Table of Contents
| Factor | Eurofighter Typhoon | F-15 Eagle |
|---|---|---|
| Role | Multirole fighter, designed first as an air-superiority fighter | Air-superiority fighter, with strike versions in the F-15E family |
| First flight and service | Prototype flew 27 March 1994; in service 2003 | First flew July 1972; in service 1976 |
| Radar | Captor-M mechanical; Captor-E AESA on newer jets | APG-63 family; APG-63(V)3 AESA on 179 F-15Cs |
| Gun | 27 mm Mauser BK-27 | 20 mm M61 Vulcan |
| Air combat record | Combat debut over Libya in 2011 | More than 104 victories, no air-to-air losses |
| Operators | 9 nations in service, Turkey on order | USAF F-15C retired from active duty in April 2025; flown by several allies |
Which Is Better: the Eurofighter Typhoon or the F-15 Eagle?
On the numbers the F-15 Eagle is faster, climbs quicker and flies farther. The Eurofighter Typhoon is the younger design, with a modern radar path and a production line that is still open.
The two jets were designed about two decades apart, so the useful question is which job you need done.
The short version
The F-15 wins on speed, climb, range and a record of more than 104 air-to-air victories with no losses. The Typhoon wins on airframe age, sensor and weapons growth, and a fleet that is still being built.
What the old version of this page got wrong
An earlier version said the Typhoon climbs faster than the F-15 and that the F-15 was built for stealth. The AeroCorner database lists the F-15 climbing at 67,050 ft/min (341 m/s) against 62,000 ft/min (315 m/s) for the Typhoon, and the F-15 first flew in 1972, decades before stealth design.
Where the Eurofighter Typhoon Wins
The Typhoon’s clearest advantage is age. Its first prototype flew on 27 March 1994 and it entered service in 2003, so its airframe, computers and growth paths are a generation newer than the Eagle’s.
It is also still being built. Wikipedia puts the procurement total at 769 aircraft as of 30 June 2026, and the radar is still improving: the Captor-E AESA radar was launched with Kuwait, and the European Common Radar System (ECRS) comes in Mk0, Mk1 and Mk2 versions.
The Typhoon also carries the PIRATE infrared search and track system, which can cue a short-range missile without using radar. Its weapons list includes the AIM-120 AMRAAM, the MBDA Meteor long-range missile, the ASRAAM and IRIS-T, plus a 27 mm Mauser BK-27 cannon.
Two Eurojet EJ200 engines give each Typhoon up to 60 kN (13,500 lbf) of dry thrust and more than 90 kN (20,230 lbf) with afterburner, according to Wikipedia. Supercruise claims vary: Eurofighter says Mach 1.5, Air Forces Monthly gives Mach 1.1 for the RAF FGR4, and a Singaporean evaluation recorded Mach 1.21.
Where the F-15 Eagle Wins
The F-15’s edge is raw performance. The AeroCorner database lists a maximum speed of 1,650 mph (2,656 km/h) against 1,550 mph (2,495 km/h) for the Typhoon, and a ceiling of 65,000 ft (19,800 m) against 55,000 ft (16,800 m).
Climb and reach follow the same pattern. The database shows 67,050 ft/min (341 m/s) against 62,000 ft/min (315 m/s), and a range of 3,450 mi (5,560 km) against 2,360 mi (3,790 km). Wikipedia notes the Eagle can climb to 30,000 feet (9,100 m) in around 60 seconds.
Its two engines make 2 × 23,770 lbf (106 kN) and push a bigger aircraft: maximum takeoff weight is 68,000 lb (30,800 kg) against 52,000 lb (23,500 kg) for the Typhoon.
The combat record is the other point in the Eagle’s favor. Wikipedia credits it with over 104 victories and no losses in air-to-air combat since the Israeli Air Force first used it in combat in 1979.
Radar and Sensors
The F-15 started with the APG-63 pulse-Doppler radar, which can look up at high-flying targets and look down at low-flying ones. Wikipedia says 179 F-15Cs began receiving the APG-63(V)3 AESA radar from 2010.
The Typhoon launched with the mechanically scanned Captor-M and is moving to AESA. Mk0 is fitted to Kuwaiti and Qatari aircraft, Mk1 is for Germany and Spain, and Mk2 is being developed for the Royal Air Force with electronic-warfare capability.
Weapons and Armament
The F-15 carries AIM-7 Sparrow or AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles on its lower fuselage corners, AIM-9 Sidewinder or AMRAAM on two wing pylons, and a 20 mm M61 Vulcan cannon in the right wing root. A typical load is 8 AMRAAMs, or 6 AMRAAMs and 2 Sidewinders.
The Typhoon has 13 hardpoints, eight under the wings and five under the fuselage, holding more than 9,000 kg (19,800 lb). Its mix of AMRAAM, Meteor, ASRAAM and IRIS-T is broader, and later aircraft add Storm Shadow, Brimstone and Marte ER for strike and anti-ship roles.
Design Philosophy: Two Eras of Air Superiority
The F-15 came out of the late 1960s requirement for a dedicated air-superiority fighter. Wikipedia says its maneuverability comes from low wing loading and a high thrust-to-weight ratio, letting it turn at up to 9 g without losing airspeed.
The Typhoon uses a canard delta wing and was designed to be an effective dogfighter, with computers keeping it stable at the edge of control. It was developed by a UK, German, Italian and Spanish consortium after France left to build the Rafale.
Cost: Eurofighter Typhoon vs F-15 Eagle
The AeroCorner database lists a price of $29.9 million (1998) for the F-15 and $90 million (2018) for the Typhoon. The figures come from different decades, so they show direction, not a like-for-like gap.
For the Typhoon, Germany’s 2007 estimate put the unit cost at €57 million, and its 2009 order of 31 Tranche 3A aircraft worked out at €90 million per aircraft including system costs. Neither figure covers running costs, which no source here measures.
Who Flies Them
The Typhoon flies with Austria, Italy, Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait and Qatar, and Turkey has ordered it.
The F-15 was the main air-superiority fighter of the USAF and several allies. Wikipedia says all active-duty USAF units had retired the F-15C by April 2025, and that the USAF turned to the F-15EX to supplement the F-22 in the air-superiority role.
Which Should You Choose?
An air force that wants the longest reach, highest ceiling and a proven air-combat record leans toward the F-15. One that wants a newer airframe, a European supply chain and an open production line leans toward the Typhoon.
Neither is a wrong answer. They solve the same problem two decades apart.
Related Comparisons
Looking at other Typhoon matchups? See our Eurofighter Typhoon vs F-22 Raptor comparison, or the wider best fighter jets in the world ranking.
FAQ
Sources and references used for research and fact-checking.
About the Author
Tim is the owner and lead editor of AeroCorner since 2019, overseeing aviation content covering aircraft, airlines, airports, and the broader aviation industry. Through years of researching, writing, editing, and publishing aviation-focused content, he has developed extensive practical knowledge of commercial aviation and air travel. Based in Asia and a frequent traveler himself, Tim also brings firsthand passenger experience to AeroCorner’s coverage. Outside of publishing, he has also explored aviation firsthand through hands-on flight training in New Zealand.