why would you test air-to-air combat capabilities against an F-15 E Strike Eagle?....The “E” is not the fighter version of the F-15 ...the “”E” is the ground attack version of the F-15
I don't know where you got the impression that the F-15E can't take care of itself air-to-air.
An F-15E in capable hands is the third most lethal platform in A-A combat right behind the F-22 and F-15C. All the bad guys in the world know they will get their clocks cleaned in an engagement with a cleaned up F-15E.