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F-15SE Silent Eagle
	The F-15SE demonstrator
Role	Multi-role fighter
Manufacturer	Boeing IDS
First flight	Planned for 2010
Status	In development
Number built	One demonstrator
Unit cost	F-15SE: US$100 million (planned average cost, 2009)
Developed from	F-15E Strike Eagle

The Boeing F-15SE Silent Eagle is a proposed upgrade of the F-15E by Boeing using fifth generation fighter features, such as internal weapons carriage and radar-absorbent material.^[3]

[edit] Design and development

A demonstration version of the F-15SE was first displayed by Boeing on 17 March 2009. The F-15SE will use fifth generation fighter technologies to reduce its radar cross-section (RCS). Distinguishing features of this version are the conformal fuel tanks that hold weapons internally and the twin vertical tails canted outward 15 degrees to reduce its radar cross section. Weapons storage takes the place of most of each conformal tank's fuel capacity. This variant will also have radar absorbing material where needed. The Silent Eagle is aimed at current F-15 users such as Israel, Saudi Arabia, Japan, and South Korea, among others.^[3]^[4]^[5]

The F-15SE is to have a level of stealth allowed for export by the US government.^[6] Boeing has admitted that this stealth will only be in the range of fifth generation aircraft such as the F-35 Lightning II from the frontal aspect.^[7] The F-15SE will have a Raytheon AESA radar, and a new electronic warfare system from BAE Systems.^[8]

This stealth will be optimized for air to air missions and much less effective against ground based radars.^[9]

In March 2009, Boeing formally launched the F-15 Silent Eagle and began to offer it for international sales. The aircraft is capable of carrying both internal weapons and external weapons mounted on hardpoints under each wing. The F-15SE's lower cost compared to fifth generation fighters is intended to aid the aircraft's appeal to the export market. The aircraft would require export licenses similar to the F-35.^[1]^[8]

Unit cost has been estimated by Boeing at approximately US$100 million, including spares and support.^[1] The company has been seeking other companies to be risk sharing partners to reduce its development costs.^[10] Studies of different possible levels of reduction in radar cross-section (RCS) reduction are underway.^[11] In June 2009, Boeing stated it planned for a demonstration flight of the Silent Eagle in the third quarter 2010.^[12]

In September 2009, Saudi Arabia was reported to be considering the purchase of up to 72 F-15 strike aircraft.^[13] Although the exact variant is unspecified, they are reported to be interested in the Silent Eagle.^[14]

[edit] Specifications

Basic specifications listed are for F-15E Strike Eagle, which the F-15SE is based.

Data from USAF F-15E fact sheet,^[15] Davies,^[16] and Boeing Backgrounder on Silent Eagle.^[17]

General characteristics

Crew: 2
Length: 63.8 ft (19.43 m)
Wingspan: 42.8 ft (13.05 m)
Height: 18.5 ft (5.63 m)
Wing area: 608 ft² (56.5 m²)
Airfoil: NACA 64A006.6 root, NACA 64A203 tip
Empty weight: 31,700 lb (14,300 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 81,000 lb (36,700 kg)
Powerplant: 2× Pratt & Whitney F100-229 afterburning turbofans, 29,000 lbf (129 kN) each

Performance

Maximum speed: Mach 2.5+ (1,650+ mph, 2,650+ km/h)
Combat radius: 800+ nm ()
Ferry range: 2,400 mi (2,100 nmi, 3,900 km) with conformal fuel tank and three external fuel tanks
Service ceiling: 60,000 ft (18,200 m)
Rate of climb: 50,000+ ft/min (254+ m/s)

Armament

1× 20 mm (0.787 in) M61 Vulcan gatling gun with 510 rounds of ammunition
Various bombs, missiles and external tanks.

