May 17, 2024 marked a remarkable feat for the US Air Force's F-15E Strike Eagle #89-0487, nicknamed 'Lucky'. During a combat mission, 'Lucky' sured the 15.000 flight hour mark. This fighter is the only US Air Force F-15E to have shot down another aircraft in the air. No F-15 Eagle has been shot down in combat to date.
It is known that “Lucky” is currently deployed in the US Central Command area of responsibility; however, it is unclear exactly what the May 17 combat sortie was.
This achievement underscores the success of the F-15E Strike Eagle series. Although the F-22 Raptor was intended to replace the F-15 line, its premature cancellation and limited production meant that F-15 production continued, now in the advanced form of the F-15EX Eagle II. The F-15s will now outlive the F-22, its planned successor, and complement the fighter fleet Stealth of the Air Force's fifth-generation F-35.
With two crew – a pilot and a weapons systems officer – the F-15E Strike Eagle 'Lucky' first entered service in 1989. With around 35 years of operation, it is one of the Air Force's oldest fighters. He was assigned to the 4th Fighter Wing at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in 1989 and served with the 335th Fighter Squadron.
The relatively low operating costs, impressive range and large payload capacity of the F-15 Strike Eagles ensure their continued service into the future. The approach is for the stealthy F-35 to clear the way, eliminating enemy air defenses, creating a more permissive scenario so that the F-15 can follow with greater payloads and greater firepower.
In current times, the F-15E variant is aging, and the Air Force has requested the retirement of 25 F-15E Strike Eagles and 32 Block 20 F-22 Raptors. However, it appears that Congress has blocked these retirements.
It is not known whether 'Lucky' was one of the 25 F-15Es that the Air Force wanted to deactivate in Fiscal Year 2025, however, the American Congress later authorized the acquisition of 24 more F-15EX Eagle II.
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