Original subtitles

Narrator: IT'S THE AIRCRAFT THAT CHANGED

THE FACE OF AIR-TO-AIR COMBAT.

Woman: YOU COULD TELL,

THIS WAS ABSOLUTELY A DOMINANT FIGHTER.

Narrator: IT TURNED THE TIDE OF AERIAL WARFARE

BACK IN AMERICA'S FAVOR.

AND RAISED THE STANDARD TO STAGGERING HEIGHTS.

Man: ITS KILL RATIO IS 104:0.

THIS IS UNPRECEDENTED IN AERIAL WARFARE.

Narrator: THIS IS THE INSIDE STORY OF AN AVIATION GIANT.

HOW DID THE AIR FORCE F-15 OVERCOME ITS SKEPTICS

AND SURVIVE TRAGEDY?

HOW DID IT COME TO DOMINATE THE SKIES OF EARTH?

Man: YOU BEAUTIFUL SON OF A BITCH.

Narrator: AND BLAZE ITS WAY INTO THE HEAVENS BEYOND?

Woman: THERE WERE THOSE WHO THOUGHT IT COULD NEVER BE DONE.

Narrator: JANUARY 1999.

YUGOSLAVIA'S PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC'S

ETHNIC CLEANSING CAMPAIGN TEARS HIS COUNTRY APART.

SERBIAN MILITIAS MASSACRE BOSNIANS AND ETHNIC ALBANIANS.

TERRIFIED REFUGEES PILE UP ALONG THE BORDERS.

IT'S WINTER. THERE'S NOWHERE TO GO.

Wesley Clark: THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE

HAVE BEEN FORCED FROM VILLAGES,

FROM THEIR HOMES, AT GUNPOINT.

Narrator: NATO HATCHES A BOLD NEW PLAN...

OPERATION ALLIED FORCES AIMS TO DEFEAT THE SERBS FROM THE AIR.

Michael Shower: NATO WAS VERY AFRAID

TO GET INTO A QUAGMIRE OF A EUROPEAN GROUND WAR.

Narrator: LIEUTENANT COLONEL MICHAEL SHOWER

WAS THE WEAPONS OFFICER OF AN F-15 SQUADRON

USED IN OPERATION ALLIED FORCE.

Shower: IT WAS REALLY THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY

THAT WE'VE TRIED TO DO THIS STRICTLY BY AIRPOWER,

TO ATTACK A COUNTRY AND NOT HAVE ANY GROUND FORCES INVOLVED.

Narrator: AN AIR WAR IS IMMINENT,

BUT THERE'S A PROBLEM.

SERBIA'S AIR DEFENSE SYSTEM IS FORMIDABLE,

THANKS TO THE COUNTRY'S CLOSE TIES TO RUSSIA.

Shower: THE RUSSIANS SOLD MILITARY HARDWARE

TO THE SERBIANS.

A LOT OF THEIR TRAINING WAS FROM RUSSIAN FORCES,

SO THEY'RE VERY TIED HEAVILY

WITH THE RUSSIAN MILITARY IN GENERAL.

Narrator: NATO'S AIR WAR COULD STIR UP COLD WAR TENSIONS,

BUT THERE'S LITTLE CHOICE.

Clark: THE RISK OF NOT TAKING ACTION

IS FAR GREATER THAN THE RISKS OF WHAT WE'RE DOING.

Narrator: MARCH 1999.

NIGHT ONE OF THE WAR.

16 COALITION PLANES HEAD TOWARD SERBIAN AIRSPACE,

READY TO RUMBLE.

TO LEAD THIS CHARGE,

THE AIR FORCE LEANS ON ITS GO-TO FIGHTER JET, THE F-15.

SLEEK,

SWIFT,

AND VERY DEADLY.

IT'S THE AIR FORCE'S WEAPON OF CHOICE

WHEN THERE'S ANY REAL CHANCE OF AIR-TO-AIR COMBAT.

Jason Weave Nalepa: THE F-15 WAS DESIGNED

FOR THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF ESTABLISHING AIR DOMINANCE.

Narrator: TWO PRATT & WHITNEY TURBOFAN ENGINES

GIVE THE F-15 A TOP SPEED OF MACH 2.5.

THAT'S TWO AND A HALF TIMES THE SPEED OF SOUND.

Nalepa: THIS IS WHERE ALL THE THRUST COMES FROM.

YOU CAN SEE IT'S SLIGHTLY CHARRED.

THAT'S BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF HEAT AND A LOT OF ENERGY

COMING OUT OF THESE.

Narrator: THE F-15 CAN FLY THREE TIMES AS FAST

AS A 747 PASSENGER JET.

ITS MASSIVE ENGINES GENERATE OVER 50,000 POUNDS OF THRUST.

Nalepa: THRUST IS THE AMOUNT OF PUSH BEHIND THE AIRCRAFT,

PROVIDING US THE SPEED SO THAT WE CAN OUT-CLIMB AN OPPONENT.

Narrator: BACK IN EASTERN EUROPE,

TWO F-15s ESCORT TEN F-117 STEALTH FIGHTERS

AND TWO B-2 BOMBERS INTO SERBIAN AIRSPACE...

$10 BILLION OF HIGH-END AIRCRAFT,

ALL UNDER THE GUARD OF THE F-15.

THE BOMBERS ARE SPECIALISTS IN HITTING GROUND TARGETS,

BUT CAN DO LITTLE AIR-TO-AIR.

IF SERB FIGHTERS DETECT THEM,

THE F-15s MAY BE THEIR ONLY HOPE OF SURVIVAL.

Shower: IT ONLY TAKES ONE TO GET THROUGH,

AND WE DIDN'T SEE HIM

UNTIL HE GETS BEHIND ONE OF OUR GUYS AND SHOOTS HIM DOWN,

THAT'S A BIG DEAL.

IT COULD PUT A STOP ON THE WHOLE AIR WAR.

Narrator: SURE ENOUGH, MINUTES INTO HIS FLIGHT,

LIEUTENANT COLONEL MICHAEL SHOWER

SPOTS AN UNIDENTIFIED AIRCRAFT.

Shower: WE KNEW THE ONLY AIRCRAFT

THE SERBIANS HAD ON ALERT WERE MIG-29s.

THEY HAD ABOUT 14 OF THEM.

WE GOT THERE AND DID ABOUT ONE SPIN IN THE CAP

AND TURNED BACK AROUND, AND I SAW A RADAR BLIP POP UP.

I GO, "SOMEBODY'S FLYING."

A FEW MILES DOWN THE WAY, HE TURNS AROUND.

NOW I SEE THAT RADAR BLIP,

INSTEAD OF STAYING ABOUT THE SAME PLACE,

STARTS GETTING CLOSER TO ME.

