The F-15 played a key role in Operation Desert Storm, ensuring air superiority and carrying out precise strikes on strategic targets.

The F-15 Eagle, developed by McDonnell Douglas in the 1970s, is a fighter aircraft designed to ensure air superiority. Its F-15C and F-15E Strike Eagle versions played distinct but complementary roles during Operation Desert Storm. The F-15C focused on air-to-air missions, while the F-15E was deployed for air-to-ground missions.

F-15C air-to-air missions

Strategic context and role of the F-15C

The F-15C Eagle, an air-to-air combat-optimized version of the McDonnell Douglas F-15 fighter, was designed from the outset as an interceptor and air superiority fighter. During Desert Storm, its main role was to ensure total domination of the airspace over Iraq and Kuwait, an essential prerequisite for allowing other coalition aircraft (bombers, ground attack aircraft, reconnaissance aircraft, etc.) to operate without significant threat from the Iraqi air force.

At the time, Iraq had a sizeable air force, notably equipped with MiG-21s, MiG-23s, MiG-25s, MiG-29s and Mirage F1s, although its level of training and coordination was inferior to that of the coalition forces. The F-15C was therefore deployed to neutralize this threat in the early hours of the conflict.

Equipment and capabilities of the F-15C

The F-15C’s success in air-to-air missions is based on several technological and operational factors:

• AN/APG-63 radar: This Doppler pulse radar offered exceptional detection range (up to around 160 km in optimal conditions) and the ability to track multiple targets simultaneously, while differentiating threats in a cluttered environment. It enabled pilots to spot enemy aircraft long before they could detect the F-15C in return, offering a decisive advantage in Beyond Visual Range (BVR) engagements.
• Armament: The F-15C was armed with a mix of complementary air-to-air missiles:
  AIM-7 Sparrow: Semi-active radar-guided medium-range missile, effective against targets at ranges of 20 to 70 km.
  AIM-9 Sidewinder: infrared-guided short-range missile, ideal for close combat (effective range approx. 18 km).
  M61 Vulcan cannon: A 20 mm rotating cannon with 940 rounds, used as a last resort or in very short-range engagements.
• Performance: With a top speed in excess of Mach 2.5 (approx. 3,000 km/h) and excellent manoeuvrability, the F-15C could engage or disengage quickly according to tactical requirements.
• Electronic systems: The F-15C was equipped with electronic countermeasures (ECM) to jam enemy radars, and radar warning systems (RWR) to detect threats.

F-15C air-to-air mission types

During Desert Storm, F-15C missions fell into several main categories:

Combat Air Patrol (CAP):

F-15Cs made extended flights in designated areas over Iraq and Kuwait to intercept any Iraqi aircraft attempting to take off or oppose coalition forces. These patrols were often supported by KC-135 and KC-10 refueling aircraft to extend their range.
Example: From the night of January 17, 1991, F-15Cs patrolled near Iraqi air bases as H-2s and H-3s to prevent enemy aircraft from taking to the air.

Strike escort:

F-15Cs accompanied formations of strike aircraft (F-16s, F-111s, B-52s, etc.) to protect them from Iraqi fighters. Their role was to stay alert and engage any threat approaching the aircraft they were escorting.
Offensive Counter-Air (OCA):

These missions involved penetrating enemy airspace to engage and destroy Iraqi fighters before they could become a threat. F-15Cs often operated in tandem with AWACS (E-3 Sentry) aircraft, which provided them with an overview of the battlefield and guided their interceptions.

Air-to-air engagements

The 36 air victories claimed by the F-15Cs (out of a total of 39 air-to-air victories for the coalition) testify to their overwhelming dominance. Here’s how these successes were achieved:

First night (January 17, 1991): In the early hours of the operation, the F-15Cs shot down several Iraqi aircraft. For example, an F-15C flown by Captain Robert Graeter destroyed a Mirage F1 with an AIM-7 Sparrow, marking the first air victory of the campaign. Initial engagements benefited from the element of surprise and technological superiority, with Iraqi pilots often detected and shot down before they could react.

