The F-15E Strike Eagles returning to their house base at Mountain House Air Power Base, Idaho, characteristic attention-grabbing bomb markings (together with nostril artwork depicting horror film characters).
Break up into two cells (radio callsigns TABOR 81–86 and 91–92) and supported by two KC-46A Pegasus tankers (CLEAN 31 and 32), the primary 8 of 12 F-15E Strike Eagles from the 366th Fighter Wing, arrived at RAF Mildenhall, UK, at 08:34 AM native time on Jul. 18, 2025, on their approach again to Mountain House AFB from a Center East deployment.
The F-15E serials had been as follows:
F-15E 87-0204 366 OG “Guardian”
F-15E 87-0173 “Freddy”
F-15E 87-0210 “Jigsaw”
F-15E 87-0202 “Chucky”
F-15E 89-0506 “Candyman”
F-15E 90-0241 “Leatherface”
F-15E 90-0227 “Michael Myers”
F-15E 87-0183 “Nightmare”
The plane had deployed to Jordan in October 2024 amid rising tensions between Israel and Iran. Their mission was described as a deterrent to aggression and a measure to cut back the danger of a broader regional battle, as tensions had additional escalated following Israel’s focused assassination of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah in Lebanon. On the time, U.S. officers cited threats from Iran of an imminent ballistic missile assault on Israel, issued simply hours after the announcement of the U.S. posture reinforcement. That risk materialized on the night of Oct. 1, 2024, and on Oct. 7, the Strike Eagles from Mountain House AFB transitioned by way of RAF Lakenheath en path to the sandpit.
AGM-158 and APKWS markings
Only a few particulars have been disclosed in regards to the missions flown by the Mountain House AFB’s aircrews as a part of the 391st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron through the newest deployment. Nevertheless, judging from the bomb markings on the plane, together with the standard nostril artwork that includes horror film characters, the F-15Es seem to have been fairly energetic. Along with what seem like JDAMs (Joint Direct Assault Munitions), the Strike Eagles appear to have employed each AGM-158 JASSMs (Joint Air-to-Floor Standoff Missiles) and AGR-20 APKWS II (Superior Precision Kill Weapon System II) laser-guided rockets. Among the many simply recognizable silhouettes, there are additionally some purple lightning bolts that doubtless signify an unidentified sort of weapon.
Whereas the usage of the AGR-20 APKWS II was considerably anticipated, particularly after CENTCOM shared a photograph of an F-15E (87-0210 – “Jigsaw”) deployed to an undisclosed base later recognized by way of OSINT as Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, carrying an anti-UAV loadout consisting of six LAU-131A rocket launchers for a complete of 42 AGR-20 rockets, the employment of AGM-158 JASSMs by the F-15Es within the Center East has not been formally confirmed.
*took 3 minutes.
— Evergreen Intel (@vcdgf555) Might 30, 2025
The AGM-158s, each the baseline variant with a variety in extra of 200 NM and the -ER model, with a standoff distance of over 500 NM, are GPS-guided radar-evading cruise missiles with 2,250-lbs penetrator/blast fragmentation warhead. The JASSM cruise missile employs precision routing and steerage in hostile climate, day or night time, utilizing an infrared seeker along with the anti-jam GPS to search out and destroy high-value, well-defended targets.
In 2021, the eighty fifth Check and Analysis Squadron, loaded six inert GBU-38 JDAMs on a single facet of an F-15E, in a PoC (Proof of Idea) whose goal was to extend the carrying capability of the Strike Eagle from 9 to fifteen JDAMs, so it might act as a “bomb truck” and transfer totally assembled bombs that may very well be used at distant location to rearm the F-15E itself or different plane.
And two months later, on Apr. 25, 2021, six F-15Es of the 494th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron from RAF Lakenheath relocated to Al Dhafra Air Base (United Arab Emirates) for the primary time within the new “Bomb Truck” configuration (every carrying 12 JDAMs and 4 SDBs).
The JASSM markings on the F-15Es counsel they had been used within the area, presumably in help of Operation Midnight Hammer that focused Iran’s nuclear websites final month. Noteworthy, the F-15Es are additionally slated to combine the AGM-158C-1 LRASM (Lengthy Vary Anti-Ship Missile) which had been reportedly utilized in fight for the primary time within the Center East recently.