AND, I GO, "OOP!" 25 MILES AWAY NOW.

Narrator: SHOWER IS IN THE HOT SEAT,

COMPLICATED BY A UNIQUE SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES.

Rebecca Grant: THE AIR WAR OVER KOSOVO WAS VERY DIFFERENT

FROM THE WAR IN THE DESERT A FEW YEARS EARLIER.

Narrator: AUTHOR DR. REBECCA GRANT

IS ONE OF THE FOREMOST CIVILIAN EXPERTS

ON AIR FORCE HISTORY AND AIRCRAFT.

Grant: THE COALITION AIRCRAFT FLYING FOR NATO

WERE OPERATING IN A MUCH SMALLER AIRSPACE.

OVER KOSOVO, THE MIGs FROM THE SERBIAN AIR FORCE

WERE ABLE TO MIX IN MUCH MORE CLOSELY

THAN WE WOULD HAVE LIKED WITH FRIENDLY AIRCRAFT.

Narrator: SHOWER HAS JUST SECONDS TO DETERMINE

WHETHER HE'S FACING AN ENEMY OR A FRIENDLY AIRCRAFT.

HE TURNS TO THE RADAR, HOUSED IN THE F-15'S LONG NOSE.

THE RADAR SENDS A CODED ELECTRONIC SIGNAL

REQUESTING INFORMATION FROM THE UNKNOWN AIRCRAFT.

Shower: THAT RADAR CAN TELL YOU A LOT OF DETAIL

ABOUT AN AIRCRAFT,

AND NOT JUST ALTITUDE, SPEED, HEADING, ET CETERA,

BUT MAYBE WHAT KIND OF AIRCRAFT IS IT.

IS IT A MIG-29, A SU-27? IS IT A 747?

Narrator: PILOTS CALL THE SIGNAL "REPLY OR DIE."

IF THE CHALLENGING AIRCRAFT IS FRIENDLY,

IT RESPONDS IMMEDIATELY.

THE PLANE RACING TOWARD MICHAEL SHOWER, HOWEVER,

STAYS SILENT.

Shower: IMMEDIATELY, I GO, WITHIN JUST ABOUT TWO SECONDS,

I GO, THAT'S A MIG-29, I KNOW.

MY BLOOD PRESSURE WAS DEFINITELY STARTING TO GO UP.

Narrator: SHOWER QUICKLY REALIZES

THAT THE MIG IS NOT CLOSING IN ON HIM,

BUT ON ONE OF THE PRECIOUS F-117s BEHIND HIM

THAT HE'S CHARGED WITH PROTECTING.

SHOWER HAS TO AIM HIS MISSILE WITH PINPOINT PRECISION.

HE PUTS HIS HAND ON THE TRIGGER AND FIRES.

Shower: IT GOES INTO A BIG FIREBALL.

SO I SEE THE FIREBALL,

AND I WATCH THE AIRCRAFT KIND OF SPIRAL INTO THE GROUND.

OBVIOUSLY, I SAY, "SPLASH ONE! SPLASH ONE!" ON THE RADIO,

AND WATCH IT IMPACT THE GROUND.

Narrator: "SPLASH ONE" MEANS NOT ONLY A HIT, BUT A KILL,

AND THIS "SPLASH ONE" COMES JUST IN THE NICK OF TIME.

Grant: IT CAME WITHIN JUST A FEW THOUSAND FEET

OF HAVING THE SERBIAN MIG CLOSE IN ON THE F-117s.

THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT THIS PILOT, CAPTAIN MICHAEL SHOWER,

HAD SAVED SOME OF THE F-117s.

Narrator: WITH THE SERBIAN MIGs NO LONGER A THREAT,

THE B-2s AND F-117s GET TO WORK...

WIPING OUT DOZENS OF MILITARY TARGETS.

Grant: THE F-15s WERE ONCE AGAIN IN THE LEAD,

CLEARING THE SKIES OF SERBIAN MIGs,

AND ENABLING NATO TO CARRY ON THAT AIR WAR

AND STOP THE HUMANITARIAN TRAGEDY GOING ON IN KOSOVO.

Narrator: AFTER TWO MONTHS OF BOMBING, MILOSEVIC GIVES UP.

LED BY THE F-15s, OPERATION ALLIED FORCE PROVES

THAT A WAR CAN BE WON BY AIRPOWER ALONE.

Bill Clinton: MR. MILOSEVIC ACCEPTED THESE CONDITIONS

FOR ONE REASON...

YOU MADE HIM DO IT.

Narrator: THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME

THE F-15 HAS GONE HEAD-TO-HEAD WITH THE MIG.

THE F-15'S DOMINANCE HAS EXTRA SIGNIFICANCE.

IT'S BECAUSE OF THE MIG THAT THE F-15 FIRST CAME INTO BEING.

MAY 1967.

THE UNITED STATES IS TWO YEARS INTO AN UGLY WAR

WITH NORTH VIETNAM.

U.S. FORCES AREN'T JUST GETTING KILLED ON THE GROUND.

THEY'RE TAKING A POUNDING IN THE AIR COMBAT, TOO.

Grant: THE VIETNAM WAR, EARLY ON,

WAS A HUGE SHOCK TO THE AMERICAN CONCEPT OF AIR SUPERIORITY.

Dick Anderegg: THERE WAS NO DOUBT

THAT AIRPOWER WAS NOT AS DOMINANT AS IT HAD BEEN

IN WORLD WAR II.

Narrator: DICK ANDEREGG WAS THE DIRECTOR

OF THE AIR FORCE HISTORY & MUSEUMS PROGRAM.

HE COMMANDED AN F-15 SQUADRON FOR TWO YEARS.

Anderegg: THE AIR FORCE COMING INTO THE VIETNAM WAR

HAD BEEN DESIGNED TO BE A NUCLEAR FORCE,

TO SHOOT RADAR MISSILES AT LARGE BOMBER-SIZED TARGETS

IN A NUCLEAR-WAR SCENARIO.

BUT THE WAR OVER NORTH VIETNAM WASN'T LIKE THAT.

THE AIRCRAFT THERE WERE SMALL, FIGHTER-SIZED TARGETS,

HIGHLY MANEUVERABLE AT MUCH LOWER ALTITUDES.

Grant: THE DISADVANTAGE FOR THE U.S. PILOTS

WAS THAT THEY WERE FLYING

HEAVIER AIRCRAFT NOT DESIGNED FOR AIR COMBAT.

Narrator: NORTH VIETNAM'S PREMIER DOGFIGHTER

IS THE SMALL, TOUGH MIG.

IT'S BUILT AND SOLD BEHIND THE IRON CURTAIN.

Grant: NORTH VIETNAM GOT ITS MIGs FROM THE SOVIET UNION.

