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F-15I Ra'am (“Thunder”)

F-15I Ra'am (“Thunder”) Type: All weather dual role strike fighter (4.5th generation) Primary Contractor: Boeing First Flight: September 12, 1997 Year Deployed: 1997 Entered Active Service: January 12, 1998

Unit cost: Approximately 90 million dollars Crew: 2

Sizes

-Length: 19.43 m (63.747 ft) -Wingspan: 13.5 m (44.29 ft) -Height: 5.63 m (18.47 ft) -Fuel Capacity (including tanks): 4,500 kg (9,920 lb) - Wing Area: Unknown

Weight

-Empty Weight: 14,379 kg (31,700 lb) -Loaded Weight: 36,750 kg (81,020 lb) -Payload: 11,113 kg (24,500 lb) -Max. Takeoff Weight: Unknown

Max. Load to Wing Area: Unknown Engines: 2 Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-229 afterburning turbofans

Dry Thrust:

77.62 kiloNewtons (17,450 lbf) each engine

Afterburning (“wet”) thrust:

129 kiloNewtons (29,000 lbf) each engine Thrust/Weight (with 100% fuel): Unknown

Speed

-Max Speed:-At high altitude: Over Mach 2.5 (over 2,700 km/h, 1,458 knots, 1,680 mph) -At low altitude: Mach 1.4 (1482 km/h, 800 knots, 921 mph) -Cruise Speed: Unknown

Range (no refueling)

-Combat Radius (flying while fully armed): 4,450 km (2,403 nautical miles, 2,765 miles) -Ferry Range (flying with optional fuel tanks, no ordnance): Unknown -Max. Flying Height (“Ceiling”): Unknown

Maneuvering Capability

-Durability: 9-g turns -Max. Alpha: Unknown

Armament

Gun(s):

One 6 barreled 20 mm (0.787 inch) M61Vulcan cannon

Air to Air:

-Python 3 (120 kg, or 265 lb each) -Python 4 (120 kg, or 265 lb each) -Python 5 (103.6 kg, or 228 lb each) -Aim-7F Sparrow (225 kg, or 500 lb each) -Aim-9L Sidewinder (91 kg, or 190 lb each) -Aim-120 AMRAAM (152 kg, or 335 lb each)

Air to Surface:

-Wide variety of Missiles -Wide variety of guided bombs -Iron bombs No. of serving aircraft (only the exact type/variant): 25

Operators:

-Israel, Israeli Air Force- Total of 25 F-15Is

Description:

F-15I Ra'am (“Thunder”) The F-15I is a long-range fighter, capable of both ground-attack and aerial interception. It was developed especially for Israel by McDonnell Douglas and Boeing as an advanced version of the F-15E. Like the F-15E, the F-15I is intended to make full use of its great potential in air-to-surface attack roles. It can strike deep in enemy territories while flying at high speeds in low altitudes, with heavy payload, cover long distances without refueling and operate in any weather (including fog, rain and strong winds) and any time of the day. It is the best fighter in the Middle East, and the very best variant of F-15 as well.

Additional updates and improvements:

The F-15I has the highest takeoff weight and longest range among all F-15s. Its advanced equipment surpasses all other variants as well and its armaments are hanged better than in earlier variants to minimize drag and maintain the aerodynamic structure, thus allowing higher speeds and better maneuvering. Unlike the F-15E, the F-15I may fly without conformal fuel tanks, while even without them it still maintains a “clean” configuration.

Components:

The F-15I is fitted with exclusive advanced systems made by the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). Electronics were replaced with newer, improved ones of Elbit Systems and Elisra’s Integrated Electronic Warfare Systems (which also supplied a new advanced Electronic Warfare suit). Most weapon systems were enhanced by Rafael’s advanced fighting-technologies. The replaced components include the electronic warfare equipment, communication systems, Radar Warning Receivers, central computer, new GPS/INS systems, unique weapons, and sensors that incorporate with Elbit Systems' upgraded Display And Sight Helmet (DASH) helmet-mounted sight, which grant both pilot and navigator a more efficient targeting mechanism that is not possessed by F-15Es. All other existing changes are classified, and any other part which was not replaced is a standard in the most advanced F-15Es, like the “Low Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infrared for Night” (LANTIRN) pods, and the APG-70 terrain-mapping radar.