BVR engagements: The majority of victories were achieved beyond visual range, thanks to the AN/APG-63 radar and AIM-7 missiles. Iraqi pilots, equipped with less efficient radars and often poorly trained, had little chance of detecting or evading the F-15Cs.
Close combat: Although rare, some engagements took place at close range, where the AIM-9 Sidewinder was used successfully. For example, an Iraqi MiG-29 was shot down by an F-15C after an unsuccessful evasive maneuver.

Coordination with AWACS: E-3 Sentries played a crucial role in providing real-time information on enemy positions, enabling F-15Cs to set up ambushes or avoid dangerous areas (such as SAM anti-aircraft batteries).

Results and impact

The F-15C’s 36 air victories included a range of Iraqi aircraft: MiG-21, MiG-23, MiG-25, MiG-29, Mirage F1, and even a helicopter shot down by mistake in one case. Not a single F-15C was lost in air-to-air combat, a remarkable feat that underlines both the quality of the aircraft and the training of US Air Force pilots.

Total air superiority: After the first days of the conflict, the Iraqi air force was largely neutralized. Many Iraqi aircraft fled to Iran (where they were interned) rather than face the F-15Cs, and counter-attack attempts quickly ceased.
Psychological impact: F-15C dominance demoralized Iraqi forces and boosted the coalition’s confidence in its ability to conduct unopposed air operations.

The F-15E Strike Eagle’s air-to-ground missions

Operation Desert Storm, which ran from January 17 to February 28, 1991, marked the first combat deployment of the F-15E, a derivative version of the F-15 designed specifically for ground attack and deep interdiction missions, while retaining air-to-air capabilities.

Strategic context and role of the F-15E Strike Eagle

The F-15E Strike Eagle, developed by McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing), is a two-seat variant of the F-15 optimized for air-to-ground missions, with a secondary air-to-air combat capability. Introduced into the US Air Force in the late 1980s, it was designed to replace aircraft like the F-111 in deep interdiction roles, i.e. striking strategic targets far behind enemy lines, day and night, and in all weathers.
During Desert Storm, the F-15E was deployed primarily by the 4th Fighter Wing, based at Seymour Johnson AFB (North Carolina), which sent its squadrons (notably the 335th and 336th Tactical Fighter Squadrons) to Saudi Arabia. Its role was to neutralize Iraqi critical infrastructure, such as Scud missile sites, command and control centers, logistics depots and industrial facilities, while operating in an environment contested by Iraqi anti-aircraft defenses.

F-15E equipment and capabilities

The F-15E was distinguished by a combination of advanced technologies that made it a versatile and formidable aircraft for air-to-ground missions:

• AN/APG-70 radar:
  This synthetic aperture radar offered high resolution for ground mapping and detection of fixed or moving targets, even at long range. It could also track airborne targets, thus retaining air-to-air capability.
  Range: around 160 km for airborne targets, and the ability to detect ground targets at significant distances, depending on their size and environment.
• LANTIRN (Low Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infrared for Night) pods:
  Comprising two pods:
  Navigation pod: Provided infrared vision for flying at low altitudes (up to 200 feet, or about 60 meters) avoiding obstacles, even in total darkness or bad weather.
  Designation pod: Equipped with a laser to guide precision-guided munitions such as GBU-10 and GBU-12 bombs.
  These pods enabled the F-15E to carry out night strikes with surgical precision, a revolutionary capability at the time.
• Air-to-ground weaponry:
  Laser-guided bombs (LGB): GBU-10 (2,000 lb), GBU-12 (500 lb), and GBU-24 (penetrators).
  Unguided bombs: Mk 84 (2,000 lb) and Mk 82 (500 lb), used against less protected targets.
  AGM-65 Maverick missiles: infrared- or TV-guided air-to-ground missiles, effective against armored or fortified targets.
  M61 Vulcan cannon: 20 mm, for close-in attacks if required.
  Air-to-air capability: AIM-7 Sparrow and AIM-9 Sidewinder, for self-defense against enemy fighters.
• Performance:
  Mach 2.5 top speed, but often used at subsonic speeds for air-to-ground missions to optimize accuracy and endurance.
  Payload: up to 11 tons of armament, far more than the F-15C.
  Electronic countermeasures:
  jamming systems (ECM) and decoy launchers (flares and chaff) to counter surface-to-air missiles (SAM) and anti-aircraft defenses such as SA-6, SA-8 or ZSU-23-4 guns.

