Boeing unveils F-15 Silent Eagle to compete with F-35 sales

[Cicero]

Janes Defense has just released news on the F-15 Silent Eagle, with stealthy features to reduce RCS like an internal weapons bay to compete for buyers of LHMs F-35 and other 5th Generation fighters.

http://www.janes.com/news/defence/sy...0318_1_n.shtml

[Cicero]

F-15 has long legs to reach out and touch someone. Enables fewer aircraft and bases to influince the battlespace over larger theaters of operation. Anybody have any thoughts? I think it would be a good option for Australia, Japan, and the UK, and other island nations that have to control vast areas of sea around them for defense. Has the Phantom Works pulled a rabbit out of their hat in the face of lockheed's recent domination of stealth fighters?

[AThousandYoung]

Will it be V/STOL?

[Cicero]

I don't think so. V/Stol aircraft tend to be smaller for operating from tiny carriers and to operate from makeshift bases near the front lines. I don't think this is intended to compete for the Royal Navy's F-35B order. When I suggested it for Britain it was for the RAF as a Tornado replacement, and the Aussies as an F-111 replacement where its longer range and stealthy characteristics would be valuable.

[bass_man86]

A much better idea than the F35 IMO, that thing has turned into a mess.

[sickpup]

I'm not so sure...

According to Aviation Week:

Stealthiness for the F-15 was explored about a decade ago for the U.S. Air Force as an alternative to the Lockheed-led F-22, but was never pursued. "The internal carriage is what is new. The stealth is not," Jones says, adding "We are not really after the F-22 market or the F-35 market" with this new design."

That's probably a good thing, because:

Jones estimates the cost of a Silent Eagle will be about $100 million per aircraft, including spares, if built new. A retrofit kit including the conformal fuel tanks, DEWS and coatings could be added to existing Strike Eagles, he says.

I've seen various estimates that put the F-35 between 90 million and 120 million per aircraft. So, in terms of cost savings, it's not an easy decision... well, until the F-35 goes over budget and deadline again...

[Half Pint John]

Originally Posted by Cicero

F-15 has long legs to reach out and touch someone. Enables fewer aircraft and bases to influince the battlespace over larger theaters of operation. Anybody have any thoughts? I think it would be a good option for Australia, Japan, and the UK, and other island nations that have to control vast areas of sea around them for defense. Has the Phantom Works pulled a rabbit out of their hat in the face of lockheed's recent domination of stealth fighters?

The UK has large areas of sea to control? Less than Iceland or Canada or the US for sure.

[Loggo the Great]

Interesting concept, but I don't really know how much better of a deal it is at 100 million a plane, it does have the advantage of being around a long time, all the major problems with the f15 have had time to be fixed so a few modifications to make it more stealthy and you know you're getting a time tested quality plane. Looks pretty sweet.Do you know if there are any better photos, some where online?

[17thAirborneSon]

[quote=loggo the great;1148665]interesting concept, but i don't really know how much better of a deal it is at 100 million a plane, it does have the advantage of being around a long time, all the major problems with the f15 have had time to be fixed so a few modifications to make it more stealthy and you know you're getting a time tested quality plane. Looks pretty sweet.do you know if there are any better photos, some where online?[/quote]

f15se.jpg

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*this image may be subject to copyright

[Cicero]

I think the plane there may be the F-15E Strike Eagle not silent eagle. I say that cause of the weapon mounts on the wings and fuselage. Here is a pick of the weapons bays from Boeing.

You see the missiles are retractable. Press statement available here http://www.boeing.com/news/releases/...90317a_nr.html

[Cicero]

Y'all see how they have also tilted down the tail fins a little? They are no longer vertical.

[IDonT4]

This plane is great!

Using the CFT as an ad hoc weapons bay is ingenious! I wonder how low-observable it is compared to other 4.5 generation aircraft.

[Cicero]

Yes, the engineers can come up with good ideas there. I liked how simple they're JSF design seemed to assemble. But on this they have yet to apply the RAM coating to the plane. Testing will probably be carried out over the next year. From what I have been reading they seem to be stressing the emphases of cutting the front arc of the radar cross section, meaning this plane may also be aimed as a high-end AWACS killer that also makes a great 4.5 gen fighter.

[TacCovert4]

As a retrofit kit it looks like a good way to save some serious cash in the soon to be Obama-strapped Air Force. Also a good export idea. Proven muli-role fighter, good payload, long range. Now partially stealthed. For most missions, the Stealth Eagle would be more versatile and capable than the F-35. Great option for Australia, with it's need for long range interception.

[Achtung Baby]

Will it have a dedicated FLIR for air superiority missions?