Eagle Country

By Airman 1st Class Kenneth Boyton, 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs / Published December 09, 2016

Since its maiden flight, Dec. 11, 1986, The U.S. Air Force considers the F-15E Strike Eagle to be one of the most proficient multi-role, air-to-air and air-to-ground strike fighters active today.

On its 30th anniversary, after flying thousands of missions during worldwide combat operations, the aging F-15E is still relevant and capable of supporting current combatant commander’s requirements.

The F-15E was designed as a fighter and bomber aircraft with a back seat for a second crew member to operate a ground attack weapons delivery system. The cockpit contains the latest advanced avionics, controls and displays. The redesigned airframe was built with a stronger structure allowing heavier takeoff weights and doubled the original F-15 Eagle’s service life.

Advanced technology and avionics assist the F-15E to fly day or night at low altitudes and in all weather conditions. The jet can also carry nearly every air-to-ground weapon in the Air Force arsenal, including AIM-7F/M Sparrows, AIM-9M Sidewinders and AIM-120 advanced medium range air-to-air missiles.“The way the F-15E is built is a huge reason why it’s such a respected and capable aircraft,” said Maj. Michael Jokhy, 335th Fighter Squadron assistant director of operations. “The F-15E Strike Eagle can hold a lot more gas and weapons than other multi-role aircraft in our inventory.”

The extra fuel allows the Strike Eagle to stay where it’s needed longer, providing more life-saving close-air-support. Additionally, Jokhy said the extra weapons the Strike Eagle can carry are a great safeguard and reminds the enemies of the U.S. who has the world’s most dominant airpower.

During OPERATION DESERT STORM in the early 1990s, an F-15E from the then 335th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina, destroyed an Iraqi Mi-24 Hind helicopter with a laser-guided bomb. The F-15E also flew into enemy territory multiple times while under heavy anti-aircraft artillery fire and demolished Scud missile sites proving its air-to-air and air-to-surface capabilities.

The F-15E was the only fighter able to attack ground targets around the clock, in all weather conditions during the 1990s Balkan conflict.

The U.S. Air Force currently has 219 F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft, mainly utilized for close air support during operations.

According to the Department of Defense, as of Dec. 2, 2016, U.S. and coalition aircraft have conducted more than 16,592 strikes in Iraq and Syria in support of OPERATION INHERENT RESOLVE. Additionally, the Strike Eagle has contributed to destroying or damaging, over 31,900 targets as part of OIR, further degrading and defeating the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

The 335th and 336th Fighter Squadrons and maintenance units frequently deploy to areas of responsibility in Southwest Asia to aid with the DOD’s lines of effort which include, providing military support to our partners, impeding the flow of foreign fighters, stopping ISIL’s finanacing and funding and exposing ISIL’s true nature.

During the 335th Fighter Squadron’s most recent deployment, F-15E Strike Eagle pilots and weapons systems officers flew more than 9,250 combat hours, dropped more than 2,000 bombs and killed more than 80 high-value ISIL individuals.

To further enhance the already devastating capability of the F-15E Strike Eagle, the jets at Seymour Johnson are currently receiving upgrades through Boeing Co.’s Radar Modernization Program.

“We’re doing [the upgrade] on all of the F-15E models,” said Jonathan Pierce, Boeing Co. F-15E site lead. “This radar update is going to drastically improve the aircraft’s air-to-air and air-to-ground radar, making it significantly more capable.”

The old legacy APG-70 mechanically-scanned radar is being replaced with a new active electronically-scanned radar system, APG-82. It’s designed to retain functionality of the old legacy radar system while providing expanded mission employment capabilities.

“What I’m most looking forward to with the modification is that it will be more in line with what other fighters have across the combat Air Force,” said Capt. Bryan Hladik, 336th FS pilot. “The upgraded radar will further enhance our abilities to target [ISIL] through the weather. On days that visual acquisition of the target is not possible due to clouds, we will be able to take precise air-to-ground maps and target [Joint Direct Attack Munition] with a very high level of accuracy.”

Col. Christopher Sage, 4th Fighter Wing commander, believes the F-15E is an imperative part to the Air Force mission and the future of combat air power.

“On its 30th anniversary, the F-15E is still a phenomenal and capable war-fighting machine. It controls the sky and dominates the ground,” said Sage. “It’s an important piece of equipment our Air Force uses to maintain air superiority in support of global operations and national defense.”

by Senior Master Sgt. Shelly Davison
142nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs

10/24/2016 – YELLOWKNIFE, NORTHWEST TERRITORIES — Touching down in a C-5 Galaxy loaded with people and cargo, members of the 142nd Fighter Wing arrived in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, to snow, bitter temperatures and a warm welcome, to participate in Exercise Vigilant Shield 2017, October 17-21.

The Vigilant Shield 2017 Field Training Exercise is an annual exercise

sponsored by the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and led by Alaskan NORAD Region, in conjunction with Canadian NORAD Region and Continental NORAD Region, who undertake field training exercises aimed at improving operational capability in a bi-national environment.

Bringing approximately 65 members, four F-15 Eagles and 119,450 pounds of equipment to the Northwest Territories, the 142nd Fighter Wing was greeted by a host of support from the Canadian Mission Support Element as well as multiple U.S. military forces at Yellowknife, making it truly a joint exercise.

