The F-15I Ra'am (Thunder)

F-15I

An Israeli Air Force F-15I (Ra'am) from the No 69 Hammers Squadron maneuvers away after receiving fuel from a KC-135 during Red Flag 2004.

The F-15I is operated by the Israeli Air Force where it is known as the Ra'am (רעם – "Thunder"). It is a dual-seat ground attack aircraft powered by two Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-229 engines, and is based on the F-15E.

After the Gulf War in 1991, in which Israeli towns were attacked by SCUD missiles based in Iraq, the Israeli government decided that it needed a long range strike aircraft and issued a Request for Information (RFI). In response, Lockheed Martin offered a version of the F-16 Fighting Falcon, while McDonnell Douglas offered both the F/A-18 Hornet and the F-15E. On 27 January 1994, the Israeli government announced that the intention to purchase 21 modified F-15Es, designated F-15I ("I" for Israel). On 12 May 1994, the US Government authorized the purchase of up to 25 F-15Is by Israel. In November 1995, Israel ordered 4 extra F-15Is, thus 25 were built from 1996 to 1998.

The two-seat F-15I incorporates new and unique weapons, avionics, electronic warfare and communications capabilities. Israel selected the F-15I in January 1994 after evaluating a variety of aircraft to meet its defense needs. The F-15I, like the U.S. Air Force's F-15E Strike Eagle, is a dual-role fighter that combines long-range interdiction with the Eagle's awe-inspiring air superiority capabilities.

The F-15I Ra'am is similar to the F-15E, however the F-15I has some avionic systems specifically to meet Israeli requirements. To facilitate night-time strikes, the F-15Is were initially fitted with Sharpshooter targeting pods designed for Israeli F-16s. The Sharpshooter pod was less capable than the LANTIRN pods used on USAF F-15Es, the United States later allowed Israel to buy LANTIRNs instead, 30 LANTIRN pods were eventually delivered. The F-15Is, as delivered, did not have any Radar Warning Receivers, thus Israel installed its own electronic warfare equipment, the Elisra SPS-2110. A central computer and embedded GPS/INS system have also been fitted. All of the aircraft's sensors can be slaved to the Display And Sight Helmet (DASH) helmet-mounted sight, giving both crew members an entire means of targeting which the F-15E lacks. The F-15I uses the APG-70 radar; using the radar's terrain mapping capability, it is possible to locate targets that are otherwise difficult to spot—e.g., missile batteries, tanks and structures—even in adverse conditions such as complete fog cover or heavy rain. The radar can detect large airliner-sized targets at 150 nautical miles, and fighter-sized targets at 56 nautical miles.

"From a purely technological standpoint, the F-15I is a masterpiece. It will provide the qualitative edge Israel requires to preserve peace," said Phil Condit, chairman and chief executive officer of The Boeing Company. "Israeli engineers and suppliers played a significant role in the production of this airplane. That fact is meaningful not just from a technology standpoint, but as a matter of pride," he said."

When Israel's minister of defense, Yitzhak Mordechai, formally accepted the F-15I on behalf of the people of Israel, the Star of David was placed on the aircraft's fuselage. "I wish to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the government of the United States, to the Boeing Company, to all of the American and Israeli employees who labored to build this aircraft, and of course, to the air crews who will fly it," said Minister Mordechai. "The F-15I will provide a significant contribution to Israel's air deterrence power. I pray this aircraft will bestow upon us the wings of peace and not the ghosts of war," he said.

The F-15I is one of the most advanced fighters ever to be produced. Its avionics include the Hughes APG-70 synthetic aperture radar, the Kaiser holographic head-up display system, and an Elbit display and sight helmet (DASH) system. The aircraft is armed with a number of precision weapons systems, as well as Python and AMRAAM air-to-air missiles. Power is provided by two Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-229 low bypass turbofan engines, each capable of developing approximately 29,000 pounds of thrust.

Boeing also is providing a software development facility for the F-15I, as well as support for the aircraft, operator and maintenance training, flight testing, and an industrial cooperation program. The F-15I industrial cooperation program currently involves 34 partners in Israel's aerospace industry, working on contracts valued at more than half a billion dollars. The relationships continue a long-standing commitment to Israeli industry that dates back almost 40 years.