The U.S. military aircraft shot down in Iran on Friday has been identified as an F-15E Strike Eagle.
The fighter jet uses a two-member crew, a pilot and a weapons systems officer, according to the U.S. Air Force. A rescue effort recovered one of the downed jet’s crew members from Iran, U.S. and Israeli officials said. The fate of the other remained unclear.
Compared with previous models, the F-15E is “dual-role,” meaning it is built to carry out various kinds of combat operations.
The versatile jet can perform both air-to-ground and air-to-air missions in challenging physical conditions, according to the Air Force.
The F-15E debuted on Dec. 11, 1986. It reaches maximum speeds of 1,875 miles per hour (Mach 2.5 plus).
It combines both the high speeds required for aerial combat and ample payload capacity of over 20,000 pounds.
The aircraft is capable of flying at low altitudes, including at night and in “any weather conditions,” according to the Air Force. And it can attack ground targets with “a variety of precision-guided and unguided weapons.”
The Strike Eagle has been used in U.S. missions in Iraq, Syria and Libya, among other places.
The F-15E’s primary role is air interdiction missions to destroy, neutralize or delay enemy ground or naval forces before they can be brought to bear against friendly forces, according to military documents.
Pranav Baskar is an international reporter and a member of the 2025-26 Times Fellowship class, a program for journalists early in their careers.
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