Headquarters Air Force initiated the F-X program by directing Air Force Systems Command (AFSC)"to begin efforts toward acquiring a new tactical fighter, the F-X."

AFSC directed the Aeronautical Systems Division (ASD) to act on prerequisite studies for the F-X.

The initial F-X briefing described "a small, low cost, high performance aircraft capable of visual air-to-ground and air-to-air missions." Air Force plans called for an initial operational capability (IOC) in the early 1970s.

The Air Force completed and distributed its F-X study proposals to prospective bidders.

The Air Force received proposals for the F-X from eight companies.

The Air Force selected three companies to compete for the F-X contract: Lockheed-California Company; North American Aviation, Incorporated; and the Boeing Company.

ASD officially established a systems program office (SPO) for the F-X.

F-15 Concept Formulation Package (CFP).

The Air Force officially redesignated the F-X as the ZF-15A.

The F-X Advanced Tactical Fighter SPO was reorganized and operational control passed to the Deputy for Systems Management.

The F-15 program office became an independent organizational element reporting directly to the AFSC Commander. ASD continued to provide administrative, logistical, and engineering support for the program. Col Benjamin N. Bellis, brigadier general select, appointed as Deputy for the F-15.

Headquarters AFSC designated the F-15 SPO as the Deputy for F-15. All divisions within the program rose to become directorates of the deputate.

The Air Force selected the McDonnell Aircraft Company of the McDonnell Douglas Corporation in St. Louis, Missouri, as prime contractor for development and production of the F-15.

F-15 development contract F33657-70-C-0300 with McDonnell Douglas became effective. This enabled McDonnell Douglas to begin full-scale development.

Pratt and Whitney of West Palm Beach, Florida, selected as the F-15 engine contractor.

The Air Force canceled the AIM-82A Short Range Missile for the F-15.

Hughes Aircraft Company selected as the subcontractor for the F-15 radar systems.

F-15 critical design review completed.

The Air Force and U.S. Navy signed a joint agreement for developing the AIM-9L Short Range Missile for the F-15.

The Air Force approved the F100 engine design for the F-15.

Maj Gen Benjamin N. Bellis, Program Director for the F-15, promoted from the rank of brigadier general.

Government approval of the F100 engine preliminary flight rating test program.

Rollout of the first F-15 vehicle.

First flight of the F-15 aircraft.

The Deputy Secretary of Defense approved funding for F-15 long-lead items.

The Deputy Secretary of Defense authorized Fiscal Year 1973 production of the F-15.

Production approval for 30 operational aircraft and full production funding.

The Department of Defense directed the USAF to conduct a complete 150-hour test program on the F100 engine.

First flight of the F-15B (TF-15A).

The F-15 Pacer Century program to evaluate engine durability commenced.

Representatives from the Deputy for F-15 and Air Force Logistics Command (AFLC) agreed upon 1 January 1980 as the transition date for F-15 management and engineering responsibility. On this date AFLC would assume responsibility from Air Force Systems Command (AFSC).

McDonnell Douglas delivered the first two operational aircraft, TF# (73-108) and TF4 (73-109) to the Tactical Air Command (TAC) at Luke AFB, Arizona.

The first F-15 squadron reached initial operational capability.

F-15 73-0088 crashed near Luke AFB.

The Air Force authorized use of a common ejection seat in the F-15, F-16, and A-10 aircraft.

The Deputy for F-15 received the Daedalian Weapon System Award. Maj Gen Robert C. Mathis, F-15 program director, accepted the Colonel Franklin C. Wolfe Memorial Trophy, symbolizing the achievement.

Tristan J. Keating retired as Director of Systems Engineering for the F-15. He served the government for 37 years.

Fred T. Rall, Jr., received the first Air Breathing Propulsion Award for his contributions to developing the F100 engine. The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics presented the award.

Brig Gen Robert Scurlock succeeded Maj Gen R. C. Mathis as the F-15 program director.

Herbert J. Hickey, Jr., won the Harold Brown Award for engineering F-15 handling qualities.

The F-15 Production Eagle Package (PEP-2000) began, a program to increase the aircraft's fuel capacity.

The Air Force deployed the Eagle overseas for the first time when 23 F-15s from Langley AFB, Virginia, flew to Bitburg Air Base in Germany.

