,<ref>{{cite web |first=Stefano |last=D'Urso |url=https://theaviationist.com/2022/12/13/f-15cs-have-started-leaving-kadena-air-base/ |title=U.S. Air Force F-15Cs Have Started Leaving Kadena Air Base |website=The Aviationist |date=13 December 2022 |access-date=9 April 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Rin |last=Sakurai |url=https://theaviationist.com/2025/03/28/kadena-last-operational-f-15-eagle-flight/ |title=End of an Era: Kadena Conducts Last Operational F-15 Eagle Flight |website=The Aviationist |date=28 March 2025 |access-date=9 April 2025}}</ref> with the last USAF active duty F-15C flight being flown by ''81-0029'' on 24 January 2025.<ref>{{cite web |first=Unshin Lee |last=Harpley |url=https://www.airandspaceforces.com/air-force-last-active-duty-f-15c-kadena/ |title=Air Force’s Last Active-Duty F-15C Made Its Final Flight at Kadena |website=Air & Space Forces Magazine |date= |access-date=9 April 2025}}</ref>

===Yemen Civil War===
During the [[Yemeni Civil War (2015–present)]], [[Houthi movement|Houthis]] have used [[R-27 (air-to-air missile)|R-27T]] missiles modified to serve as surface-to-air missiles. A video released on 7 January 2018 also shows a modified R-27T hitting a Saudi F-15 on a [[forward-looking infrared]] camera. Houthi sources claim to have downed the F-15, although this has been disputed, as the missile apparently [[Proximity fuze|proximity detonated]], though the F-15 continued to fly in its trajectory seemingly unaffected.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://theaviationist.com/2018/01/09/yemens-shiite-houthis-claim-saudi-f-15-kill-with-sam-over-capital-city-of-sanaa/|title=Yemen's Houthis Claim Saudi F-15 Kill with SAM Over Capital City of Santis|first=Tom|last=Demerly|date=9 January 2018|website=theaviationist.com|access-date=2 February 2019|archive-date=15 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191115023450/https://theaviationist.com/2018/01/09/yemens-shiite-houthis-claim-saudi-f-15-kill-with-sam-over-capital-city-of-sanaa/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Archived copy">{{Cite web |url=http://www.janes.com/article/76921/yemen-rebels-release-f-15-shoot-down-footage |title=Yemen rebels release F-15 'shoot down' footage |work=Jane's 360 |last=Binnie |first=Jeremy |date=9 January 2018 |access-date=3 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180324102001/http://www.janes.com/article/76921/yemen-rebels-release-f-15-shoot-down-footage |archive-date=24 March 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Rebels later released footage showing an aircraft wreck, but serial numbers on the wreckage suggested the aircraft was a [[Panavia Tornado]], also operated by Saudi forces. On 8 January, the Saudi admitted the loss of an aircraft but due to technical reasons.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/01/saudi-warplane-crashes-yemen-pilots-escape-180107182349027.html |title=Saudi warplane crashes in Yemen; pilots escape |work=Aljazeera |date=7 January 2018 |access-date=29 September 2021 |url-status=live |archive-date=4 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190704134441/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/01/saudi-warplane-crashes-yemen-pilots-escape-180107182349027.html}}</ref>

On 21 March 2018, Houthi rebels released a video where they hit and possibly shot down a Saudi F-15 in [[Saada Governorate|Saada province]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofislamabad.com/22-Mar-2018/saudi-military-f-15-fighter-jet-shot-down-in-yemen-report|title=Saudi Military F - 15 fighter jet shot down in Yemen: Report|date=22 March 2018|website=Times of Islamabad|access-date=2 February 2019|archive-date=30 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190630135404/https://timesofislamabad.com/22-Mar-2018/saudi-military-f-15-fighter-jet-shot-down-in-yemen-report|url-status=live}}</ref> In the video a R-27T air-to-air missile adapted for surface-to-air use was launched and appeared to hit a jet. As in the video of the previous similar hit recorded on 8 January, the target, while clearly hit, did not appear to be downed. Saudi forces confirmed the hit, while saying the jet landed at a Saudi base.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/MbKS15/status/976524371576737795 |title=#RSAF Col. Turki Al Malki: At 15:48 (GMT+3) today, a coalition aircraft flying in the area of operations over Sa'dah, #Yemen, got hit by a SAM missile launched from Sa'dah Airport. The aircraft completed the assigned mission and returened to its air base safely. |first=محمد بن |last=خالد |date=21 March 2018 |website=twitter.com |access-date=2 February 2019 |archive-date=13 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180513005142/https://twitter.com/MbKS15/status/976524371576737795 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.janes.com/article/78774/saudi-arabia-says-f-15-survived-sam-hit-over-yemen/|title=Saudi Arabia says F-15 survived SAM hit over Yemen - Jane's 360|website=www.janes.com|access-date=2 February 2019|archive-date=19 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180819083449/https://www.janes.com/article/78774/saudi-arabia-says-f-15-survived-sam-hit-over-yemen/|url-status=live}}</ref> Saudi official sources confirmed the incident, reporting that it happened at 3:48&nbsp;pm local time after a surface-to-air defense missile was launched at the fighter jet from inside Saada airport.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/gulf/2018/03/21/Coalition-fighter-jet-targeted-by-surface-to-air-missile-over-Saada.html|title=Coalition fighter jet unsuccessfully targeted by defense missile over Saada|website=english.alarabiya.net|date=21 March 2018|access-date=2 February 2019|archive-date=18 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190518161314/http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/gulf/2018/03/21/Coalition-fighter-jet-targeted-by-surface-to-air-missile-over-Saada.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.janes.com/article/78774/saudi-arabia-says-f-15-survived-sam-hit-over-yemen|title=Saudi Arabia says F-15 survived SAM hit over Yemen - Jane's 360|website=www.janes.com|access-date=2 February 2019|archive-date=19 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180819083449/https://www.janes.com/article/78774/saudi-arabia-says-f-15-survived-sam-hit-over-yemen/|url-status=live}}</ref>