This year’s exercise built on previous years’ training successes when deploying air assets and personnel to the far north to exercise sovereignty operations in North America’s northern aerospace and in the high Arctic. Vigilant Shield provides crucial training opportunities for numerous military personnel with a variety of aircraft and assets from Canada and the United States to improve interoperability and to demonstrate NORAD’s ability to defend North America.

The exercise provided the opportunity not only to deploy troops, jets and equipment to a forward location, but also to operate in a climate much different than the 142nd Fighter Wing’s home of Portland, Oregon.

F-15 Eagle pilot Capt. James Hastings, 123rd Fighter Squadron, said the weather in the Northwest Territories provided a chance to work through “new aspects of mission planning and execution that doesn’t happen at home.”

Chief Master Sgt. Dan Conner, 142nd Maintenance Group and Non-commissioned Officer in Charge of the 142nd Vigilant Shied deployment, said participating in Vigilant Shield “helps us exercise the machine, moving all of our equipment and people into another location and ensuring that we are capable of operating.”

The men and women of the 142nd Fighter Wing wrapped up their portion of Vigilant Shield with the successful launch of their homeward bound F-15 Eagles.  For Master Sgt. Joshua Combs, 142nd Maintenance Group, it was his first deployment as a 1st Sgt. where he was able to truly see the valuable and concrete training this exercise provided.

“The highlight of the trip was seeing the jets take off, being able to move all of the equipment and all of the personnel, get set up, get the aircraft here and seeing our maintainers happy, and looking forward to doing what they were trained to do,” said Combs.  “I have to say that I am spoiled on this trip, it has been absolutely perfect.”

By Senior Airman Malcolm Mayfield, 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England — F-15E Strike Eagles assigned to the 492nd Fighter Squadron here, launched sorties as they began participation in Noble Arrow 16, Oct. 8.

Noble Arrow is a NATO air exercise conducted with Portugal and the U.K. to provide force integration and combat readiness preparation through varied air-to-air, air-to-surface and air-to-sea scenarios while strengthening allied force interoperability.

“We conduct training with our Allies and partners on a regular basis. These flying exercises improve interoperability between our defense forces and NATO Allies and partners,” said 1st Lt. Tristan Stewart, 492nd FS pilot. “NATO exercises like Noble Arrow assure our Allies that core capabilities are actively being trained to enhance the overall readiness of the alliance.”

The air exercise is being held in conjunction with exercises Joint Warrior, Noble Mariner and Unmanned Warrior, which combined ensure component capabilities to conduct NATO Response Force missions.

Noble Arrow 16 increases cooperation in critical training, and further strengthens our interoperability with NATO Allies in order to meet challenges as a unified force, demonstrating U.S. commitment to European stability and security.

By Staff Sgt. Samantha Mathison, 380th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs / Published August 22, 2016

When the announcement came through the radio that F-15E Strike Eagle #89-0487 would land in 10 minutes, Airmen of the 380th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance and 335th Expeditionary Fighter squadrons prepared to celebrate a historic moment, Aug. 16, 2016.

The F-15E was the first to achieve 12,000 flying hours and the pilot, Lt. Col. Brandon, 335th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron commander, attained a career milestone at the same time; reaching 3,000 flying hours after 25 years of service.

“I have been lucky to have the privilege of flying this outstanding combat

warhorse for over 16 years,” Brandon said. “Each one of those 3,000 hours, and 12,000 hours for the jet, represent countless hours from our Air Force team. As Strike Eagle aircrew, we are privileged to put bombs on target as a culmination of unbelievable efforts by thousands of others.”

The effort put into the maintenance and care of the jet has resulted in an impressive 26 year history since its commission in 1990, which has earned it the nickname “America’s Jet” within the unit, according to Chief Master Sgt. Roosevelt, 380th EAMXS STRIKE superintendent.

The aircraft has deployed 17 times in support of combat operations, to include operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Roosevelt said. It was during Operation Desert Storm that “America’s Jet” dropped a GBU-10 laser-guided bomb on an enemy helicopter in the only recorded F-15E air-to-air combat kill.

The commemorative star decal on the side of the aircraft has served as a visual reminder of the event ever since, and now the jet has earned another milestone decal signifying the achievement of 12,000 flying hours.

“To reach this milestone it required almost 30 years of performing safe, compliant and efficient aircraft maintenance,” Roosevelt said. “12,000 hours is huge for a fighter, because Airmen actually get to see, feel and hear their impact to the mission, and understand how what they do is important.”

What makes this jet even more unique is that this milestone and the last one of 10,000 flying hours were both accomplished in deployed locations during operations Enduring Freedom and Inherent Resolve, he said.

The 380th EAMXS crew chiefs deployed with “America’s Jet” from Seymour-Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., and whether home or abroad, this aircraft is their pride and joy, according to Master Sgt. Richard, 380th EAMXS lead production superintendent.

“All of our aircraft have different temperaments, so to speak, but America’s Jet consistently outperforms all of our other jets,” Richard said. “We work hard to keep our aircraft in the air, so the 12,000 hour milestone is a testament to all of the maintainers who’ve kept her flying. That’s why we call her America’s Jet; because she is full of grit and fortitude, the embodiment of the American spirit, and has demonstrated this in every major conflict since Desert Storm.”

By Tech. Sgt. Chuck Broadway, 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. — Lt. Col. Eric Schmidt, 334th Fighter Squadron director of operations is sprayed down by friends and family members following his final F-15E Strike Eagle flight June 17, 2016, at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina. Schmidt eclipsed 3,000 hours in the Strike Eagle and was greeted by many to celebrate the occasion. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Chuck Broadway)