For generations, the United States Air Force has been at the head of the line in air warfare. Thus, it has continuously updated its fleet in air superiority, from the F-15C Eagle to the F-22 Raptor. Each brings a different face to the battle scene.
For over three decades since it came into service in 1979, the single-seat F-15C Eagle has been one of the mainstays of the U.S. Air Force. Having quite a respectable combat record, the F-15C has enjoyed an enviable reputation for air superiority over the decades. To this extent, Maj. Rodolfo Cruz, the director of operations for the 433rd Weapons Squadron, pointed to the legacy of the aircraft’s “104-to-zero” kill ratio. However, Cruz also admitted that the fighter can be improved further since direct reliance on past laurels will prevent modern combat effectiveness in the future.
Nellis Air Force Base marked the end of the F-15C chapter at the United States Air Force Weapons School with a final class on December 8, 2021. The last cadre of students and instructors flew the final defensive counter-air vulnerability for Weapons Instructor Course 21-B. Maj. Michael Tope, WIC 21-B F-15C class leader, put the ever-changing nature of air-to-air combat into perspective. The baseline threat has changed dramatically in the last twenty years, Tope said. Despite the improvements, the F-15 remains, in many ways, a product of the 1970s.
As the F-15C program winds down, the Air Force is shifting to newer airframes. Gen. Mark Kelly, commander of Air Combat Command, outlined the future fighter roadmap at the Air Force Association’s annual Air, Space & Cyber Conference. Among other things, the plan calls for sustaining F-22 Raptor dominance in highly contested environments and enabling the transition to Next Generation Air Dominance capability. The F-35 Lightning II will make up the backbone of the contested environment force, which will be complemented by the F-15E Strike Eagle and EX as well as the newest F-16 Fighting Falcons.
The F-22 Raptor went into service in 2005 and represents a generational leap in air combat capability. An aircrew from the 756th Air Refueling Squadron recently conducted an air refueling of an F-22 from the 1st Fighter Wing off the East Coast example of the ways the Raptor keeps ready to fly and fight. The F-22 was designed to be a premier air superiority fighter but stopped production in 2009 after only 186 units were built. This was partly because of the shift in focus toward the multi-role F-35 and the high costs associated with restarting F-22 production.
The F-22 has remained a critical part of the Air Force fleet despite the limited production run. Advanced stealth combined with agility, added to an impressive situational awareness, makes the jet a formidable opponent in any conflict. As modernization of the Air Force continues, the F-22 will play an integral role until its retirement is approved by Congress.
The transition from the F-15C to the F-22 represents a monumental milestone in the Air Force’s quest for air superiority. As the achievements of the F-15C are hailed into history, the future of air combat lies in the F-22 and beyond. As Maj. Cruz succinctly said the next fight will probably be unconventional, combining an advanced airframe with innovative tactics to assure air superiority.