The McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle, after more than 25 years of service, was still the U.S. Air Force's premier fighter as the year 2000 approached. It is the only aircraft in the U.S. Air Force arsenal capable of launching the ASAT anti-satellite missile, and it's low-wing loading (the ratio of aircraft weight to its wing area), combined with its high engine thrust-to-weight ratio, allows it to turn tightly without losing airspeed.