The Reason We Switched from F-15 to F-22

Abstract

This paper depicts the importance of what the United States Air Force was looking for when they were looking for the next generation air superior fighter aircraft such as McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle and the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor. How the Air Force was looking for a versatile aircraft with both air-to-air and air-to-ground capabilities. Next, I will discuss how much they both cost to produce and for whom they are produced for which countries.

The United States Air Force’s requirement for an air superiority fighter to succeed the highly-respected but ageing F-4 Phantom II from the Vietnam years. The request called for both air-to-air and air-to-ground capabilities.(1.1 F-15 Origins)The base interceptor F-15 Eagle series provides the pilot with a modern approach to air combat complete with digital avionics, engine systems and cockpit management through multi-function displays and a detailed Heads up Display system to provide the pilot the ability to fly the aircraft without taking his view downwards from the action. The powerful afterburning Pratt and Whitney engines can propel the F-15 Eagle series to speeds upwards of 1,600 miles per hour. Since then, the system has been introduced in a variety of limited flavors including the improved Strike Eagle variant and a trainer conversion model. To date there has been over 1,500 F-15 Eagle series are produced at a cost of 29.9 million per aircraft as 1998.(Vol 2 F-15, 2007)

The F-15 Eagle series was quick to position itself as the best fighter platform in the world. For a time, the F-15 Eagle series was the pinnacle of American air superiority incorporating technology and design that produced a highly maneuverable and performance enhanced multi-role fighter platform. The system first saw combat in Israeli hands when Israeli F-15’s shot down Soviet-produced MiG-21 fighters piloted by Syrian forces. The United States Air Force deployed F-15C, D and E models to the Persian Gulf in 1991 for Operation...