* F-15 Silent Eagle stealth fighter could be considered as alternative to F-35

[SpArK]

F-15 Silent Eagle stealth fighter could be considered as alternative to F-35 joint strike fighter amid tight budgets​

​

John Keller

The Boeing Co. may be stealing a march on rival defense contractor Lockheed Martin Corp. with the radar-evading F-15 Silent Eagle stealth fighter, which made its first flight last week in St. Louis. As a stealth aircraft, the 1970s-vintage F-15 jet fighter may be a viable near-term alternative to the Lockheed Martin F-35 joint strike fighter in some applications.

The stealthy version of the F-15 uses special surface coatings, conformal internal weapons bays, and other advanced technologies that enable the F-15 Silent Eagle to evade some kinds of air-to-air radar systems, although experts say the stealth version of the F-15 may not be able to avoid sophisticated ground-based air-defense radars. Conformal weapons bays also may enable the aircraft to function as a stealth bomber.

Israel is watching the F-15 Silent Eagle closely, and may consider the Boeing aircraft to be a more affordable and more available combat aircraft than the F-35. Some in the Israeli defense ministry favor buying the F-15 Silent Eagle in the face of expected additional delays in the F-35 development. The Silent Eagle also reportedly is one-third less expensive than the F-35.



Israeli purchases of the F-15 Silent Eagle would enhance the aircraft's credibility in the international market, which is precisely Boeing's target for the new aircraft. Boeing developed the Silent Eagle in response to international user requirements for a cost-effective, high-performance fighter aircraft to defend against future threats.



The F-15 Silent Eagle offers unique aerodynamic, avionics, and radar cross section reduction features that provide the user with maximum flexibility to dominate the ever-changing advanced threat environment. The aircraft's Conformal Weapons Bays can carry a variety of air-to-air missiles and air-to-ground weapons.


With the U.S. defense budget under increasing pressure to downsize, who knows? If the Silent Eagle catches on internationally, perhaps it could find a home in U.S. fighter squadrons.

 

[indushek]

I think our Navy should consider this too in their bid to acquire new fighters, what do u say??

 

[SpArK]

I think our Navy should consider this too in their bid to acquire new fighters, what do u say??

Its a very nice alternative if the cost factor is 1/3 rd of JSF.

 

[indushek]

I think it is cheaper than F-35 no doubt, it could be 1/3 for sure.

 

[Jigs]

They are 100 million each. F-35 is estimated at 150 million according to the article.


According to this article.

Israel debates F-15 purchase


The Israel Air Force closely followed the maiden flight of the F-15 Silent Eagle, which took to the skies over the weekend in the US. Debate continued within the Defense Ministry over whether it should buy the aircraft in the face of expected additional delays in the development of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

The flight took place over St. Louis, headquarters of the plane’s developer, Boeing Co.

During the 80-minute flight, the plane, called the F-15E1, opened and closed its left-side conformal weapons bay, which contained an AIM-120 Instrumented Test Vehicle (ITV) missile that was not launched.

“The Silent Eagle demonstration flight validated our initial engineering design approach,” said Boeing F-15 Development Programs Director Brad Jones. “Our intent was to verify all systems are operational in a flight environment. This flawless flight allows us to move into the next phase. In the next couple of weeks, we will ferry F-15E1 to the test range and launch an AIM- 120.”

Boeing unveiled the F-15 Silent Eagle (F-15SE) last March as a new configuration of the F-15 that had undergone improvements and modifications, reportedly providing the plane with a stealth capability that is effective in evading radars on enemy aircraft but not against ground-based radar systems.

Improvements in stealth include coatings and treatments to the aircraft, as well as a new design for the conformal fuel tanks that includes the possibility of carrying weapons inside them instead of fuel. Israel operates several squadrons of F-15s, including one of 25 F-15Is, the aircraft with the longest range in the IAF.

While Boeing is still reportedly awaiting Pentagon approval to export the plane, Israel has already held a number of initial discussions regarding the plane and its capabilities.