THE MIGs WERE SMALL, VERY AGILE,

AND THEIR PILOTS, ALTHOUGH FEW IN NUMBER,

WERE QUITE WELL-TRAINED.

Narrator: THE NORTH VIETNAMESE SHOOT DOWN

ALMOST TWO U.S. AIRCRAFT A DAY.

[MACHINE GUN FIRE]

THE COST IS MORE THAN JUST THE PLANES.

Anderegg: THE DEMOGRAPHIC OF THE PRISONER OF WAR POPULATION

IN NORTH VIETNAM AND HANOI WAS ALMOST TOTALLY AIRMEN.

IN THE HANOI HILTON

AND OTHER PRISONER OF WAR CAMPS IN NORTH VIETNAM,

THE POPULATION THERE WERE ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY

AIR FORCE, NAVY, AND MARINE CORPS AIRMEN.

Narrator: INADEQUATE PLANES,

THOUSANDS OF PILOTS CAPTURED OR KILLED...

IT'S A BIG WAKE-UP CALL FOR THE U.S. AIR FORCE.

Grant: THE AIR COMBAT EXPERIENCE IN VIETNAM

ALMOST IMMEDIATELY INDICATED THAT THE U.S.

HAD THE WRONG TYPE OF AIRPLANES

TO GO UP AGAINST THE SOVIET MIGs.

Narrator: JUST WHEN IT SEEMS THINGS CAN'T GET WORSE,

RUSSIA UNVEILS ITS LATEST THREAT.

Grant: THE SOVIET UNION ALWAYS LIKED TO SHOW OFF

ITS TOP MILITARY EQUIPMENT IN BIG PUBLIC DISPLAYS.

IT WAS DONE WITH THE VIEW TOWARDS INTIMIDATING THE WEST.

Narrator: ONE PLANE GRABS U.S. ATTENTION IMMEDIATELY.

IT'S CALLED THE MIG-25.

IT'S A MORE ADVANCED VERSION OF THE PLANE

THAT IS BEATING THEM IN VIETNAM.

Grant: TO WESTERN ANALYSTS, IT LOOKED LIKE THE MIG-25

MIGHT BE THE MOST DOMINANT FIGHTER EVER BUILT.

ANALYSTS ESTIMATED THAT IT MIGHT BE ABLE TO FLY

IN EXCESS OF MACH 2, MAYBE EVEN MACH 3.

THAT MEANS THREE TIMES THE SPEED OF SOUND.

Anderegg: IT WAS RECEIVED AS A THREAT.

HERE'S ANOTHER LEAP

INTO THE NEXT GENERATION OF FIGHTER AIRCRAFT

THAT WE DON'T SEE THAT WE HAVE ANYTHING

THAT CAN MATCH RIGHT NOW.

Narrator: SUDDENLY, IT LOOKS LIKE THE UNITED STATES

ISN'T JUST GOING TO LOSE VIETNAM.

IT'S GOING TO LOSE THE COLD WAR, TOO.

Grant: THE U.S. AIR FORCE KNEW

THEY HAD TO BUILD A TRUE AIR-SUPERIORITY FIGHTER

AND GET IT INTO PRODUCTION AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

Narrator: DECEMBER 1968.

THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE GATHERS AT THE PENTAGON.

THEIR NEW $15.4 MILLION WEAPONS PROGRAM

DEMANDS THE IMPOSSIBLE: A COMBAT FIGHTER

THAT CAN SHOOT ANY SOVIET PLANE OUT OF THE SKY.

Grant: AT FIRST THE AIR FORCE WASN'T SURE

WHAT APPROACH TO TAKE.

WHAT WAS GOING TO BE MORE IMPORTANT?

THE ABILITY TO TURN AND BURN

AND GET THE ADVANTAGE OVER YOUR OPPONENT,

OR PURE SPEED?

Narrator: THE AIR FORCE REVIEWS DOZENS OF POTENTIAL DESIGNS.

Grant: THE AIR FORCE PUT OUT REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS

FOR A NEW FIGHTER THAT FALL.

THEY WENT OUT TO ALL OF AMERICAN AEROSPACE INDUSTRY

AT THAT POINT, SPECIFICALLY McDONNELL DOUGLAS,

GENERAL DYNAMICS, FAIRCHILD REPUBLIC,

NORTH AMERICAN, ET CETERA.

Narrator: FINALLY, AVIATION GIANT McDONNELL DOUGLAS

COMES UP WITH THE GOODS.

Grant: McDONNELL DOUGLAS GOT TO WORK VERY FAST.

THE FIRST F-15 ROLLED OUT OF THE PRODUCTION FACILITY

IN ST. LOUIS JUST 30 MONTHS LATER.

Narrator: JULY 1972.

THE McDONNELL DOUGLAS PLANT IN ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

THE AIR FORCE ROLLS OUT A BRAND-NEW FIGHTER,

THE FIRST IT'S COMMISSIONED IN ALMOST 20 YEARS.

THEY CALL IT THE F-15 EAGLE.

Woman: I CHRISTEN THEE "EAGLE,"

AND MAY YOU REIGN SUPREME IN YOUR DOMAIN.

Man: HEAR, HEAR.

Grant: IT SIMPLY LOOKS LIKE NO OTHER AIRCRAFT

THAT YOU'VE EVER SEEN.

IT'S STREAMLINED FOR SPEED.

IT HAS THE ABILITY TO WITHSTAND THE GRAVITATIONAL FORCES.

ITS AERODYNAMIC QUALITIES ARE TRULY ORIGINAL.

IT LOOKS LIKE NO OTHER FIGHTER THAT CAME BEFORE IT.

Narrator: ONE OF THE KEY PARTS OF THE DESIGN... THE COCKPIT.

Grant: IT WAS ESSENTIAL TO GIVE THE PILOT

A 360-DEGREE VIEW

SO THAT HE COULD SEE ANY ANGLE OF ATTACK

BY AN ENEMY FIGHTER.

YOU LOOK UP THROUGH THAT COCKPIT,

AND YOU KNOW THAT YOU ARE IN A POSITION

TO DOMINATE THE WHOLE SKY AROUND YOU.

Narrator: WHAT THE PILOT CAN'T SEE WITH HIS OWN EYES,

HE CAN USE THE F-15'S RADAR TO TRACK.

Grant: THE F-15 HAD SOMETHING ELSE THAT MADE IT DOMINANT,

AND THAT WAS ITS ANAPG-63 RADAR.

Narrator: THIS REVOLUTIONARY NEW RADAR IS SO POWERFUL

THAT IT CAN SPOT ENEMY FIGHTERS

WAY BEYOND THE PILOT'S VISUAL RANGE.

