The eagles have landed
By Senior Airman Giovanni Sims, 378th Air Expeditionary Wing
/ Published January 09, 2020
PRINCE SULTAN AIR BASE, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia -- U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles with the 494th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, deployed from Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, found a new home in the 378th Expeditionary Operations Group.
These F-15Es, known as the “Mighty Black Panthers,” are capable of executing strategic attack, interdiction, and counter air missions in support of joint and coalition combat operations.
“The Panthers are honored to join the Prince Sultan Air Base team and partner with the Royal Saudi Air Force,” said Lt. Col. Jaina Donberg, 494th EFS commander. “We look forward to sharpening our collective claws as we work together to provide stability to the region.”
As one of the more powerful fighter aircraft active today, the Strike Eagle already performs many missions in the U.S. Air Forces Central Command area of responsibility.
"As an F-16 pilot, I have trained and fought alongside F-15E’s throughout my career," said Col. Robert Raymond, 378th EOG commander. "It's an extremely capable and versatile fighter that can accomplish any fighter mission required."
The 378th Air Expeditionary Wing grows daily. Its Airmen continue to ensure PSAB is a premiere base, supporting allies and deterring aggression in the region.
"It's impressive that we can show up to a new location where there hasn't been an enduring U.S. presence for the past 16 years and build a base from nothing," Raymond said. "We turned what was just a patch in the desert to a full-up operating location, ready to receive combat fighter aircraft and generate combat airpower."