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The Boeing F-15SE Silent Eagle was a proposed upgrade of the F-15E strike fighter by Boeing using stealth features, such as internal weapons carriage and radar-absorbent material.
On 17 March 2009, Boeing first displayed an F-15SE demonstrator. The F-15SE was designed to use fifth-generation fighter technology, such as radar-absorbing materials, to significantly reduce its radar cross-section (RCS). It would have possessed a level of stealth that the U.S. government would have allowed for export, being optimized for air-to-air missions (against X-band radars) and much less effective against ground radars (which use other frequencies).[1] Different levels of RCS reduction were studied,[2] and Boeing stated that this stealth will only be in the range of fifth-generation aircraft such as the F-35 Lightning II from the frontal aspect.[3]
Unique features to the F-15SE were the conformal weapons bays (CWB) that would have replaced the conformal fuel tanks (CFT) to hold weapons internally – thus reducing fuel capacity – and the twin vertical tails canted outward 15° to reduce RCS.[4] Weapons can also be carried externally on hardpoints under each wing. New build F-15SEs were to be lighter and more fuel efficient than Strike Eagle conversions due to the canted tails, fly-by-wire controls, and digital electronic warfare equipment;[5] enabling two additional weapons stations on the wings.[6] The aircraft was to have a Raytheon active electronically scanned array radar, and a new BAE Systems EW system.[7]
In March 2009, Boeing formally launched the F-15SE for international sales;[7] it was aimed at F-15 users such as Israel, Saudi Arabia, Japan, and South Korea.[4][8][9] Boeing estimated the unit cost as approximately US$100 million, including spares and support; its lower cost compared to fifth generation fighters was intended to appeal to the export market.[7][10] In 2009, Boeing began tentative talks with South Korea over the Silent Eagle, but was unable to market it to international customers without an export license from the US government.[11] Boeing filed for an export license in early 2010,[12] and received it in July 2010.[13] In August 2010, clearance was granted to export the F-15SE's RCS treatments and EW suite to South Korea.[14]
During August and September 2009, Boeing evaluated an F-15E with different radar absorbent coatings to select a coating.[15] The first production F-15E (86-0183) was modified to the F-15E1 configuration to serve as a demonstrator. It first flew on 8 July 2010 with a left-side CWB,[13][16] and on 20 July 2010 launched an AMRAAM from a CWB.[17]
Boeing sought other companies to be risk-sharing partners to reduce development costs.[18] In November 2010, Boeing signed an agreement with Korea Aerospace Industries for KAI to design and manufacture the F-15SE's CWB.[19] KAI had previously produced wings and forward fuselages for F-15K and F-15SG. On January 2012, The Korea Times reported that only 10% of the design work on the CWB had been completed, and that development of the canted vertical tails had been suspended in 2010.[20] However, Boeing had stated that development continued with scale model wind tunnel tests scheduled for spring 2012.[21]
Israel held several discussions over the F-15SE as an alternative to the F-35 Lightning II.[22] In August 2010, Israel opted to buy the F-35.[23] In 2015, Israel requested a squadron of F-15s based on the Silent Eagle standard.[24]
In September 2009, Saudi Arabia was reportedly considering purchasing up to 72 F-15s.[25] Although the F-15SE received initial interest,[26] the less advanced F-15SA was ordered in 2012.[27][28]
The F-15SE was submitted for Japan's F-X project, but Japan instead decided to purchase the F-35 in 2011.[29][30]
In South Korea's F-X III fighter program, the F-15SE was bid against the F-35 and Eurofighter Typhoon. Existing F-15s were used for a fly-off against the Typhoon, and an F-35 flight simulator.[31][32] On 18 August 2013, the South Korean Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced that the F-15SE as the only remaining candidate; the F-35 being too costly and the Typhoon disqualified for bidding flaws. On 24 September 2013, the defense ministry rejected the award, saying that a new competition would be held.[33] On 22 November 2013, it was reported that South Korea will purchase the F-35A. Boeing had shifted from the F-15SE to the "Advanced F-15".[34]
Basic specifications listed are for the F-15E Strike Eagle, on which the F-15SE is based.
Data from USAF F-15E fact sheet,[35] Davies,[36] and Boeing Silent Eagle[37]
General characteristics
Performance
Armament
Avionics