1/72 F-15E "Strike Eagle Prototype" 71-0291 USAF 1980In 1967 the U. S. became aware of the Soviet MiG 25 Foxbat. This made it necessary to develop a new aircraft to counter the MiG 25. The USAF rejected the USN F 14 Tomcat and issued its own requirements. The solution came in the form of the McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) F 15 Eagle. The F 15A made its inaugural flight in July 1972 and in January 1976 the first Eagle entered service. The E entered service in 1989. The F 15 was the first dedicated USAF