F-15E: The Strike Eagle

The Strike Eagle is an American strike fighter derived from the F-15 Eagle under a private venture by the McDonnell Douglas company, slated to arrive to War Thunder in the Firebirds major update!

F-15E Strike Eagle: A Strike Aircraft for the USA at Rank VIII

At a glance:

  • Greatly expanded ordnance options.
  • Excellent flight characteristics!
  • Precision munition.
  • Mach 2.0 capable.
Vehicle History

Immediately after the F-15 entered service, McDonnell Douglas began studying the possibility of converting the aircraft into an effective ground attacker on its own initiative, based on the assessment that the aircraft possessed good potential for this. Despite lacking initial interest from the Air Force, this soon changed with the announcement of the competition for the Enhanced Tactical Fighter, whose aim was to identify a replacement for dated aircraft serving in the interdiction role. Although the program had been briefly suspended due to financial reasons, it resumed in early 1982.

While pitting the so-called “Strike Eagle” against modified and regular F-16 fighters, the Air Force eventually chose the F-15E as its preferred choice for the replacement of the F-111. As a result, an order for 392 aircraft was initially signed by the USAF, which was later cut down to 227. The first production aircraft entered service in April 1988. Shortly after entering service, the F-15E Strike Eagle took part in the Gulf War as well as in operations on the Balkans during the 1990s. In the early 2000s, the F-15E also took part in combat operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and Syria. The F-15E remains in service with the USAF to this day as one of its main strike aircraft.

Download Wallpaper:

Meet the F-15E Strike Eagle!

The F-15E Strike Eagle is on course to join the top rank of the American aviation tree as one of the highlights arriving to War Thunder with the Firebirds major update. Building on the superb performance characteristics of the base fighter variant, the F-15E features a true plethora of modifications and upgrades all with the aim of substantially bolstering the Eagle’s ground attack capabilities. Keen to find out how successful American engineers were in this undertaking? Then join us on answering this question as we take a closer look at this new bird of prey!

Although the F-15E greatly resembles its dedicated fighter counterpart, you won’t miss the first indication of this bird’s designated role as a strike aircraft. Namely, the F-15E features a twin seater cockpit, accommodating the pilot as well as the weapon’s officer. Nevertheless, being modified into a dedicated strike aircraft doesn’t mean that the F-15E suddenly turned into a cumbersome bomber capable of only lifting a sizable payload. In fact, thanks to its two familiar Pratt & Whitney F100 afterburning turbofan engines, the F-15E can achieve a top speed of well over Mach 2 at higher altitudes while its sleek airframe enables it to perform sharp maneuvers. In other words, with the right weapon selection, the F-15E is just as capable of a dogfighter as the dedicated fighter variants, especially thanks to its access to the more advanced AIM-120B missile.

Interesting: Open sources mention a case of an Iraqi Mi-24 being destroyed by a GBU-10 Paveway II laser-guided bomb that was dropped by an American F-15E Strike Eagle!

However, where the F-15E really stands out from its close relatives is in its ground attack capabilities. Namely, the aircraft’s payload capacity has been increased by around 50%. On top of this, the F-15E can’t just carry more ordnance in general, but it also has access to a much wider assortment of suspended weapons options than the dedicated fighter variants.

For instance, the Strike Eagle is able to mount AGM-65 Mavericks, new to the game GPS-aided GBU-39 bombs (up to 20 at a time!), various variants of laser and guided and JDAM bombs in addition to more conventional 250, 500 and 2000 lb bombs, the former of which also come in Snakeye configuration, turning them into retarded bombs. Also available is a new ground targets radar. As a result of this superbly flexible arsenal, the F-15E is sure to become the ideal choice for pilots in both air and combined arms battles at the top ranks.

The F-15E Strike Eagle will soon be making its way to War Thunder in the Firebirds major update, becoming the new ground attacker of choice for seasoned US pilots. That’s all for today’s devblog. Until the next one, make sure to stay tuned to the news for the latest information regarding the upcoming update! Clear skies and happy hunting pilots.

Please note that this vehicle’s characteristics may be changed before it is added to the game.

Kick-start your American aircraft research with this starter pack:

US Starter Pack

The Kit Includes:
  • Tank M3A1 Stuart (Rank I, USA)
  • Rasmussen's P-36A plane (Rank I, USA)
  • "United States Marine Corps" decal
  • Premium account for 7 days
  • 120000 Silver Lions

4.99
Store

You can greatly speed up the research of the F-15E Strike Eagle with this pack:

F-20A Tigershark Pack

The Kit Includes:
  • F-20A Tigershark (Rank VIII, USA)
  • Premium account for 20 days
  • 2500 Golden Eagles

74.99
Store

12 Likes

Strike Eagle!!! 🦅🇺🇲

6 Likes

Will GBU39s be added to the F16C-50 and other aircrafts that capable using this weapon?

1 Like

No 229 engines. Cringe

31 Likes

Missing the Aim-120C-5s it uses. Is it possible to not gimp every new US aircraft?

3 Likes

Any 120C’s for it since it’s a brick? what about the radar? and when will there be an F-16C block 52 with HAARMs, (v)9 and 120C

3 Likes

Block 52 is worse than block 50

Cool but add something for sweden sweden hasnt goten anything in 2 updates

BMP-2MD has been shown in the DevStream.

2 Likes

Wait what when i want back to watch it they completely skiped over sweden

1 Like

They didnt show anything for Japan either. Maybe something will come up during russian livestream.

Hopefully

Destroyed mid air!
Important!

Doubt. Compared to F-15C it’s a brick. Its strengthened airframe (for higher bomb load) means also a higher weight and decreased maneuverability.

Shouldn’t it also have radar ground mapping capabilities? It has one of the most powerful radar set in the world able to look into one’s dark soul over 100km. I have not seen it mentioned anywhere in the devblog.

6 Likes

Is dev server open?

Definitely should have the 120Cs.

6 Likes

Just lantirn? No Litening III? or smth like that. If it doesn’t get the new engines can the Charlie at least get the bol pods already

1 Like

aim-120A/B is already the best (maybe second best to AAM-4) fox 3 in the game, no need for 120cs

12 Likes

If the US doesn’t have complete dominance in air RB then it is unfair, they should’ve added the F-15EX instead

9 Likes

There’s also no reason not to give it its full kit. It uses them in service now. No need to gimp every US vehicle that comes to the game.

1 Like

Have you ever heard of “balance”?

5 Likes