SF-15 Space Eagle

The **SF-15 Space Eagle** is an enlarged, multi-role space and atmospheric fighter jet version of the F-15E Strike Eagle built for the Terran Starfleet during the Clone Wars. The Space Eagle is capable of operating from both starships and land bases, flying as fast as its original counterpart in atmosphere and is competent in many combat roles.

## Description

The SF-15 is a multi-role fighter jet designed and built by McDonnell Douglas. The SF-15 is essentially a space fighter conversion of the F-15E Strike Eagle, and visibly looks nearly 100% identical to the Strike Eagle except for its larger size and the addition of 2 medium laser cannons at both wingtips for space combat.

The Space Eagle underwent several conversions from the Strike Eagle to enable it for space combat. The most important were the addition of space capable engines, a hyperdrive unit (Class N/A), and a spot behind the cockpit for an astromech droid as an assistant or backup computer unit. The Space Eagle is also equipped with several weapons for space combat, including a laser cannon attached to each wingtip, and proton torpedo tubes attached to the sides of the engines where conformal fuel tanks were carried on the Strike Eagle. Other than that it has VTOL/STOVL landing capabilities, that helps it land on land bases on different planets if runways are too short, damaged or none at all.

The Space Eagle was a highly maneuverable starfighter, and incredibly fast. Due to advancements in Terran engineering and aerodynamics design, the Space Eagle retained the same maximum atmospheric speed of the Strike Eagle's 2665+ km/h and able to reach up to 170 megalight per hour (MGLT) in space making it the fastest fighter jet model at the time in service in the Terran Alliance military's early times, and even faster than any fighter in service with the Republic, Separatists, Rebel Alliance or later the Galactic Empire. Until later replaced by newer plus superior space and atmospheric fighter jets during and after the Galactic Civil War.

## History

### Design and Introduction

The SF-15 was the result of a competition established by the Terran Joint Command to give the Terran Starfleet new starfighters and bombers by converting existing fighters and bombers for space flight. The competition called for the conversion of 2 multi-role fighters, 1 space superiority fighter, and 1 bomber. One of the two multi-role starfighter slots was awarded to the F-15E, with the space fighter conversion being designated SF-15.

Design work on the SF-15 began in June 1992. By August, the designs were finished, and construction began. The first SF-15 rolled off the assembly line on November 9, and had its first flight three days later. The SF-15 formally entered service with the Terran Starfleet at the end of December 1992.

### Clone Wars Service

The SF-15 first saw combat in early February 1993, when a dozen SF-15s deployed aboard the *TAS Volgograd* in support of the joint Republic/Terran mission to Lola Sayu. The 12 SF-15s, flown by Israeli pilots of the 69th Fighter Squadron, were tasked with launching a bandit raid against Separatist ships over Lola Sayu to take out their weapons and tracking systems to enable the retreat from the planet to proceed without interference.

### Cold War and Galactic Civil War service

*To be added.*

After the Clone Wars as the Alliance entered the Intergalactic Cold War, the Terran Starfleet prioritized the mass production of SF-15 Eagles along with the SF/A-18 Hornets and SU-36 Flankers for the Starfleet's Aerospace Forces. Over the years following the Clone Wars, they successfully mass-produced thousands of Space Eagles after the completion of the Terran Star Forge.

## Variants

* SF-15E - Standard variant, both use for Air/Space superiority and Space strike combat version of the F-15E Strike Eagle family
* SF-15I - Upgraded version of the SF-15 with several upgrades to avionics and combat systems, considered a conversion of the Israeli F-15I
* RSF-15E- Reconnaissance variant. Unarmed except for laser cannons for defense, with remaining ordnance replaced with reconnaissance equipment
* SF-15LR- A variant of the SF-15 without proton torpedo launchers to make room for larger internal fuel tanks, as well as the addition of additional conformal fuel tanks. Also equipped with a very effective hyperdrive. Used for particularly long range strike missions across galaxies.
* SF-15EA- Upgraded version with new avionics and the ability to carry weapons on the outer hard-points that were previously unused. Considered a space version of the Saudi F-15SA
* SF-15X- Upgraded variant with highly advanced avionics, some stealth coatings, and an increased armament load. Can carry 8,000 lbs more air to ground ordnance than the standard variants, or a total of 22 air to air missiles. This fighter is based on both the F-15SE Silent Eagle and F-15EX.

## See also:

* SF/A-18 Space Hornet - Starfighter variant of the F/A-18 Hornet
* SU-36 Space Flanker - Starfighter variant of the Su-27/35/37 Flanker