An F-15 Eagle fighter flies over the Joint Pacific Alaskan Range Complex during Red Flag-Alaska on Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, April 29, 2009. Red Flag is a Pacific Air Forces-directed field training exercise for U.S. and coalition forces flown under simulated air-combat conditions. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Christopher)
The F-15E Strike Eagle Demo Team at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., displays the F-15E's capabilities as a dual-role fighter designed to perform air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. (Photo: USAF)
The F-15E Strike Eagle Demo Team at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., displays the F-15E's capabilities as a dual-role fighter designed to perform air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. (Photo: USAF)
The F-15E Strike Eagle Demo Team at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., displays the F-15E's capabilities as a dual-role fighter designed to perform air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. (Photo: USAF)
An F-15C Eagle from the 48th Fighter Wing, Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, breaks away from a 100th Air Expeditionary Wing KC-135R Stratotanker from Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England. Armed with AIM-7 Sparrow missiles on the fuselage, AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles on the inboard wing pylon, and Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles on the outboard wing pylon, the Eagles are flying Combat Air Patrol missions to maintain air superiority and protect Operation Allied Force aircraft. (Photo: U.S. Air Force Photo)
Three F-15C and one F-15D aircraft fly next to Mt. Fuji. (Photo: U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Marvin Krause)
An F-15C from the 67th Fighter Squadron prepares to refuel in flight from a KC-135R, from the 909th Air Refueling Squadron, June 28, 2001, while on a routine training mission over the Pacific ocean. Both units are stationed at Kadena Air Base, Japan. (Photo: U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Marvice Krause)
Lt. Gen. Paul Hester (in foreground), 5th Air Force commander, and 67th Fighter Squadron commander Lt. Col. James Browne fly their F-15C Eagles from the 18th Wing, Kadena Air Base, Japan, near the coast of Naha, Okinawa, Japan, during a training mission. (Photo: U.S. Air Force by Master Sgt. Marvin Krause)
Lt. Gen. Paul Hester (in foreground), 5th Air Force commander, and 67th Fighter Squadron commander Lt. Col. James Browne fly their F-15C Eagles from the 18th Wing, Kadena Air Base, Japan, near the coast of Naha, Okinawa, Japan, during a training mission. (Photo: U.S. Air Force by Master Sgt. Marvin Krause)
An F-15C Eagle from Langley Air Force Base, Va., flies over Washington during an early morning combat air patrol mission in support of Operation Noble Eagle. Operations Noble Eagle and Enduring Freedom are not only a joint U.S. campaign, they are combined campaigns. Coalition allies have flown nearly 1,000 missions, highlighting international resolve in the war on terrorism. NATO partners deployed forces to the US for the first time to help defend American air space. (Photo: U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Greg L. Davis)
F-15C Eagle aircraft armed with AIM-7 Sparrow and AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles deploy to Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Shield. The aircraft are assigned to the 36th Tactical Fighter Wing.
Capts. Matt French and Daniel Arkema fire AIM-7M Sparrow medium-range air-to-air missiles from their F-15C Eagles during an exercise here Aug. 3. Captains French and Arkema are pilots with the 493rd Fighter Squadron at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England. (Photo: U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Michael Ammons)
An F-15C Aggressor from the 65th Aggressor Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., flies over a mountain range on a refueling mission at Red Flag-Alaska July 25. Red Flag-Alaska enables aviation units to sharpen their combat skills by flying simulated combat sorties in a realistic threat environment. More than 80 aircraft and 1,500 servicemembers from six countries are participating in the exercise July 12 to 27. (Photo: U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Tana Stevenson)
An F-15C Aggressor from the 65th Aggressor Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., flies over a mountain range on a refueling mission at Red Flag-Alaska July 25. Red Flag-Alaska enables aviation units to sharpen their combat skills by flying simulated combat sorties in a realistic threat environment. More than 80 aircraft and 1,500 servicemembers from six countries are participating in the exercise July 12 to 27. (Photo: U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Tana Stevenson)
An F-15C Aggressor from the 65th Aggressor Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., flies over a mountain range on a refueling mission at Red Flag-Alaska July 25. Red Flag-Alaska enables aviation units to sharpen their combat skills by flying simulated combat sorties in a realistic threat environment. More than 80 aircraft and 1,500 servicemembers from six countries are participating in the exercise July 12 to 27. (Photo: U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Tana Stevenson)
An "Aggressor" F-15C Eagle lands following a Red Flag 09-5 training mission using tactics that U.S. and coalition partners may encounter when facing an enemy force Aug 26, 2009, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. The Aggressors, coupled with a wide range of advanced ground threat systems, make Red Flag one of the most realistic air combat training exercises in the world. U.S. Air Force, Navy and Marines Corps units are participating in Red Flag 09-5 along with allied forces from Italy and the United Arab Emirates. The aircraft is assigned to the 64th Aggressor Squadron at Nellis AFB. (Photo: U. S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Michael R. Holzworth)
F-15C Eagles from the 67th Fighter Squadron at Kadena Air Base, Japan, participate in bilateral training with other U.S. forces and the Japan Air Self Defense Force Feb. 25, 2010. (Photo: U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Angelique Perez)
An F-15C Eagle from the 44th Fighter Squadron, Kadena Air Base, flies over the island of Okinawa, Japan July 22, 2009. The mission took place during a total solar eclipse, a rare opportunity for service members stationed here to witness this unique event. (Photo: U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Chad Warren)
