The proposed retirement of the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle from active service with the Air National Guard (ANG) is raising speculation this storied fighter might soon disappear as a frontline warplane of the U.S. Air Force.

The question as to the fate of U.S. Air Force F-15s cropped-up at a recent House Armed Services readiness subcommittee hearing. The discussion eventually came to plans by the ANG to retire its 236 F-15 C and D Eagle fighters as a cost-saving measure.

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ANG director Lt. Gen. Scott Rice obfuscated, saying the Air Force is looking for ways to maximize the use of its limited resources while minimizing the number of aircraft it operates but still accomplishing its mission.

Gen. Rice described the proposal to retire some F-15s as "predecisional." He did, however, say a decision on retiring the F-15C and F-15D (the two versions specialized for air-to-air combat) won't be made this year. This means these models won't retire until fiscal 2020 at the earliest.

Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek, however, said that retiring the F-15 C and D isn't a done deal. She noted that the Air Force has also proposed eliminating the A-10, but the Warthog has survived.

"We're always looking at force structure options for the future," said Stefanek. "Until it is something that we put in our budget as a proposal, it's just another option that could be pursued. Just because it's an option doesn't mean we'll pursue it."

The retired F-15s will be replaced in ANG service by General Dynamics F-16 Flying Falcon air superiority fighters.

It turns out replacing the F-15 C and F-15 with F-16s raises its own unique set of problems, however, chief among which is the F-16s ability to carry fewer air-to-air missiles than the F-15.

The F-15 C and F-15D can pack up to eight AIM-9 Sidewinder is a short-range air-to-air missiles and AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles. On the other hand, the F-16 can only carry up to six air-to-air missiles.

Both warplanes, however, mount an M-61A1 20 mm multi-barrel cannon, but the F-15 can carry 940 rounds of ammunition to the F-16's 500.

Asked if replacing the F-15 Eagle with the F-16 will have a negative effect on air superiority, Gen. Rice said it can be handled.

"There's a risk in changing any of our force structure decisions," said Gen. Rice.

He did say "there are capabilities we can add and provide on the F-16 that will (fill) a gap as we go into the future. Overall, our readiness and our protection of the U.S. will change, but I think overall, we will be OK." 

TagsMcDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle, Air National Guard, ANG, U.S. Air Force, Lt. Gen. Scott Rice, General Dynamics F-16 Flying Falcon