Grant: WITH THE BEYOND-VISUAL-RANGE RADAR,

IT WAS POSSIBLE TO TAKE WHAT PILOTS NOW CALL A BVR SHOT.

WHAT THAT MEANT, ESSENTIALLY,

WAS THAT THE PILOT COULD DETECT AN INCOMING ENEMY FIGHTER,

LINE UP A SHOT,

ALL BEFORE THAT FIGHTER KNEW THAT IT WAS UNDER ATTACK.

Narrator: THE PENTAGON IS IMPRESSED,

BUT PILOTS SEE A PROBLEM.

THE F-15 APPEARS TO HAVE ONE FATAL FLAW.

Anderegg: I THINK THE BIGGEST SURPRISE WAS HOW BIG IT WAS.

WE HAD JUST BEEN FIGHTING SMALL MIGs IN NORTH VIETNAM,

AND SO WE KNEW THAT SMALL WAS AN ADVANTAGE,

ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE DOGFIGHTING,

SO WHEN THE F-15 AND ITS LARGE SIZE CAME OUT,

WE WENT, "HMMM. WOW, THIS IS A BIG AIRPLANE."

Narrator: AS THESE LARGE FIGHTERS

ROLL OFF THE ASSEMBLY LINE,

THE AIR FORCE MUST ALSO ROLL OUT AN ELITE CLASS OF PILOTS

READY FOR THE CHALLENGE.

Grant: THERE WAS NO QUESTION THAT THE AIR FORCE CHOSE TO PUT

ITS BEST PILOTS INTO THE F-15.

WHY WOULDN'T YOU?

YOU HAVE TO HAVE YOUR BEST PILOTS

TO GET THE BEST CAPABILITY

OUT OF A TOP AIR-SUPERIORITY FIGHTER.

Narrator: THE PILOT'S MOTTO... BRING IT ON.

AND THREE YEARS AFTER THE PLANE DEBUTS,

THE FIRST GROUP OF F-15 PILOTS

DECIDES TO SHOW THE WORLD WHAT THEIR NEW TOY IS MADE OF.

Narrator: JANUARY 1975.

GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, NORTH DAKOTA.

AN F-15 PILOT PUTS ON A HIGH-ALTITUDE PRESSURE SUIT

AND PREPARES TO TEST AN F-15 STREAK EAGLE.

HIS GOAL... TO PUSH THE LIMITS OF WHAT'S POSSIBLE

AND SEE HOW FAST AND HOW HIGH THE NEW FIGHTER CAN GO.

[RADIO CHATTER]

THE F-15 TAKES OFF.

17 SECONDS LATER, IT'S FLYING FASTER THAN THE SPEED OF SOUND.

IT TILTS UPWARD, EXECUTING AN ALMOST VERTICAL CLIMB.

IN JUST 3 MINUTES, THE F-15 ROCKETS UP TO 98,000 FEET,

FASTER THAN ANY PLANE THAT'S EVER BEEN BUILT.

Grant: ANYONE WHO FLEW OR SAW THE F-15 IN FLIGHT

WAS PRETTY CONFIDENT THAT THIS WAS

THE TRUE AIR-SUPERIORITY FIGHTER

THAT THE AIR FORCE WANTED SO BADLY.

Narrator: IT'S A TRIUMPH FOR THE AIR FORCE,

ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THE RECORD WAS PREVIOUSLY HELD

BY ITS OLD ENEMY... THE SOVIET MIG.

BUT WITH THE VIETNAM WAR OVER,

THE F-15 STILL HAS TO PROVE ITSELF IN BATTLE.

IT GETS ITS CHANCE IN A MOST UNEXPECTED PLACE.

1979.

THE COLD WAR SPREADS TO THE MIDDLE EAST.

THE SOVIETS ARM COUNTRIES LIKE SYRIA AND EGYPT

WITH THEIR MOST ADVANCED WEAPONS.

ITS TOP SELLER? THE MIG.

ISRAEL LOOKS TO THE U.S. FOR SUPPORT.

IT MUST PROTECT ITSELF AGAINST THE GROWING THREAT.

Anderegg: WE'VE ALWAYS HAD QUITE A RELATIONSHIP

WITH THE ISRAELI AIR FORCE,

WHERE WE'VE TRADED KNOWLEDGE OF AIRPLANES AND TACTICS.

WHEN THEY SAW THE F-15,

THEY WANTED THE F-15 FOR OBVIOUS REASONS.

Narrator: BY JUNE 27, 1979,

THE ISRAELIS OPERATE 25 OF THE NEW AMERICAN JETS.

THE NEW WEAPON COMES JUST IN TIME.

A FEW MINUTES BEFORE NOON,

FOUR SYRIAN MIG-21s ZOOM TOWARDS ISRAELI AIRSPACE...

A SURPRISE ATTACK.

THE ISRAELIS DETECT THE THREAT

AND ALERT FOUR F-15s THEY HAVE ON ROUTINE PATROL.

Man: I REMEMBER THE HORIZON WERE VERY, VERY CLEAR,

AND BELOW US THERE WERE A LITTLE BIT OF CLOUDS,

AND WE GOT THE GREEN LIGHT TO GO AND INTERCEPT THE MIGs.

Narrator: BRIGADIER GENERAL MOSHE MELNIK

WAS ONE OF THE ISRAELI AIR FORCE'S TOP FIGHTER PILOTS

FOR OVER 38 YEARS.

ON THAT DAY IN 1979, HE'S IN THE HOT SEAT OF AN AIRCRAFT

NEVER BEFORE TRIED IN COMBAT.

Moshe Melnik: WE GOT VERY IMMEDIATE LOCKS, RADAR LOCKS

ON THE MIGs.

IT WAS IN THE DISTANCE OF ABOUT 30 OR 25 MILES,

AND WE GOT PERMISSION TO FIRE.

Narrator: TO DETERMINE WHEN AND WHERE TO FIRE,

MELNIK RELIES ON THE F-15'S HEADS-UP DISPLAY.

THE HEADS-UP DISPLAY, OR HUD, IS A PIECE OF TRANSPARENT GLASS

LOCATED ON TOP OF THE PILOT'S INSTRUMENT PANEL.

AIRSPEED, ALTITUDE, TARGETS...

THEY'RE ALL DISPLAYED RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE PILOT'S EYES.

Anderegg: ALL THE CONTROLS THAT YOU NEEDED TO DO THAT

WERE ON THE STICK AND THE THROTTLES,

SO YOU NEVER HAD TO TAKE YOUR HANDS OFF

TO MOVE ANYTHING WHILE YOU'RE DOGFIGHTING.

EVERYTHING IS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS.

Narrator: MELNIK'S HEADS-UP DISPLAY

SHOWS THAT THE MIG IS APPROACHING FAST.

