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Enduring legacy: five old air superiority fighters still flying

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Enduring legacy: five old air superiority fighters still flying
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The McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle, first introduced in 1976, remains one of the most enduring air superiority fighters still in service today. Initially manufactured by McDonnell Douglas and later by Boeing, the F-15 was designed as a twin-engine, all-weather fighter. Despite advancements in military technology, it is considered one of the fastest fighters ever put into service by the United States. "The aircraft remains the fastest fighter jet ever put into service by the United States," according to reports.

Japan's Mitsubishi F-15J is another long-serving fighter. Manufactured under license from McDonnell Douglas, 213 units were produced by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries for Japan's Air Self-Defense Force in the 1980s. These aircraft are notable for being the only F-15 jets produced outside of the United States.

The Mikoyan MiG-29, developed during the 1970s by the Mikoyan Design Bureau in the Soviet Union, continues to be operational with several air forces worldwide. The MiG-29 was intended to counter U.S.-built fighter aircraft like the F-15 Eagle and remains one of the oldest air superiority fighters still in production.

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Soviet-built Sukhoi Su-27 entered service in 1985 and was designed to combat fourth-generation fighters such as the F-15 and Grumman F-14 Tomcat. Over 680 units were produced between 1982 and 2010. Variants of this aircraft remain active with several air forces including Russia and China.

Finally, the Sukhoi Su-33 is a carrier-capable fighter that entered service officially in 1998 but began operations three years earlier on Russia's Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier. Only 24 units were produced, with some later versions built under license in China as Shenyang J-15.

These aircraft highlight how some designs have proven so capable or difficult to replace that they continue serving decades after their introduction.

Organizations Included in this History
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