Decision Coordinating Paper 19 increased the F-15 procurement cost from $9.88 billion to $11.68 billion.

Responsibility for the F100 engine transferred to the Deputy for Propulsion. The Deputy for F-15/JEPO became simply the Deputy for F-15.

Program Management Directive (PMD) R-P2060(13) /27130F redesignated the F-15. The F-15A and F-15B became the F-15C and the F-15D, respectively.

The Japanese National Defense Council announced that funds for purchasing 100 F-15s would be in the fiscal year 1978 budget.

Maj Gen Robert Scurlock, Deputy for F-15 became the USAF Director of Budget in Washington, D.C. Col D.B. Englund became acting director.

The United States completed arrangements with Israel and Saudi Arabia for delivery of F-15 aircraft.

The Air Staff directed AFSC to incorporate an air-start capability into the F-15's F100 engine.

Col Delbert H. Jacobs became ASD's Deputy for F-15 replacing acting director Col D. B. Englund.

An F-15 crashed near Indian Springs, Nevada.

The Deputy of Engineering completed an investigation of the problems associated with F-15 vertical tail fin vibration.

The USAF convened a committee of fuel system experts to examine the F-15 fuel system and assess engineering changes.

F-15 Foreign Military Sales totaled 108 aircraft worth approximately $2.5 billion.

To date, McDonnell Douglas had delivered 424 F-15A and F-15B aircraft.

Col Kenneth R. Johnson succeeded Brig Gen Delbert H. Jacobs as Deputy for F-15.

The Air Force deployed the first F-15 squadron at Kadena, Okinawa.

As of this date the contractor had delivered 28 F-15C and 5 F-15D aircraft.

The Air Force discovered wing cracking in F-15 aircraft stationed at Bitburg Air Base, Germany.

Program Management Transfer (PMRT) date of January 1980 extended to 1 October 1982 based on award of last production contract of March 1982.

Headquarters Air Force directed AFSC to extend the F-15 delivery schedule from fiscal year 1983 into 1984.

An F-15 ignited on the ground at Langley AFB, Virginia.

Headquarters Air Force revised the delivery and financial schedules of the F-15. Prior to fiscal year 1980 the McDonnell Douglas Corporation had delivered 437 production aircraft. Plans called for the USAF to receive a total of 729 operational aircraft by 1985.

Col Ronald W. Yates succeeded Col Kenneth R. Johnson as F-15 director.

As of this date, sales of the F-15 to other nations totaled 112 aircraft at a cost of $2.6758 billion.

The McDonnell Douglas Corporation proposed a Strike Eagle two-seat variant of the F-15 with ground-attack capability. The proposed program involved retrofitting, with improved avionics, the 144 Air Defense Tactical Air Command F-15s, the 206 F-15As and F-15Bs, and the 304 F-15Cs and F-15Ds in the other tactical forces. Additionally, the USAF planned to procure 204 F-15Cs and F-15Ds, and 398 F-15Es, previously the Strike Eagle.

Following a briefing on this date, the Air Council approved the F-15 multistage improvement program to increase combat capability.

F-15 aircraft provided cover when eight Israeli F-16 aircraft bombed Iraq's nuclear reactor near Baghdad in a precision two-minute strike.

Col Ronald Yates, F-15 director, became commander of the 4950th Test Wing.

The Air Force planned on procuring 1,155 F-15 aircraft along with the previously obtained 20 development airframes.

Air Force Systems Command directed ASD to establish a derivative fighter comparison organization to evaluate the F-15E and F-16E aircraft. The organization would evaluate proposals for a dual-role fighter with air-to-air and air-to-ground capabilities.

Air Force Flight Test Center at Edwards AFB, California, conducted flying qualities tests of an F-15C equipped with conformal fuel tanks. In conjunction with the proposed F-15E dual-role fighter, Edwards' officials also evaluated the F-15C with various air-to-ground stores.

Warner Robins Air Logistics Center and ASD signed the F-15 program management responsibility transfer agreement. Management responsibility for the F-15A, B, C, and D went to the Air Force Logistics Command on 1 October 1982. The F-15 program office retained responsibility for system acquisition and some 94 residual tasks.

Col Craig O. Schaum replaced Colonel Gerald A. Blake as F-15 director.