THIS IS MOSHE MELNIK'S ACTUAL VIDEO.

MELNIK LAUNCHES ONE OF HIS MISSILES.

IT MISSES.

NOW THE MIGs ARE ON HIGH ALERT.

Melnik: THE MIGs WERE TURNING,

TOOK A VERY SHARP TURN TO THE NORTH

BECAUSE THEY HAVE SEEN THE MISSILES,

AND THAT'S HOW YOU PROTECT AGAINST THE MISSILES.

SO THE RADAR LOCK WAS BROKEN,

AND IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT THESE MISSILES

ARE NOT GOING TO HIT THE MIGs.

Narrator: THE MIGs COUNTERATTACK...

ROARING TOWARD MELNIK AT 650 MILES PER HOUR.

MELNIK HAS TO COME UP WITH ANOTHER STRATEGY QUICKLY

OR RISK GETTING SHOT.

ONE OF THE F-15'S STRENGTHS...

IT HAS MORE THAN ONE WAY TO TAKE DOWN AN ENEMY FIGHTER.

Nalepa: WE HAVE SEVERAL WEAPONS AVAILABLE,

ONE OF WHICH BEING THE LONG-RANGE MIGHTY AMRAAM.

Narrator: THE AMRAAM IS A BEYOND-VISUAL-RANGE MISSILE,

MEANING THAT ONCE THE PILOT LOCKS INTO A TARGET,

THE AMRAAM'S RADAR GUIDES IT TOWARDS THE KILL.

THEY CALL THIS FEATURE "FIRE AND FORGET."

PILOTS CAN LAUNCH THE MISSILES

FROM ALMOST ANY SIDE OF THE PLANE.

Nalepa: THESE ARE THE FUSELAGE STATIONS,

SO WE HAVE TWO ON EITHER SIDE.

THESE ARE CALLED THE EAGLE CLAW

THAT WHEN YOU ARE IN A FIRING SOLUTION,

YOU HIT THE PICKLE BUTTON,

IT WILL EJECT THE AMRAAM OUT INTO THE SLIPSTREAM,

FORWARD FIRE THE MOTOR, AND IT'S ON ITS WAY TO DEAL DEATH.

Narrator: FOR CLOSER TARGETS,

THE F-15 CARRIES HEAT-SEEKING MISSILES

LIKE THE AIM-9L SIDEWINDER.

FOR ANYONE WHO GETS PAST THE MISSILES TO FACE IT UP CLOSE,

THE F-15 HAS YET ANOTHER WEAPON.

Nalepa: THIS IS THE MIGHTY M61 A1 GATLING GUN.

IT PROVIDES 6,000 ROUNDS PER MINUTE

IN A HIGH RATE OF FIRE, WHICH IS 100 ROUNDS PER SECOND,

AND THAT IS A LOT OF FIREPOWER AT YOUR FINGERTIP.

Narrator: OVER ISRAEL,

IT'S CLEAR THAT F-15 PILOT MOSHE MELNIK

IS IN A DOGFIGHT TO THE DEATH,

AND HIS FIRST MISSILES HAVE MISSED.

Melnik: NOW, YOU HAVE TWO CHOICES.

GET A NEW RADAR LOCK OR TO GET,

GO BACK TO THE OLD PILOT HABITS, GOOD HABITS,

AND TO USE YOUR BEST RADAR IN THE WORLD, YOUR EYES.

Narrator: MELNIK SETS HIS SIGHTS ON THE MIGs...

NOW JUST SECONDS AWAY.

THIS TIME, HE TURNS TO A MISSILE

DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR THE ISRAELI F-15s.

IT'S CALLED THE PYTHON 3.

Melnik: THIS MISSILE HAS A NAME IN HEBREW CALLED [HEBREW WORD].

[HEBREW WORD] IS AN ABBREVIATION OF "GOD FORBID."

GOD FORBID THAT YOU WILL ENCOUNTER

THIS MISSILE IN THE AIR.

IT WAS IN RANGE, AND I PRESS THE TRIGGER,

AND I TOOK THE FIRST SHOT,

AND THIS MISSILE HIT THE FIRST MIG.

Narrator: LESS THAN 30 SECONDS

AFTER MELNIK FIRST GOT THE ALERT,

THE ISRAELI F-15s DEFEAT THE SYRIAN MIGs.

Grant: THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THE F-15 FACED A MIG IN COMBAT,

AND THE WORLD COULD SEE

THAT ANY TIME THE F-15 CAME UP AGAINST A MIG,

THE F-15 WOULD WIN.

Narrator: MOSHE MELNIK BECOMES THE FIRST PILOT

TO SHOW THE WORLD

THE LETHAL QUALITIES OF THIS NEW FIGHTER.

Melnik: I'M SO PROUD AND SO HAPPY TO BE THE FIRST

THAT ACTUALLY PROVED ITS ABILITIES IN, IN THE COMBAT.

Narrator: THE MIG, KING FOR SO LONG,

DOMINANT IN VIETNAM, IS FINALLY TOPPLED.

IT SEEMS LIKE THE F-15 IS THE PERFECT WEAPON,

SO PERFECT THAT THE U.S. MILITARY

DECIDES TO GIVE THE F-15 ITS MOST CHALLENGING MISSION YET...

TO CONQUER OUTER SPACE.

1985. THE PENTAGON.

THE U.S. MILITARY HAS BEEN LOCKED INTO A COLD WAR

WITH THE SOVIET UNION FOR NEARLY 40 YEARS.

Man: WHEN THE COLD WAR WAS GOING ON,

WE AND THE SOVIETS HAD A LITTLE, UM, CONTEST GOING ON

OF WHO COULD BEAT THEIR CHEST THE BIGGEST.

Narrator: MAJOR GENERAL WILBERT D. PEARSON

COMMANDED THE AIR FORCE FLIGHT TEST CENTER

AT EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, CALIFORNIA.

Wilbert Pearson: THE SOVIETS HAD BUILT THEIR EMPIRE,

THEY'D EXPANDED AROUND THE BORDERS OF RUSSIA,

AND THEY WERE INTERESTED IN PROTECTING THAT,

SO THEY HAD FORCES MASSED.

THEY WERE VERY INTERESTED IN CONTINUING TO EXPAND,

OR AT LEAST PROTECTING WHAT THEY HAD.

Narrator: RUSSIA VS. THE U.S.

SPY VS. SPY.

EACH DETERMINED TO GAIN CONTROL

OF THE ULTIMATE HIGH GROUND... SPACE.

Pearson: THE SOVIETS WOULD PUT UP SATELLITES FREQUENTLY,

TAKE PICTURES, AND VERY, VERY ACCURATELY

KEEP UP WITH THE UNITED STATES MILITARY FORCES.

