Let’s check out the JASSM and APKWS markings on the ultimate 4 F-15E Strike Eagles of the 389th Fighter Squadron “Thunderbolts” as they return from their deployment to the Center East.
On Jul. 19, 2025, the ultimate 4 F-15E jets from the 389th Fighter Squadron, 366th Fighter Wing, primarily based at Mountain House Air Drive Base, Idaho, landed at RAF Mildenhall, UK, on their manner again from a deployment to the Center East that started in October 2024.
The 4 Strike Eagles, flying as TABOR 93–96, arrived on the British airbase at some point after the primary cell, consisting of eight F-15Es, had landed at RAF Mildenhall.
In touchdown order, the airframes within the second cell have been:
F-15E 87-182 “Pennywise”
F-15E 88-1667 “Reaper”
F-15E 90-245 “Hannibal”
F-15E 87-190 “Ghostface”
In addition to the nostril artwork that includes horror film characters, these F-15Es additionally carried bomb markings much like these noticed on the eight plane from the primary cell, which we coated intimately in our earlier article right here.
JASSM Markings Reveal Fight Use
As we already defined in our earlier story on the Thunderbolts F-15Es and their distinctive markings, only a few particulars have been disclosed concerning the missions flown by the 389th Fighter Squadron’s aircrews throughout their newest deployment. Nonetheless, primarily based on the bomb markings noticed on the plane, the F-15Es seem to have been closely engaged in operations.
Along with what appear to be JDAMs (Joint Direct Assault Munitions), the Strike Eagles appear to have employed each AGM-158 JASSMs (Joint Air-to-Floor Standoff Missiles) and AGR-20 APKWS II (Superior Precision Kill Weapon System II) laser-guided rockets. Among the many acquainted silhouettes, there are additionally some pink lightning bolts, unidentified in the intervening time, however doubtless representing air-to-air weapons.
The presence of APKWS II was considerably anticipated, notably after CENTCOM launched a photograph of an F-15E (serial 87-0210, “Jigsaw”) deployed to an undisclosed location. By OSINT evaluation, the bottom was later recognized as Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan. The plane carried an anti-UAV loadout composed of six LAU-131A rocket launchers, amounting to 42 AGR-20 rockets. Based mostly on the variety of APKWS markings, the Thunderbolts used loads of laser-guided rockets towards Iranian or Yemeni drones.
Alternatively, the usage of AGM-158 JASSMs by the F-15Es throughout their Center East deployment has not been formally confirmed. Subsequently, the bomb markings present the primary “visible affirmation that the radar-evading cruise missile was used.
The JASSM, accessible in each the baseline variant with a variety exceeding 200 nautical miles and the extended-range (ER) model with standoff functionality past 500 nautical miles, is a GPS-guided, radar-evading cruise missile geared up with a 2,250-pound penetrator/blast fragmentation warhead. It makes use of a mix of anti-jam GPS and an infrared seeker to find and destroy high-value, well-defended targets, in all climate situations and at any time of day.
The presence of JASSM markings on the F-15Es getting back from the newest deployment suggests the cruise missiles could have been utilized in theater, presumably in assist of Operation Midnight Hammer. Greater than 125 plane, together with 4th and fifth era platforms, took half within the raid, whose most crucial section noticed the B-2 Spirits drop 14 GBU-57 MOP (Huge Ordnance Penetrator) bunker buster bombs on Iranian nuclear amenities. There are possibilities the JASSMs have been employed towards key air protection websites, radar installations, or hardened command and management nodes, to pave the way in which for the stealth bombers to soundly penetrate Iranian airspace and strike their targets.
As defined within the earlier article too, additionally it is price noting that the F-15E is ready to combine the AGM-158C-1 LRASM (Lengthy Vary Anti-Ship Missile), which was reportedly utilized in fight for the primary time within the area not too long ago.
Anyway, after the stopover within the UK the F-15E of the 366th FW will proceed their journey again to Mountain House AFB: the primary six Strike Eagles departed RAF Mildenhall on Sunday, July 20, 2025, to be adopted by the remaining six, within the subsequent few days.
Why RAF Mildenhall and never Lakenheath
As a facet be aware, it’s price noting that the jets didn’t land at RAF Lakenheath, as that they had throughout earlier returns from the fight zone. The bottom, dwelling of the forty eighth Fighter Wing, was closed by a NOTAM (Discover to Aviation, as per official UK terminology, or Discover to Airmen) energetic on Jul. 17 and 18, and stays restricted till Jul. 26 to pre-approved actions solely, with no transient visitors permitted below a separate NOTAM. These closures and restrictions, together with the actions of a C-17 utilizing callsign usually related to Prime Nuclear Airlift Drive (PNAF) missions, have fuelled hypothesis concerning the doable return of nuclear weapons to Lakenheath, a subject you may learn extra about right here.
As soon as once more, many due to our pal and contributor Stewart Jack for the pictures!
