F-15C Eagle

The F-15 Eagle is an all-weather, extremely maneuverable, tactical fighter designed to permit the Air Force to gain and maintain air superiority in aerial combat. Also of note, it is the first American fighter aircraft developed specifically for air-to-air combat since the F-86 Sabre designed in 1947. It is being replaced by the next generation F-22A Raptor.

Overview
The Eagle's air superiority is achieved through a mixture of unprecedented maneuverability and acceleration, range, weapons and avionics. It can penetrate enemy defense and outperform and outfight any current enemy aircraft. The F-15 has electronic systems and weaponry to detect, acquire, track and attack enemy aircraft while operating in friendly or enemy-controlled airspace. The Eagle can be armed with the AIM-7F/M Sparrow or AIM-120A/B/C AMRAAM (Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile) radar guided missiles on its lower fuselage corners, with AIM-9L/M Sidewinder or AIM-120 missiles on two pylons under the wings, and an internal M61A1 Vulcan 20mm Gatling gun in the right wing root. The weapons and flight control systems are designed so one person can safely and effectively perform air-to-air combat.

The F-15's superior maneuverability, rate-of-climb, and acceleration are achieved through high engine thrust-to-weight ratio and low wing loading. Low wing-loading (the ratio of aircraft weight to its wing area) is a vital factor in maneuverability and, combined with the high thrust-to-weight ratio, enables the aircraft to turn tightly without losing airspeed; the concept of low wing loading has been used in many other great fighters long before the F-15, including the Spitfire of World War II. As a result, the F-15 is one of the deadliest (and best) fighters ever built. This is evident in the aircraft's reputation, for during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003, the Iraqi Air Force disobeyed orders and refused to fly out of fear of the F-15. As of today, the F-15 kill ratio stands at 96.5 air-to-air victories and no air-to-air losses. The F-15 is used by the US, Israel, Japan, and Saudi Arabia. The aircraft remains in operational service, although it is currently being phased out in favor of the F-22A Raptor. The USAF will keep 50 F-15C/D's in service beyond 2020.

Ace Squadrons/Pilots

 * Joe (STFS/AC)


 * Tuttle (FEAF/AC4)


 * Elch (BAF/ACZ)


 * Ibis (BAF/ACZ)


 * Mondlicht (BAF/ACZ)
 * UAF 6th AD, 66th AFU &quot;Galm&quot; Squadron (UAF/ACZ)

Standard Weapons

 * Gun: 1x 20mm M61A1 Vulcan Cannon
 * Missiles: 2x AIM-9M Sidewinder

Special Weapons

 * QAAM: AIM-9X Sidewinder (ACZ)
 * SAAM: AIM-7M Sparrow (AC5)
 * UGBL: Mk-84 2000lb Bomb (ACZ)
 * UGBM: Mk-83 1000lb Bomb (AC4)
 * XMAA: AIM-120B AMRAAM (ACZ)
 * XMAA: AIM-120C AMRAAM (AC4)

Air Combat

 * Stability: 20
 * Defense: 90
 * Offense: 100


 * Power: 90
 * Mobility: 50

Ace Combat 5/Zero

 * Speed: 83


 * Mobility: 54
 * Stability: 61
 * Defense: 60


 * Air-to-Air: 73


 * Air-to-Ground: 37

Variants

 * F-15E Strike Eagle
 * F-15 S/MTD

Comparable Aircraft

 * Su-27 Flanker
 * EF-2000 Typhoon
 * Rafale C
 * F-14A Tomcat
 * Tornado F.3
 * MiG-29A Fulcrum
 * MiG-31 Foxhound
 * F/A-18C Hornet

Trivia

 * It is interesting that the F-15C can carry Mk.84 bombs in ACZ and AC4, since real life F-15Cs cannot carry bombs or air to ground weapons. However, the F-15E Strike Eagle, a two-seat ground attack version of the Eagle, can carry bombs and ground attack munitions.
 * The starting paint scheme for the F-15C in Ace Combat 04 is very similar to Cipher's paint scheme in Ace Combat Zero.
 * Also there`s a special paint scheme for the F-15E Strike Eagle in Ace Combat X2: Joint Assault similar to Cipher`s paint scheme except the blue spots are light blue.
 * Of note is that the F-15C paint scheme in AC04 is an exact duplicate of one of the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force's F-15DJ aggressor squadron paint-schemes ,with the only difference being in the plane in which the scheme was applied; AC04 had it applied in the F-15C ,which is a single-seater, whilst the JASDF had theirs on the F-15DJ, which is a double-seater. This scheme in its slightly modified form would be reused for Cipher's F-15C Standard paint scheme in ACZ.