It is the first sequel to the 1986 film Iron Eagle, with Louis Gossett Jr. reprising his role as Charles "Chappy" Sinclair, alongside newcomers Mark Humphrey, Stuart Margolin, Maury Chaykin, Alan Scarfe, Colm Feore, and Clark Johnson.

While on a routine patrol in United States airspace west of Alaska, pilots Doug "Thumper" Masters and Matt "Cobra" Cooper test the g-forces of their F-16C fighter aircraft.

The next day, the U.S. Secretary of Defense publicly denies the incident, claiming a training accident caused by a fuel system malfunction killed Doug.

During their briefing, it is revealed that an unnamed Middle Eastern country has completed construction of a nuclear weapons compound capable of launching warheads towards both the United States and the Soviet Union.

For the mission, the F-16 units are to fire their missiles at the compound through the ventilation shafts while the MiGs provide high-altitude cover against enemy aircraft.

Chappy orders the pilots to abort the mission, but Matt and his wingman Graves disobey and provide air cover to the ground units.

Meanwhile, the enemy prepares to launch a warhead while the U.S. and Soviet forces order bombers on standby in case the operation fails.

Chappy and the ground forces manage to destroy the guidance tower controlling the SAM launchers, but Hickman is killed in the process.

Matt and Valeri bid each other farewell, but Chappy reveals to him that they are flying to Moscow on Tuesday as part of a pilot exchange program.

[4] [N 1] Israeli Air Force pilots performed the aerial maneuvers for the film, using General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon and McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II units - 69 Squadron's latter used to portray the Soviet MiG-29.

[9] Kevin Thomas of the Los Angeles Times found the film to be better than the first, saying it "hasn't the sleekness of Top Gun, which it clearly tries to emulate, but it delivers the goods in its elementary fashion.

"[12] David Connelly of The Shreveport Journal found it unintentionally funny and said "the flight scenes look lackluster compared to those in Top Gun.

"[13] Doug Shanaberger of The Pittsburgh Press gave it one star and said "though a waste of celluloid and humiliation for Gossett, Iron Eagle II at least contains a fleet of zooming, whooshing silver jets.