What is the best f-15 for air to air warfare?

[Wasicun]

Hi guys! I have a question: what is the best f-15 for aaw?
I mean, is the f15 strike eagle better then the f-15 eagle?

Thank you very much!

[JSF]

AFAIK the F-15E Strike Eagle is optimized for ASuW and replaces the old F-111 in that role. IIRC the F-15E is somewhat larger than the F-15C, making large ASuW payloads possible. The Strike Eagle is not available in such large numbers as the F-15C is. The latter is the pure interceptor / air superiority version.

[Sardaukar]

You'd need to specify scenario and country. There are lot of differences between F-15s.

[AFIntel]

ORIGINAL: JSF

AFAIK the F-15E Strike Eagle is optimized for ASuW and replaces the old F-111 in that role. IIRC the F-15E is somewhat larger than the F-15C, making large ASuW payloads possible. The Strike Eagle is not available in such large numbers as the F-15C is. The latter is the pure interceptor / air superiority version.

You are correct (although we in the USAF preferred the term "air to ground" or A/G versus the Navy ASuW [:D] ). The F-15C is the pre-eminent A/A fighter in the Eagle family. The Strike Eagle ("Mud Hens") is optimized for A/G with the addition of a Weapon Systems Officer (WSO), LANTIRN, and Conformal Fuel Tanks (CFT), which increased our range and added some hard points for ordnance.

Depending on the time frame, the two had different radars (the F-15E radar allowed for A/G modes). Both could employ AIM-7 / 9 / 120. But with the added weight of the F-15E, it cannot maneuver as well as the C.

But when you're slinging Slammers from long distance at MiGs, you don't have to maneuver as much! [8D]

Bottom line: if you want A/A, go with the specialist C and not the multipurpose E.

[Wasicun]

Thank you guys!

Do you know if the game simulates that too?
I mean, playing with Americans (present day), do you suggest me the f-15C?

[Sardaukar]

Well, the latest and greatest in Air-to-Air for USAF is of course F-22 Raptor. [8D]

[Primarchx]

The F-15SA seems like the most likely candidate to me, just off the cuff.

[flying penguin]

ORIGINAL: Primarchx

The F-15SA seems like the most likely candidate to me, just off the cuff.

Except it's a development of the Strike Eagle, and not the C model, so it shares similar weight penalties as the the E model.

Oh and the fact that it's only relevant if you are making a Saudi scenario obviously

[Primarchx]

You don't need to mount the CFTs on a Strike Eagle. It's got fly-by-wire with F-110-GE-129 IPEs. More importantly is the addition of IRST, JHMCS and AESA radar to the aircraft. Those elements mixed with AIM-120C7s and AIM-9Xs makes it a very potent air to air threat able to compete with any older C-bird out there.

And the question was about the best F-15 for AAW, not who operates it. [:D]

ORIGINAL: flying penguin

ORIGINAL: Primarchx

The F-15SA seems like the most likely candidate to me, just off the cuff.

Except it's a development of the Strike Eagle, and not the C model, so it shares similar weight penalties as the the E model.

Oh and the fact that it's only relevant if you are making a Saudi scenario obviously

[flying penguin]

ORIGINAL: Primarchx

You don't need to mount the CFTs on a Strike Eagle. It's got fly-by-wire with F-110-GE-129 IPEs. More importantly is the addition of IRST, JHMCS and AESA radar to the aircraft. Those elements mixed with AIM-120C7s and AIM-9Xs makes it a very potent air to air threat able to compete with any older C-bird out there.

And the question was about the best F-15 for AAW, not who operates it. [:D]

The OP specified Americans in his second post:

Do you know if the game simulates that too?
I mean, playing with Americans (present day), do you suggest me the f-15C?

The US fleet of C models is so big there are plenty of variations in update levels, but they started adding AESA radar in 2007, AIM 9X Block I is deployed in the F-15C fleet and both JHMCS and IRST are on the way (although IRST is further off).

As for AMRAAMs, given the Saudi contract for the C7 was signed last year (never mind delivery), and the D model is slated to finish USAF operation testing in FY14, I'm not sure you can really credit the SA with a lead on it.

Don't get me wrong, the SA is a very capable aircraft (as are all the improved F-15 models), but anything based on the heavier (even without CFT) E model is going to struggle to best a fully upgraded C model.

But then again given the OP wants to fight as the Americans, it's not really a difficult question to answer given they don't fly the SA [:D]

Although this is all with the big caveat that I haven't checked the DB to see what upgrade levels are modelled [:)]

[Wasicun]

Thank you for your answers guys!
Yes i want to play with the americans, and i want to fly with the best american f-15. So the best American AAW F15 is the F15C?

Thank you again and sorry for my English