50th Anniversary of the F-15 Eagle Celebrated by the US Air Force

The U.S. Aerospace Giant Boeing and the U.S. Air Force Celebrate the F-15 Eagle’s 50th Birthday with an F-15 Flight from the NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center.

On July 27, 1972, the Boeing [NYSE: BA] F-15 took flight for the first time with Chief Test Pilot Irv Burrows at the controls. Fifty years later, the undefeated F-15 continues to evolve and add advanced capabilities to the U.S. Air Force fighter fleet.

“Boeing is proud of the F-15’s proven performance and of our shared legacy on this platform with the U.S. Air Force and operators around the world,” said Pat Kumashiro, vice president of F-15 Programs. “With its unparalleled combat performance and continued evolution, the F-15 has a remarkable history and continues to be a critical asset for U.S. and allied forces. And with the development of new, advanced capabilities and the evolution of the F-15EX, the best is yet to come.”

Boeing’s F-15 program was initiated at the request of the U.S. Air Force, which needed a fighter jet designed to maintain the country’s air superiority. Throughout its variants, the F-15 has also served the international community with numerous global customers including Japan, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, and Qatar.

The newest F-15, the F-15EX Eagle II, delivers a state-of-the-art electronic warfare system, along with contemporary sensors and avionics. The airframe, known for its unmatched payload capacity, is capable of carrying next-generation hypersonic weapons.

The F-15’s modernized manufacturing process improves quality while decreasing time and costs. “Boeing’s modernized manufacturing process improves quality while decreasing time and costs,” said Kumashiro. “We’ve seen increased global interest in the competency of the F-15 and its next-generation capabilities.”

More than 1,500 F-15s are in service worldwide. The U.S. Air Force took delivery of its first F-15EX in March 2021.