After the [[2019 Abqaiq–Khurais attack|Houthi attack on Saudi oil infrastructure on 14 September 2019]], Saudi Arabia tasked F-15 fighters armed with missiles to intercept low flying drones, difficult to intercept with ground-based high altitude missile systems like the [[MIM-104 Patriot]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/iranian-backed-houthi-rebels-yemen-ramp-drone-missile-attacks-saudi-n1260488 |title=Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen ramp up drone, missile attacks on Saudi Arabia |work=NBC News |last=De Luce |first=Dan |date=12 March 2021 |access-date=29 September 2021 |url-status=live |archive-date=27 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927095520/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/iranian-backed-houthi-rebels-yemen-ramp-drone-missile-attacks-saudi-n1260488}}</ref> with several drones being downed since then.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/39186/yemens-houthi-rebels-strike-airliner-in-new-drone-attack-on-saudi-airport |title=Yemen's Houthi Rebels Strike Airliner In New Drone Attack On Saudi Airport |work=The Warzone |last=Newdick |first=Thomas |date=10 February 2021 |access-date=29 September 2021 |url-status=live |archive-date=20 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020112030/https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/39186/yemens-houthi-rebels-strike-airliner-in-new-drone-attack-on-saudi-airport}}</ref> On 2 July 2020, a Saudi F-15 shot down two Houthi [[Shahed 129]] drones above Yemen.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://dronedj.com/2020/07/13/saudi-f-15-jet-shoots-down-an-iranian-drones-above-yemen/ |title=Saudi F-15 jet shoots down Iranian drones above Yemen |work=dronedj.com |date=13 July 2020 |access-date=29 September 2021 |url-status=live |archive-date=27 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211027165642/https://dronedj.com/2020/07/13/saudi-f-15-jet-shoots-down-an-iranian-drones-above-yemen/ |last1=Spires |first1=Josh }}</ref> On 7 March 2021, during a Houthi attack at several Saudi oil installations, Saudi F-15s shot down several attacking drones using heatseeking [[AIM-9 Sidewinder]] missiles, with video evidence showing at least two [[Samad (UAV)|Samad-3]] UAVs and one [[HESA Ababil|Qasef-2K]] downed.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.seelatest.com/india/middle-east-saudi-f-15s-shoot-down-iran-backed-houthi-drones |title=Middle East: Saudi F-15s shoot down Iran-backed Houthi Drones |website=seelatest.com |date=8 March 2021 |access-date=29 September 2021 |url-status=live |archive-date=27 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927034208/https://www.seelatest.com/india/middle-east-saudi-f-15s-shoot-down-iran-backed-houthi-drones}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/continued-houthi-strikes-threaten-saudi-oil-and-global-economic-recovery |title=Continued Houthi Strikes Threaten Saudi Oil and the Global Economic Recovery |publisher=The Washington Institute for Near East Policy |last=Knights |first=Michael |date=12 March 2021 |access-date=29 September 2021 |url-status=live |archive-date=21 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021052641/https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/continued-houthi-strikes-threaten-saudi-oil-and-global-economic-recovery}}</ref> On 30 March 2021, a video made by Saudi border guards showed a Saudi F-15 shooting down a Houthi Quasef-2K drone with an AIM-120 AMRAAM fired at short range.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/39992/watch-a-saudi-f-15-fighter-swoop-in-low-to-blast-a-houthi-rebel-drone-out-of-the-sky |title=Watch A Saudi F-15 Fighter Swoop In Low To Blast A Houthi Rebel Drone Out Of The Sky |work=The Warzone |last=Trevithick |first=Joseph |date=30 March 2021 |access-date=29 September 2021 |url-status=live |archive-date=20 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020143211/https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/39992/watch-a-saudi-f-15-fighter-swoop-in-low-to-blast-a-houthi-rebel-drone-out-of-the-sky}}</ref>