THEY COULD VERY QUICKLY LAUNCH SATELLITES IN A MATTER OF HOURS

AND LAUNCH A LOT OF THEM.

Narrator: THE PENTAGON SEES THE SATELLITES

AS A DANGEROUS THREAT TO NATIONAL SECURITY.

Ronald Reagan: THEY ALREADY HAVE DEPLOYED

AN ANTI-SATELLITE MISSILE.

THEY CAN KNOCK DOWN AND HAVE KNOCKED DOWN SATELLITES

THAT HAVE BEEN SENT UP IN THEIR TESTING.

Anderegg: WE WANTED TO HAVE A CAPACITY

TO BE ABLE TO SHOOT DOWN SATELLITES

AND WE DIDN'T HAVE THE CAPACITY TO DO IT SATELLITE-TO-SATELLITE,

SO WE TRIED IT OFF THE F-15.

THIS IS A VERY, VERY DIFFICULT THING TO DO.

YOU TALK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT HAS TO BE PERFECT.

I MEAN, THAT THING'S GOING 17,000 MILES AN HOUR,

THAT SATELLITE THAT'S IN ORBIT,

IT'S GOING 17,000 MILES AN HOUR.

YOU CAN'T BE OFF X NUMBER OF FEET LEFT AND RIGHT,

OR IT'LL BE BY YOU

BEFORE YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO DO ANYTHING.

Narrator: THE SATELLITE CHOSEN FOR DESTRUCTION...

AN OUT-OF-DATE AMERICAN RESEARCH SATELLITE CALLED P78-1.

THE MAN CHOSEN TO DESTROY IT... MAJOR GENERAL PEARSON.

Pearson: WHEN THEY ASKED ME WOULD I CONSIDER DOING IT,

IT TOOK ME ABOUT TWO MILLISECONDS TO ANSWER.

I WANTED TO BE A PART OF IT BECAUSE SPACE WAS ALWAYS

WHERE I THOUGHT THE NEXT WAR WAS GOING TO BE FOUGHT.

Narrator: SEPTEMBER 13, 1985.

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, CALIFORNIA.

AT 12:40 IN THE AFTERNOON, PEARSON STRAPS INTO HIS F-15.

THERE'S A 2,700-POUND, 18-FOOT-LONG MISSILE

MOUNTED TO THE JET'S CENTERLINE.

Pearson: OK, THIS IS PEARSON IN 084. WE'RE 64 SECONDS...

WE HAD WORKED SO HARD TO UNDERSTAND

AND MAKE SURE THAT WE DIDN'T MISS ANYTHING.

IT WAS JUST, IT REALLY WASN'T SOMETHING

YOU THOUGHT ABOUT ON THE DAY OF.

YOU JUST DID IT.

Narrator: AT 12:58, PEARSON TAKES OFF.

THIS IS ACTUAL VIDEO FROM HIS FLIGHT.

[RADIO CHATTER]

THE SATELLITE IS 345,000 FEET ABOVE THE EARTH.

IT'S MOVING AT 23,000 FEET PER SECOND.

ONCE HIS F-15 REACHES 30,000 FEET,

PEARSON HAS JUST A TEN-SECOND WINDOW

TO FIRE THE MISSILE.

IF HIS TIMING IS OFF, HE'LL MISS IT COMPLETELY.

Pearson: MARK 1.2 AT .86 MACH.

Narrator: ROCKETING INTO THE AIR,

PEARSON PULLS THE F-15 INTO A STEEP CLIMB.

[RADIO CHATTER]

AT 35,000 FEET, HE FIRES.

AN INFRARED HOMING DEVICE ON THE ROCKET

GUIDES IT AS IT HEADS INTO THE SKY.

THE F-15 HAS DONE WHAT NO OTHER PLANE HAS BEEN ABLE TO DO...

CONQUER THE HEAVENS.

Pearson: AND THEN AS THE ROCKET WENT UP,

IT CREATED A CONTRAIL, A LARGE PLUME OF SMOKE,

AND I WATCHED THAT AS FAR AS I COULD.

IT WAS A MOMENT. IT WAS A REAL MOMENT.

[ON RADIO] YOU BEAUTIFUL SON OF A BITCH.

IT WAS ALMOST ANTICLIMACTIC

BECAUSE SO MUCH WORK AND SO MUCH PRACTICE AND SO MUCH TRAINING

WENT INTO IT TO MAKE IT LOOK EASY, AND IT ACTUALLY DID,

BUT IT, ON SHOW DAY, IT LOOKED EASY,

SO IT WAS A COOL MOMENT, REALLY COOL.

Narrator: SHOOTING DOWN THE SATELLITE

SENDS A STRONG MESSAGE TO THE SOVIETS.

Pearson: WE CONVINCED THE SOVIETS

THEY SHOULDN'T USE IT FOR MILITARY PURPOSES

BECAUSE WE'LL SMACK THEM, AND WE COULD,

AND WE AT LEAST DEMONSTRATED THAT.

Narrator: WITH THIS SUCCESS, THE F-15 SEEMS UP FOR ANYTHING,

BUT ITS BIGGEST CHALLENGE IS STILL AHEAD.

NEARLY 20 YEARS AFTER IT FIRST ROLLED OUT,

THE F-15 HAS TO PROVE ITSELF

TO THE PEOPLE WHO BROUGHT IT TO LIFE.

NO AMERICAN HAS EVER USED AN F-15 IN COMBAT...

YET.

AUGUST 1990.

100,000 IRAQI TROOPS INVADE NEIGHBORING KUWAIT.

IRAQI PRIME MINISTER SADDAM HUSSEIN IS OUT FOR OIL...

AND FOR BLOOD.

39 NATIONS VOW TO LIBERATE KUWAIT FROM HUSSEIN'S CLUTCHES.

GULF WAR ONE IS IMMINENT.

THE UNITED STATES LEADS THE WAY.

George Bush: WE MUST RESIST AGGRESSION,

OR IT WILL DESTROY OUR FREEDOMS.

Narrator: THE COALITION'S PLAN

STARTS WITH A FULL-SCALE AIR ATTACK.

THEY CALL IT OPERATION DESERT STORM.

Grant: THE FIRST JOB FOR OPERATION DESERT STORM

WAS TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE AIR,

AND THE LEADING ROLE IN THAT FELL TO THE F-15.

Narrator: JANUARY 17, 1991,

THE START OF THE FIRST GULF WAR.

EIGHT F-15 EAGLE INTERCEPTORS LIFT OFF,

A STRIKE FORCE OF COALITION BOMBERS FOLLOWS BEHIND.

Man: MY MISSION GOAL

WAS BASICALLY TO TAKE THE EAGLES OUT IN FRONT,

ABOUT 100 MILES OUT IN FRONT OF THE STRIKE PACKAGE,

AND CLEAR THE AIR OF ANY ADVERSARY AIRCRAFT.