The USAF and McDonnell Douglas Corporation signed a letter contract, F33657-83-C0043, involving full-scale development of the multistage improvement program (MSIP). This program was designed to fulfill the roll of the tactical air forces through an integrated acquisition and modification effort.

Lt Gen Thomas H. McMullen, ASD Commander, established a multi-command group under the supervision of the F-15 program deputy director, Col J. S. Smith, to study landing gear deficiencies. The group recommended further configuration changes and improved maintenance procedures.

The Air Force chose the F-15E over the F-16E as the new dual-role fighter. Plans called for the McDonnell Douglas Corporation to integrate production modifications to the aircraft to provide the additional air-to-ground capability. The USAF planned to procure 393 aircraft with modifications amounting to $1.5 billion. The Air Force expected delivery of the dual-role F-15E in 1988.

Headquarters Air Force issued a directive authorizing development of the F-15E aircraft.

Rollout of first two advanced MSIP aircraft (C-304 and C-305).

The first two advanced MSIP aircraft delivered to the 33rd Tactical Fighter Wing, Eglin AFB, Florida (C-304 and C-305).

The program management directive (PMD) called for developing a night and under-the-weather surface attack capability.

First flight of dual-role F-15E.

Formal rollout ceremony for LANTIRN equipped F-15s. Lt Gen William E. Thurman, ASD Commander, stated, "For the enemy, trying to hide under the cover of darkness, the night will become a nightmare."

While addressing acquisition issues, Lt Gen William E. Thurman, ASD Commander, stated, "the F-15 requires only two-thirds the maintenance man-hours per flying hour as the F-4 jet it is replacing."

Budgetary cutbacks reduced F-15E purchase projections from 392 to 278 aircraft.

Saudi Arabia and Israel purchased F-15 aircraft under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program.

Air Force effort to certify the F-15 to carry nuclear weapons. The F-15 SPO, in conjunction with Sandia Laboratory, the Directorate of Nuclear Surety, the Air Force Weapons Laboratory, and Mcdonnell Aircraft Corporation, developed a new software package to replace existing deficient software.

Low altitude navigation and targeting infrared for night (LANTIRN) manual terrain following testing at Edwards AFB, California, came to a successful conclusion.

Initial "Seek Eagle" testing concluded (testing of external weapons and stores through captive carriage, separation, and ballistics verification flight tests).

First flight of short takeoff and landing (STOL) F-15 STOL demonstrator in the skies above St. Louis, Missouri. The aircraft reached an altitude of 20,000 feet.

Program Management Directive (PMD) reduced total number of F-15E aircraft to 200.

Initial operational capability (IOC) for the F-15E unit at Seymour-Johnson AFB, North Carolina (336th Tactical Fighter Squadron), declared by Headquarters Tactical Air Command. Actually, the unit achieved limited operational capability (LOC) because certain components were lacking. Full IOC expected in 1990.

Col Melvin Hayashi, leader of the F-15 management team, retired.

Col R. T. Kadish took over program management.

The F-15 SPO termed its actions in support of the troops deployed to the Middle East "Desert Eagle." The Air Force deployed F-15C, F-15D, and F-15E aircraft to the Persian Gulf. The weapons system accounted for 36 of the 39 Air Force air-to-air victories with a confirmed 26:0 kill ratio. The SPO and the Warner-Robins Air Logistics Center participated in a joint effort to expedite delivery of F-15E-peculiar spares to the 4th Tactical Fighter Wing. The Air Force deployed 48 F-15Es to Saudi Arabia. The desert environment presented a variety of problems for aircrews, maintainers, and support functions. A number of management initiatives allowed ASD to provide the necessary support which produced a fully mission capable rate of 95.5 percent for the F-15E during Desert Storm. The LANTIRN equipped F-15Es operated primarily at night, hunting SCUD missile launchers and artillery sites.

Col James L. DeStout replaced Col R. T. Kadish as F-15 SPO manager.

The STOL/F-15 demonstrator aircraft made its last flight, validating operation of its Autonomous Landing Guidance System during a night landing at Edwards AFB, California.

First two F-15s ferried to Saudi Arabia under the Peace Sun Foreign Military Sales program.

Merger of System Program Director (SPD) from ASD and F-15 Systems Program Manager (SPM) from Warner-Robins Air Logistics Center. Brig Gen Childress served as the SPD.

