Aircraft comparison
F-15 Eagle vs F-16 Fighting Falcon
Compare the specifications that meaningfully distinguish these two aircraft.
F-15 Eagle
F-16 Fighting Falcon
Manufacturer
McDonnell Douglas / Boeing
General Dynamics / Lockheed Martin
Role / type
Air-superiority fighter
Multirole fighter
First flight
July 27, 1972
January 20, 1974
Engines
2 × afterburning turbofans
1 × afterburning turbofan
Crew
1 or 2, by variant
1 or 2
Cruise speed
About 570 mph (917 km/h)
About 577 mph (929 km/h)
Maximum speed
Mach 2.5 class
Mach 2 class
Range
Combat radius varies; ferry range over 3,000 nmi with tanks
Ferry range over 2,000 nmi with external tanks
Length
63 ft 9 in (19.43 m)
49 ft 5 in (15.06 m)
Wingspan
42 ft 10 in (13.06 m)
32 ft 8 in (9.96 m)
Maximum takeoff weight
About 68,000 lb (30,845 kg), variant dependent
About 42,300 lb (19,187 kg)
Production
1972–present (advanced derivatives)
1973–present
Number built
More than 1,700
More than 4,600