Narrator: MARINE CAPTAIN CHUCK MAGILL WAS AN EXCHANGE PILOT

WITH THE AIR FORCE

AND A MISSION COMMANDER DURING OPERATION DESERT STORM.

Chuck Magill: WE WERE PROTECTING 40 F-16s.

THE F-16s WERE CARRYING TWO 2,000-POUND BOMBS.

Narrator: THE BOMBS ARE MEANT

FOR AL TAQUADDUM AIRFIELD AND WEAPONS CENTER,

45 MILES WEST OF BAGHDAD.

Grant: AL TAQUADDUM WAS A PLACE WHERE PLANNERS

FEARED SADDAM HUSSEIN MIGHT HAVE CHEMICAL OR BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS.

THE COALITION HAD TO NEUTRALIZE THE EFFECT OF THE CHEMICALS

OR OF THE BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS THAT MIGHT BE STORED THERE.

Narrator: SOMETHING ELSE IS AT AL TAQUADDUM, TOO...

THE IRAQI AIR FORCE.

A LONG WAR WITH IRAN HAS TURNED THEM INTO SEASONED FIGHTERS.

Anderegg: THE IRAQI AIR FORCE WAS A SUBSTANTIAL AIR FORCE,

THE FOURTH OR FIFTH LARGEST AIR FORCE IN THE WORLD,

AND THEY WERE VERY WELL-EQUIPPED WITH AIRCRAFT.

Magill: THEY HAD THE NEWEST MIG-29,

SO WE EXPECTED TO SEE A REAL AIR BATTLE COMING.

Narrator: ABOUT 20 MILES WEST OF THEIR TARGET,

THE F-15s GET AN URGENT MESSAGE

FROM THE AIRBORNE WARNING AND CONTROL CENTER.

Magill: THEY HAD INTEL THAT THERE WERE TWO MIG-29s AIRBORNE

SOUTH OF THE TARGET.

I IMMEDIATELY YELL, "PUSH IT UP! PUSH IT UP!"

SO NOW WE CAN GO FULL AFTERBURNER IN THE EAGLE,

WHICH IS, YOU REALLY START HAULING NOW,

AND WE'RE CHASING THEM DOWN.

Narrator: MAGILL AND HIS WINGMAN

QUICKLY REALIZE THEY'VE FALLEN INTO A TRAP.

Magill: WE STARTED GETTING LAUNCH INDICATIONS

FROM SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILES.

AT FIRST WE BLEW IT OFF,

THINKING THAT IT WAS, "OH, IT CAN'T BE.

THERE'S NOTHING THERE." WELL, THERE WAS SOMETHING THERE,

AND SO WE CAME UNDER HEAVY ANTIAIRCRAFT ATTACK.

Narrator: WITH MAGILL AND HIS SQUADRON

DISTRACTED BY THE MISSILES,

THE MIGs CLOSE IN FOR A FIGHT.

Magill: THEY WENT FROM 380 TO ABOUT 650,

SO NOW SOMETHING'S UP.

WHEN I SEE THE CLOSURE BETWEEN THE 2 AIRPLANES IS 1,295 KNOTS,

SO WE WERE SMOKING AT EACH OTHER.

THERE'S NOT A LOT OF TIME.

Narrator: WITH THE IRAQI MIGs JUST SECONDS AWAY,

MAGILL LOCKS ONTO HIS TARGET AND FIRES.

Magill: THE FIRST MISSILE WAS DOWN LOW,

AND IT CAME UP AND POPPED THE MIG

RIGHT IN THE RIGHT WING ROOT.

WHEN I GO TO FIRE THE SECOND MISSILE, EVERYTHING GOT QUIET.

I COULD TELL I WAS MOVING, BUT I COULDN'T FEEL THAT I WAS MOVING.

I WATCHED THE MISSILE COME OFF,

AND I JUST WATCH IT KIND OF FLOAT AWAY.

LASTED MAYBE FOUR OR FIVE SECONDS,

AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN,

IT WAS LIKE SOMEONE HIT YOU WITH A CYMBAL.

ALL THE NOISE COMES BACK, AND IT'S AS HECTIC AS CAN BE,

AND YOU'RE MOVING AWAY AGAIN.

THEN YOU LOOK DOWN AT THE MIGs,

AND THEY'RE ABOUT 9,000 FEET BELOW YOU IN A SLANT RANGE,

AND THEY BLOW UP.

Narrator: LESS THAN 10 MINUTES AFTER SPOTTING THE MIG,

MAGILL HAS OBLITERATED HIS ATTACKER,

AND AMERICA HAS FINALLY USED THE F-15 IN COMBAT.

Grant: THE F-15s BASICALLY REMOVE THE THREAT

OF ALL THE IRAQI MIGs.

Narrator: MINUTES LATER,

THE REST OF THE COALITION STRIKE FORCE ROARS IN BEHIND.

THEY MAKE QUICK WORK

OF AL TAQUADDUM AND OTHER MILITARY TARGETS.

Anderegg: THEY HAD NO HOPE.

WE SHOT DOWN 34 OF THEIR AIRPLANES

IN THE FIRST TWO OR THREE NIGHTS.

AFTER THAT, THE AIR FIGHT WAS OVER.

Narrator: OPERATION DESERT STORM

IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE AIR CAMPAIGN

THE WORLD HAS EVER SEEN.

Norman Schwarzkopf: THE IRAQI EARLY WARNING SYSTEM

HAS COMPLETELY FAILED,

AND THEIR AIRCRAFT HAVE BEEN CAUGHT TOTALLY BY SURPRISE.

Grant: GENERAL SCHWARZKOPF, THE COMMANDER,

HAD STAKED A LOT

ON BEING ABLE TO CLEAR THE SKIES OF THE IRAQI MIGs.

THAT LET THE U.S. AND COALITION ARMIES

MOVE UNMOLESTED ON THE GROUND.

Anderegg: YOU KNOW, THE OBJECTIVE HERE

IS NOT TO HAVE A FAIR FIGHT.

THE OBJECTIVE IS TO HAVE

OVERWHELMING, DECISIVE VICTORY IMMEDIATELY.

Narrator: AFTER THE GULF WAR,

THE F-15 SEEMS POISED TO DOMINATE THE SKIES FOREVER,

BUT IT'S ABOUT TO LEARN THAT SOMETIMES

THE HIGHER YOU GO, THE HARDER YOU FALL.

NOVEMBER 2, 2007.

AN F-15 IS ON A ROUTINE TRAINING MISSION,

WHEN THE UNTHINKABLE HAPPENS.

JUST MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PLANE STARTS TO BREAK APART.

