2001 War in Afghanistan

F-15 Family Fighter Aircraft in the 2001 War in Afghanistan

U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles flew close-air-support, precision-strike, show-of-force, and evacuation-cover missions in Afghanistan from the Operation Enduring Freedom period through the 2021 Kabul evacuation.

Weapon profileF-15 family fighter aircraft
SideUnited States, NATO, and Afghan government forcesRoleForce ProtectionAir Defense
F-15 family fighter aircraft, Fighter aircraft family, Aircraft & UAVs - 2001 War in Afghanistan
Image source: F-15e.jpg

Evidence Map

ClaimSources
F-15E Strike Eagles flew close-air-support missions from Bagram in 2007.

Sources: Air Force F-15 Strike Eagles at Bagram, AFCENT Small Diameter Bomb Debuts in Afghanistan

A 391st EFS F-15E dropped a GBU-39B on a target in Afghanistan on January 27, 2007.

Sources: AFCENT Small Diameter Bomb Debuts in Afghanistan

F-15Es conducted Afghanistan strikes with GBU-38 and GBU-12 guided bombs and performed a show of force near Kabul on February 16, 2009.

Sources: Air Force Feb. 16 Airpower Summary

F-15Es were forward deployed to protect passenger aircraft during the August 2021 Kabul noncombatant evacuation operation.

Sources: AFCENT Red Tails Afghanistan NEO

Timeline

F-15 family fighter aircraft In 2001 War in Afghanistan

  1. 391st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron begins Bagram close-air-support deployment

    AFCENT reported that the 391st EFS arrived at Bagram on January 14, 2007, and began conducting close-air-support missions for ISAF and partnered Afghan forces.

    Sources: AFCENT Small Diameter Bomb Debuts in Afghanistan

  2. F-15E drops GBU-39B in Afghanistan

    A 391st EFS F-15E Strike Eagle dropped a GBU-39B on a target in Afghanistan during a close-air-support mission for ISAF troops in contact with enemy fighters.

    Sources: AFCENT Small Diameter Bomb Debuts in Afghanistan

  3. Air Force reports F-15E close-air-support role at Bagram

    U.S. Air Force reporting said F-15 Strike Eagles at Bagram had taken over the close-air-support mission and were assigned to the 391st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron.

    Sources: Air Force F-15 Strike Eagles at Bagram

  4. F-15E strikes and show-of-force missions recorded

    A Combined Air and Space Operations Center airpower summary recorded F-15E GBU-38 strikes in Herat Province, GBU-12 use near Garmser, and an F-15E show of force during a coalition convoy operation in Kabul.

    Sources: Air Force Feb. 16 Airpower Summary

  5. Operation Enduring Freedom combat mission formally closes

    Defense Media Activity reporting marked the close of Operation Enduring Freedom's combat mission and included a December 2011 image caption of an F-15E from the 335th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron taking off from Bagram Air Field.

    Sources: National Guard Operation Enduring Freedom Concludes

  6. F-15Es cover the final Kabul evacuation phase

    AFCENT reported that 494th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron F-15E Strike Eagles forward deployed to protect passenger aircraft departing Hamid Karzai International Airport and were the last manned U.S. military aircraft to depart Afghan airspace during the evacuation.

    Sources: AFCENT Red Tails Afghanistan NEO

Documented Use

Direct proof of use

U.S. Air Force and Air Forces Central records document F-15E Strike Eagles in Afghanistan during the 2001 War in Afghanistan. In January 2007, a 391st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron F-15E dropped a GBU-39B Small Diameter Bomb on a target in Afghanistan during a close-air-support mission for ISAF troops in contact with enemy fighters.

Additional official reporting places F-15E Strike Eagles at Bagram Air Base for close-air-support duties in 2007, records F-15E strikes and shows of force in Afghanistan in February 2009, and documents 494th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron F-15Es forward deployed for the August 2021 Kabul noncombatant evacuation operation.

Sources: AFCENT Small Diameter Bomb Debuts in Afghanistan, Air Force F-15 Strike Eagles at Bagram, Air Force Feb. 16 Airpower Summary, AFCENT Red Tails Afghanistan NEO

Timeline

The clearest public milestones are concentrated around Bagram-based close-air-support operations in 2007, documented strike and deterrence missions in 2009, Operation Enduring Freedom's formal combat-mission close in December 2014, and the final U.S. evacuation phase in August 2021.

The record does not treat every F-15E sortie in Afghanistan as individually documented; it uses official examples that directly connect the aircraft to Afghanistan missions.

Sources: AFCENT Small Diameter Bomb Debuts in Afghanistan, Air Force Feb. 16 Airpower Summary, National Guard Operation Enduring Freedom Concludes, AFCENT Red Tails Afghanistan NEO

Narrative

In the Afghanistan theater, the F-15 family record is chiefly supported by F-15E Strike Eagle use. The aircraft served as a dual-role strike fighter, but the documented Afghanistan examples emphasize air-to-ground tasks: close air support for coalition and ISAF forces, precision bombing with guided munitions, overwatch, and non-lethal shows of force.

At Bagram in early 2007, the 391st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron took over close-air-support responsibilities previously associated with A-10s. Air Force reporting described F-15 crews coordinating with joint terminal attack controllers, monitoring from the air, and being talked onto target areas when ground forces requested support.

The January 27, 2007, GBU-39B strike illustrates the aircraft's precision-strike role in direct support of troops under mortar fire. A 2009 Combined Air and Space Operations Center summary then recorded F-15E GBU-38 strikes in Herat Province, GBU-12 use near Garmser, and an F-15E show of force along a coalition convoy route in Kabul.

During the final U.S. withdrawal, F-15E Strike Eagles from the 494th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron were forward deployed to protect passenger aircraft departing Hamid Karzai International Airport. AFCENT reported that those Strike Eagles were the last manned U.S. military aircraft to leave Afghan airspace in support of the noncombatant evacuation operation.

Sources: Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle Fact Sheet, Air Force F-15 Strike Eagles at Bagram, AFCENT Small Diameter Bomb Debuts in Afghanistan, Air Force Feb. 16 Airpower Summary, AFCENT Red Tails Afghanistan NEO

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Sources