F-15E air-to-ground mission types

F-15E missions during Desert Storm were varied, but all focused on the interdiction and destruction of strategic targets:

• Scud hunting:
  Iraqi Scud ballistic missiles, used to attack Israel and Saudi Arabia, were a major priority for the coalition. The F-15E was sent to locate and destroy the mobile Scud launchers, often camouflaged in the desert.
  Tactics: Strike Eagles used LANTIRN pods to fly low over suspicious areas at night, detecting the heat of the launchers or traces of their movements. Once located, the Scuds were hit with laser-guided bombs or Maverick missiles.
  Difficulty: Mobile launchers were difficult to locate and moved rapidly after firing, making these missions particularly demanding.
• Attacks on command and control centers:
  The F-15E targeted fortified bunkers, regional command posts and Iraqi communications nodes to disrupt Saddam Hussein’s chain of command.
  Example: Strikes on installations in Baghdad or near Basra used GBU-24s with penetrating capability to pierce reinforced structures.
• Destruction of logistical infrastructure:
  Fuel depots, weapons factories, bridges and railroads were frequent targets for cutting Iraqi supply lines.
  Method: Combination of guided bombs for precision and unguided bombs to maximize damage over large areas.
  Close Air Support (CAS):

Although less frequent, the F-15E occasionally supported ground forces by striking armored concentrations or fortified positions close to the front, notably during the ground offensive that began on February 24, 1991.

Operations

The F-15E was involved from the very first hours of Desert Storm, often in difficult conditions:

First night (January 17, 1991): Strike Eagles took part in the initial wave of attacks, striking strategic targets at low altitude under cover of darkness. LANTIRN pods were used to bypass Iraqi radar defenses, flying below their detection threshold.

Night missions: The majority of sorties took place at night, exploiting the F-15E’s all-weather capability to avoid the more active daytime anti-aircraft defenses.

Coordination: F-15Es collaborated with E-3 AWACS to avoid enemy fighters, and with F-117 Nighthawks or A-10 Thunderbolt IIs for combined strikes on multiple targets.

Losses and challenges

Despite its effectiveness, the F-15E has not been immune to Iraqi defenses:

Two confirmed losses:
On January 19, 1991, an F-15E (serial 88-1692) from the 335th TFS was shot down by a surface-to-air missile (probably an SA-3 or SA-6) during a mission near Basra. The two crew members, pilot Maj. Thomas Koritz and weapons systems officer Maj. Don Pierce, were killed.
On February 13, 1991, another F-15E (serial 88-1689) was lost, probably to a SAM, with the death of the crew (Capt. Richard Storr and Capt. Stephen Salter).
Reason for loss: These incidents occurred on low-altitude missions, where the F-15Es were more vulnerable to short-range infrared missiles and anti-aircraft fire. After these losses, tactics were adjusted to favor medium altitudes where possible.

Results and impact

The F-15E flew hundreds of sorties and dropped thousands of tons of munitions during Desert Storm, with a high success rate in destroying its assigned targets:

Scud sites: Although hunting Scuds was a logistical challenge, the F-15E helped reduce the frequency of ballistic missile launches, reassuring allies like Israel.
Key infrastructure: Precision strikes crippled Iraq’s ability to coordinate its defenses and support its ground troops.
Demonstrated versatility: The F-15E proved it could operate in extreme conditions while retaining its self-defense capability (no losses to enemy fighters).

Operation Desert Storm highlighted the effectiveness of the F-15 in its respective roles. The F-15C ensured flawless air dominance, while the F-15E proved its versatility and precision in ground attack missions. These performances have reinforced the F-15’s reputation as one of the most capable fighters of its era.

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