Anderegg: HE WAS IN ABOUT A 6-G TURN,

AND THE WAY IT CAME APART

WAS LITERALLY THE COCKPIT BROKE OFF THE FUSELAGE,

AND THE PILOT EJECTED.

HE WAS INJURED, BUT HE EJECTED.

Narrator: THE F-15 CRASHES INTO THE MISSOURI COUNTRYSIDE.

IT'S THE SIXTH TIME THE PLANE HAS CRASHED IN JUST FIVE YEARS.

THE ACCIDENT BOARD RECONSTRUCTS THE CRASH

AND DISCOVERS SOMETHING ALARMING.

Anderegg: THE ACCIDENT BOARD FOUND

THAT TWO OF THE MAIN SUPPORT PIECES

THAT RUN ALONG THE COCKPIT AND THE FUSELAGE

HAD FAILED, AND WHEN THEY FAILED,

THE WHOLE THING BROKE APART.

Narrator: THERE'S NO PLANE ON EARTH

THAT CAN BRING THE F-15 DOWN,

BUT THERE'S ONE THING THAT EVEN THE F-15 CAN'T BEAT... AGE.

Anderegg: AT THAT POINT,

THE AIRPLANE OPERATIONALLY WAS LIKE 30 YEARS OLD,

AND AIRPLANES DO AGE,

AND THEY DO HAVE STRUCTURAL PROBLEMS

IF THEY'VE BEEN OVERSTRESSED,

YOU KNOW, TOO MANY Gs PULLED AND THAT SORT OF THING.

Narrator: IT ISN'T EASY TO KEEP A 30-YEAR-OLD PLANE RUNNING.

IT TAKES 160 MEN AND WOMEN

TO COAX EACH AGING FIGHTER INTO THE SKY.

Noah Demerly: IMAGINE A WHOLE FLEET OF 15 1980s LAMBORGHINIS

AND TAKING THOSE LAMBORGHINIS

AT 150 MILES AN HOUR AROUND A TRACK EVERY DAY.

DOING THAT WOULD BE AN IMMENSE FEAT IN THE CIVILIAN WORLD,

AND THAT'S EXACTLY PRETTY MUCH WHAT WE DO HERE.

Narrator: AFTER THE ACCIDENT IN 2007,

THE AIR FORCE IMMEDIATELY TIGHTENS

INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS.

THE NEW INSPECTION GUIDELINES COME TOO LATE

TO SAVE THE F-15 IN MISSOURI,

BUT THEY MAY HAVE SAVED MANY OTHER LIVES.

THERE ARE 670 F-15s IN SERVICE.

AFTER INSPECTION,

THE AIR FORCE GROUNDS ALMOST 300 OF THEM INDEFINITELY.

Grant: AERODYNAMICISTS RATE FIGHTERS

FOR A CERTAIN NUMBER OF HOURS,

AND AFTER THAT, ALL THE UPGRADES IN THE WORLD

DON'T GIVE YOU THE STRUCTURAL STABILITY AND CONFIDENCE

THAT YOU HAVE WHEN THE AIRCRAFT HAS

ONLY A FEW THOUSAND HOURS ON IT.

Narrator: THE F-15 MAY BE THE TOUGHEST FIGHTER ON EARTH,

BUT IRONICALLY,

ITS HIGH STANDARDS HAVE PAVED THE WAY FOR ITS OWN DEMISE.

APRIL 1997.

MARIETTA, GEORGIA.

AT THE LOCKHEED MARTIN ASSEMBLY PLANT,

THE AIR FORCE UNVEILS ITS LATEST WEAPON: THE F-22 RAPTOR.

Grant: SO THE DECISION TO START RESEARCH ON THE F-22

WAS REALLY TO CONTINUE THE F-15 TRADITION

OF HAVING A DOMINANT AIR-SUPERIORITY FIGHTER

THAT WAS FAR BETTER THAN ANYTHING

THE SOVIET UNION OR ANYONE ELSE COULD FIELD.

JUST AS THE F-15 HAD IMPROVED COCKPIT AVIONICS,

THE F-22 TOOK THIS EVEN A STEP FURTHER,

WITH INTEGRATED DISPLAYS IN THE COCKPIT.

THE F-22 ALSO HAD MORE INTERNAL FUEL CARRIAGE

AND INTERNAL WEAPONS CARRIAGE.

Anderegg: THE F-22 BRINGS TO THE TABLE A NEW AIRFRAME,

EVEN MORE MANEUVERABLE, MORE AGILE THAN THE F-15,

BUT IT ALSO HAS LOW OBSERVABLE STEALTH TECHNOLOGY

THAT MAKES IT DIFFICULT FOR OTHER RADARS TO SEE IT.

Narrator: THE F-22'S TECHNOLOGY IS IMPRESSIVE,

BUT IT COMES AT A COST.

A WHOPPING $412 MILLION FOR EACH F-22,

OVER 10 TIMES AS MUCH AS AN F-15.

THE UNITED STATES IS SLOWLY PHASING THE F-15 OUT OF SERVICE,

BUT ORDERS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES

HAVE THE PRODUCTION LINE RUNNING UNTIL 2019.

THERE ARE STILL OVER 1,200 F-15s IN SERVICE ALL OVER THE WORLD...

INCLUDING THE U.S., SAUDI ARABIA,

ISRAEL, JAPAN, AND KOREA.

Grant: THE F-15 REMAINS A CORNERSTONE

OF EVERY AIR FORCE THAT'S EVER BOUGHT IT.

IT'S STILL A HUGE PART OF AIR SUPERIORITY.

Narrator: IT'S THE MOST DOMINANT FIGHTER

THE WORLD HAS EVER KNOWN,

AND IT LEAVES A POWERFUL LEGACY.

Grant: THE LEGACY OF THE F-15 IS THE KNOWLEDGE

THAT WE MUST NEVER COMPROMISE ON AIR SUPERIORITY.

Anderegg: TO DATE, THE F-15 HAS ACHIEVED

104 AERIAL VICTORIES OR KILLS AGAINST OTHER AIRPLANES,

AND IT HAS NEVER LOST, SO ITS KILL RATIO IS 104:0.

THIS IS UNPRECEDENTED IN AERIAL WARFARE.

Narrator: THE F-15 IS LIKE NO OTHER FIGHTER

THAT CAME BEFORE IT...

MORE VERSATILE AND MORE DEADLY.

IT BLAZED THE WAY FOR THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE

TO BECOME THE MOST LETHAL AIR-FIGHTING FORCE

ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH,

AND IT GAVE ITS ALLIES A SHOT AT POWER, TOO.

UNTIL ANOTHER PLANE PROVES

FASTER, STRONGER, OR MORE DEADLY,

THE F-15 REMAINS THE KING OF THE SKIES.