The F15 Eagle aircraft of the USAF is still one of the greatest combat jet planes in existance, even now around 30 years after the first example of the aircraft flew in 1972.
The Eagle entered service in 1976, four years after it's first flight. F15 aircraft were designed as air superiority aircraft, gaining and maintaining control of the skies above a conflict zone or potential trouble area, thus allowing other aircraft to safely carry out their own missions. To enable it to succeed in this function F15 Eagles can be equiped with a variety of AA ordance including the short range AIM9 Sidewinder heat-seeker, the mid range AIM7 Sparrow or the modern AIM120 AMRAAMS. In addition it carries the shredding power of an M61 Gatling for short range engagements.
