In 1967 the U.S. became aware of the Soviet MiG-25 Foxbat. This made it necessary to develop a new aircraft to counter the MiG-25. The USAF rejected the USN F-14 Tomcat and issued its own requirements. The solution came in the form of the McDonnell-Douglas (now Boeing) F-15 Eagle. The F-15A made its inaugural flight in July 1972 and in January 1976 the first Eagle entered service. The "E" entered service in 1989. The F-15 was the first dedicated USAF air superiority fighter since the F-86 Sabre.
In 1977 the 391st TFS Bold Tigers and their F-111 Aardvark were deactivated in July, 1990 but reactivated as the 391st FS on March 11, 1992, equipped with the F-15E Strike Eagle. The 391st was deployed to Ali al Salem AB in Kuwait for support in Operation Enduring Freedom. The 391st was the first USAF FS to use ordnance in theater and flew over 500 missions dropping 515,000 pounds. The Bold Tigers dropped just about every type of bomb available including the first use of the Enhanced GBU-15 (EGBU-15/A).