First flight of Peace Fox aircraft (the sale of F-15s to Israel).

The F-15 SPO received the General Bernard A. Schreiver Award in the Air Force Systems Command major program category for the year 1991. This award recognized the SPO for its outstanding support to the weapons system during Desert Shield and Desert Storm, as well as developing integrated weapon system management for the new Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC).

Announcement that Saudi Arabia planned to purchase an additional 72 F-15 aircraft.

Col William D. Rutley served as F-15 SPD at Warner-Robins Air Logistics Center.

F-15 SPO reorganization following the Integrated Product Development (IPD) concept.

The F-15 SPO moved from Bldg. 56, Area B, into nearby Bldg. 32 (Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio).

The final nine F-15s were delivered to the USAF. The SPO continued to support foreign sales to Saudi Arabia and Israel.

The Air Force redesignated the F-15 SPO (ASC/VF) as the F-15 Development Systems Office (DSO), (ASC/LFD). Col Thomas M. Humes directed the organization.

The F-15 DSO office symbol changed from ASC/LFD to ASC/FBA.

McDonnell Douglas merged with Boeing and began operations as a single company with more than 220,000 employees.

The Air Force announced the planned deployment of an Air Expeditionary Force (AEF) to Southwest Asia, including 12 F-15C aircraft from Eglin AFB, Florida, 12 F-15Cs from Moody AFB, Georgia, and six F-16C/Js from Shaw AFB, South Carolina.

The Israeli Air Force received its first two F-15I dual-role fighters under the Foreign Military Sales program.

Depot maintenance responsibility for the F-15 transferred from McClellan AFB, California, to Robins AFB, Georgia, with the pending closure of the California installation. Programmed depot maintenance had been performed at McClellan since 1991 and other maintenance activities for the weapons system had been performed there before that year.

A Boeing F-15D Eagle air superiority fighter from the 33rd Fighter Wing, Eglin AFB, Florida, became the first in the Air Force's inventory to log 6,000 flying hours.

The Boeing Company delivered an F-15E to the Air Force. This represented the first F-15E acquired since 1994. The company delivered 209 F-15E Strike Eagles between 1987 and 1994.

Reversing earlier plans to halt F-15 production, a congressional committee agreed to provide $275 million for the Air Force to buy five additional fighters from Boeing.

The Air Force announced plans to equip some frontline F-15C fighters with the APG-63(v)2 Active Electronically Scanned Array (ASEA) advanced radar system. Officials expected this system to significantly increase the F-15C's capabilities while cutting maintenance costs.

The F-15 Project Team of the system program office (SPO), received the Program Executive Office Team of the Year Award for 1999. The award recognized the team's "efforts in managing and executing a highly aggressive $350 million F-15 Active Electronically Scanned Array, or AESA, radar upgrade program."

A USAF-commissioned study conducted by Boeing's Phantom Works, St. Louis, Missouri, reported that new manufacturing technologies should enable the Boeing Company to reduce the cost of building F-15 fighters, and many other aircraft, by half.

The Air Force and the Boeing Company finalized an order for 10 F-15E fighters valued at approximately $571 million.

F-15 Eagles and U.S. Marine FA-18 Hornets attacked an anti-aircraft artillery site in Iraq as part of the continuing Operation Southern Watch monitoring the Southern No-Fly Zone. The attacks came in response to recent hostile acts against coalition aircraft by Iraq.

McDonnell Douglas Training Systems, St. Louis, Missouri, contracted to provide for Strike Helmet 21 (a helmet mounted cueing system integrated into an F-15E to enhance and expand the strike role).

An ASC F-15 Link 16 acquisition surge team and a program team from Edwards AFB, California, both received the John J. Welch award for excellence in acquisition management for 2001. The Air Force recognized the two teams for increasing combat effectiveness of the F-15E in Operation Enduring Freedom. They were cited for their efforts at integrating and fielding initial time critical target capability in only 25 days.

Boeing announced that an F-15E successfully attacked five targets with Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) on a single sortie during a test. The F-15E released the JDAMs from level flight at 25,000 feet altitude while flying at a speed of Mach 0.80.

South Korea announced its agreement with the Boeing Company to purchase 40 F-15K fighters for $4.228 billion (5.5 trillion won).