Avionics

APG-63(V)4/APG-82 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar
DEWS Electronic warfare system
Digital “Fly-by-Wire” Flight Control System (DFCS)
Lockheed Martin Sniper advanced electro-optical targeting system and Infrared Search and Track (IRST) system
Link-16 fighter data link

[edit] See also

Related development

Comparable aircraft

Related lists

List of fighter aircraft

[edit] References

^ ^a ^b ^c Butler, Amy. "Stealthy F-15 Could Enliven St. Louis Facility." Aviation Week, 20 March 2009.
^ "Boeing unveils Silent Eagle". Jane's Information Group, 18 March 2009.
^ ^a ^b "Boeing Unveils New Stealthy F-15." Aviation Week, 17 March 2009.
^ "Boeing Unveils New International F-15 Configuration -- the F-15SE". Boeing, 17 March 2009.
^ Lake, Jon. "Boeing Unveils Stealthy Eagle Variant." Air International, Volume 76, Issue 5, May 2009.
^ Clarification. Air Force magazine, 23 March 2009.
^ March 16, 2009 Briefing by Brad Jones, F-15 Future Fighters Project Manager, Boeing, page 19
^ ^a ^b Trimble, Stephen. "Boeing unveils upgraded F-15 Silent Eagle with fifth-generation features." Flight International, 17 March 2009.
^ Boeing unveils upgraded F-15 Silent Eagle with fifth-generation features
^ Trimble, Stephen. "Boeing eyes risk-sharing, lower costs for $100 million F-15SE". Flight International, 4 June 2009.
^ Warwick, Graham. "Boeing Studies Stealth Eagle Options." Aviation Week, 11 June 2009.
^ "Boeing Committed to Funding F-15 Silent Eagle Development." Boeing, 17 June 2009.
^ "U.S., Saudis Deal For Additional Eagles". Aviation Week, 10 September 2009
^ Saudis Eye Buying 72 F-15s
^ F-15E Strike Eagle fact sheet, United States Air Force, October 2007
^ Davies, Steve. Combat Legend, F-15 Eagle and Strike Eagle, Appendix 1. London: Airlife Publishing, Ltd., 2002. ISBN 1-84037-377-6.
^ F-15SG Backgrounder

[Enliven_Av_Week-0] Butler, Amy. "Stealthy F-15 Could Enliven St. Louis Facility." Aviation Week, 20 March 2009.

[1] "Boeing unveils Silent Eagle". Jane's Information Group, 18 March 2009.

[AV-Week_Stealthy_F-15-2] "Boeing Unveils New Stealthy F-15." Aviation Week, 17 March 2009.

[3] "Boeing Unveils New International F-15 Configuration -- the F-15SE". Boeing, 17 March 2009.

[4] Lake, Jon. "Boeing Unveils Stealthy Eagle Variant." Air International, Volume 76, Issue 5, May 2009.

[5] Clarification. Air Force magazine, 23 March 2009.

[6] March 16, 2009 Briefing by Brad Jones, F-15 Future Fighters Project Manager, Boeing, page 19

[FI_unveils-7] Trimble, Stephen. "Boeing unveils upgraded F-15 Silent Eagle with fifth-generation features." Flight International, 17 March 2009.

[8] Boeing unveils upgraded F-15 Silent Eagle with fifth-generation features

[9] Trimble, Stephen. "Boeing eyes risk-sharing, lower costs for $100 million F-15SE". Flight International, 4 June 2009.

[10] Warwick, Graham. "Boeing Studies Stealth Eagle Options." Aviation Week, 11 June 2009.

[11] "Boeing Committed to Funding F-15 Silent Eagle Development." Boeing, 17 June 2009.

[12] "U.S., Saudis Deal For Additional Eagles". Aviation Week, 10 September 2009

[13] Saudis Eye Buying 72 F-15s

[F-15_USAF_fact-14] F-15E Strike Eagle fact sheet, United States Air Force, October 2007

[15] Davies, Steve. Combat Legend, F-15 Eagle and Strike Eagle, Appendix 1. London: Airlife Publishing, Ltd., 2002. ISBN 1-84037-377-6.

[16] F-15SG Backgrounder

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Contents

[edit] Design and development

[edit] Specifications

[edit] See also

[edit] References