Coping with the mixing of the APKWS on the F-15E, right here’s what we wrote in a earlier story right here at The Aviationist:
[…] the weapon has not too long ago been launched within the air-to-air function by the U.S. Air Power’s F-16s engaged in drone intercept missions across the Pink Sea.
Initially designed as a low-cost, laser-guided precision munition for air-to-ground targets, APKWS II was first examined for air-to-air use in 2019. It provides an reasonably priced possibility for partaking slow-moving aerial threats equivalent to drones and cruise missiles. Throughout current operations, F-16s have sometimes labored in pairs: one plane designated the goal utilizing the Sniper Superior Focusing on Pod, whereas the opposite executed the assault run with the rockets.
In comparison with conventional air-to-air missile loadouts, the APKWS configuration allowed the F-16 to extend its engagement capability considerably. Whereas an ordinary load of AIM-9X and AIM-120 missiles provides six photographs, carrying one or two rocket pods with APKWS enabled the Viper to triple that quantity. This was achieved at a fraction of the price as every APKWS rocket is estimated at round 30,000 USD, whereas an AIM-9X prices roughly 450,000 USD and an AIM-120 exceeds 1 million USD per unit. The tradeoff, nonetheless, is that APKWS rockets are solely efficient towards predictable targets with restricted maneuverability.
The loadout not too long ago examined on the F-15E takes the idea even additional. With six LAU-131 pods put in, the Strike Eagle can carry as much as 42 APKWS rockets along with its normal complement of eight air-to-air missiles. This offers the plane as much as 50 engagement alternatives earlier than even accounting for the inner gun. The structure additionally offers higher operational flexibility: the Weapons Programs Officer within the again seat can laser-designate targets utilizing the Sniper ATP whereas the pilot concentrates on the engagement, eliminating the necessity for paired operations like these carried out with the F-16.
The mixing of APKWS II on the Strike Eagle seems to be a logical evolution. In the course of the April 2024 Iranian drone assault towards Israel, F-15Es had been among the many plane tasked with intercepting the wave of incoming drones. One of many limiting components throughout that operation was the restricted variety of air-to-air missiles out there to every jet. An F-15E outfitted with a high-capacity rocket loadout would considerably prolong the length and effectiveness of counter-UAS sorties.
APKWS II has already been fielded throughout a number of U.S. platforms, together with the USMC’s AV-8B Harrier and F/A-18C/D Hornets, AH-1Z Vipers and UH-1Y Venoms, the USAF’s A-10Cs and F-16s, the U.S. Navy’s MH-60R/S helicopters, and the U.S. Military’s AH-64D/E Apaches.
The APKWS II is predicated on the Hydra 70 unguided rocket and incorporates a laser steerage package between the warhead and the rocket motor. This low-cost modification transforms a easy unguided munition right into a precision weapon. The system makes use of 4 pop-out wings with laser-seeker optics, often known as the Distributed Aperture Semi-Lively Laser Seeker (DASALS), which offer extensive field-of-view monitoring for each stationary and shifting targets.
To additional improve its counter-UAS capabilities, the APKWS underwent an improve underneath the Fastened Wing, Air Launched, Counter-Unmanned Plane Programs Ordnance (FALCO) program. The AGR-20 FALCO model consists of up to date software program that improves its efficiency in air-to-air roles. This variant is already in use throughout the CENTCOM space of accountability and has demonstrated a excessive likelihood of kill in operational situations.
As well as, BAE Programs has revealed a brand new infrared seeker for the APKWS II, complementing the laser steerage and making the rocket a dual-mode weapon. This enhancement builds upon the FALCO improve and is anticipated to additional enhance the Air Power’s capability to counter a variety of aerial threats.
By the way in which, nostril artwork on deployed Strike Eagles first appeared on the 18 F-15E Strike Eagle jets belonging to the 391st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron returning to Mountain House AFB from OIR (Operation Inherent Resolve) in April 2019. Since then, it has turn out to be an ordinary for all of the F-15E squadrons deployed to the CENTCOM space of accountability.
A giant shoutout to our good friend and contributor Stewart Jack for the pictures!
