Why The Famous Scud-Hunting, Soviet-Era Aircraft destroying F-15 Have a “zero-loss” Combat Record

By Kris Osborn, President, Center for Military Modernization

Hunting Scud missiles launchers, destroying Soviet-built fighter aircraft in the air and destroying Iraqi artillery from the air were a few of the defining missions the F-15 performed successfully in the early 1990s Gulf War.  The F-15s “zero-loss” air-combat record is well known and greatly respected by military leaders, war commanders and supporters of the US military. 

The United States Air Force confirmed that its F-15Cs had 34 confirmed kills of Iraqi aircraft during the 1991 Gulf War, destroying most the enemy aircraft with missile fire and GBU-10 laser-guided bombs, according to Steve Davis 2003 text called “F-15E Strike Eagle, All Weather Attack Aircraft.” 

Davies and the US Air Force have confirmed that F-15s killed fie Mikoyan MiG-29s, two MiG-25s, eight MiG-23s, two MiG-21s, two Sukhoi Su-cargo aircraft. As part of its Gulf War effort, the F-15E achieved its first air-to-air kill on February 14, 1991, destroying an Iraqi Mi-24 “Hind” helicopter, Davies confirms. 

All of this raises the question about the F-15E fighter jet in terms of its combat success. Why has the F-15 been so successful and why is a 1970s-aircraft still flying at a high level of operational competence? 

After decades of service and upgrades, a perfect “zero-loss” combat record, and the introduction of the advanced F-15EX, the F-15 has emblazoned itself on the history of war and military operations.

While pilot ability, tactics, and experience are all less calculable “X-factors,” yet critical for air war victory, many are likely to wonder what kinds of technologies may have given the F-15 such an edge for decades.

The ability to fly at Mach 2.5 speeds, maneuver and dogfight with a high 1.24 thrust-to-weight ratio, and perform attack missions with ranges over 1,000 miles are likely reasons why the famous 1980s-era F-15 Eagle has never been shot down in combat.