The maiden flight comes as the Defense Ministry is holding a series of consultations aimed at reaching a decision on which aircraft to buy and how many by the end of the summer.

Israel would like to buy the JSF fifthgeneration fighter jet manufactured by Lockheed Martin, but is concerned with expected delays and the soaring price of the plane, now estimated at close to $150 million. In comparison, the F-15SE will reportedly cost around $100m.

 

[nomi007]

i think Pakistan also go for this jet for its airforce

 

[Gene]

In many similar type of threads i have marked that....
some Pakistani fellows say that "we should go for typhoon",
some says gripen will be fit for PAF
some says Rafael, j-10,j-11,jxx...

now another one say "PAF should go for f-15 silent eagle".

!!!!!!!!!" jo bhi dekh liya wahi chahiye kya"?????

 

[SpArK]

In many similar type of threads i have marked that....
some Pakistani fellows say that "we should go for typhoon",
some says gripen will be fit for PAF
some says Rafael, j-10,j-11,jxx...

now another one say "PAF should go for f-15 silent eagle".

!!!!!!!!!" jo bhi dekh liya wahi chahiye kya"?????

Why??? Is that applicable only to us or what??


The first wishing has come from an Indian itself . What do u say about that?

 

[Ammyy]

Why??? Is that applicable only to us or what??


The first wishing has come from an Indian itself . What do u say about that?

Dude our wishing look logical cause almost all advance fighters offer to India in MMRCA competition and if we select F 16 so we can also go for F 35 .... so whts wrong in that ???

 

[SpArK]

Dude our wishing look logical cause almost all advance fighters offer to India in MMRCA competition and if we select F 16 so we can also go for F 35 .... so whts wrong in that ???

Shelling a few millions for a couple of fighters is not a big ask.

It wont be huge but a deal can be done. if offered.

Afterall Pakistan is still one of the top 15 military's of the world .

 

[Dash]

Shelling a few millions for a couple of fighters is not a big ask.

It wont be huge but a deal can be done. if offered.

Afterall Pakistan is still one of the top 15 military's of the world .

Afterall Pakistan is still one of the top 15 military's of the world

Again Benny, Thanks to India for that.

 

[Thomas]

considering the F-15 SE costs about 20 million more then the F-35. I doubt any decision to buy it will be for fiscal reasons.

 

[SpArK]

considering the F-15 SE costs about 20 million more then the F-35. I doubt any decision to buy it will be for fiscal reasons.

Israel debates F-15 purchase

The Israel Air Force closely followed the maiden flight of the F-15 Silent Eagle, which took to the skies over the weekend in the US. Debate continued within the Defense Ministry over whether it should buy the aircraft in the face of expected additional delays in the development of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

The flight took place over St. Louis, headquarters of the plane’s developer, Boeing Co.

During the 80-minute flight, the plane, called the F-15E1, opened and closed its left-side conformal weapons bay, which contained an AIM-120 Instrumented Test Vehicle (ITV) missile that was not launched.

“The Silent Eagle demonstration flight validated our initial engineering design approach,” said Boeing F-15 Development Programs Director Brad Jones. “Our intent was to verify all systems are operational in a flight environment. This flawless flight allows us to move into the next phase. In the next couple of weeks, we will ferry F-15E1 to the test range and launch an AIM- 120.”

Boeing unveiled the F-15 Silent Eagle (F-15SE) last March as a new configuration of the F-15 that had undergone improvements and modifications, reportedly providing the plane with a stealth capability that is effective in evading radars on enemy aircraft but not against ground-based radar systems.



Improvements in stealth include coatings and treatments to the aircraft, as well as a new design for the conformal fuel tanks that includes the possibility of carrying weapons inside them instead of fuel. Israel operates several squadrons of F-15s, including one of 25 F-15Is, the aircraft with the longest range in the IAF.

While Boeing is still reportedly awaiting Pentagon approval to export the plane, Israel has already held a number of initial discussions regarding the plane and its capabilities.

The maiden flight comes as the Defense Ministry is holding a series of consultations aimed at reaching a decision on which aircraft to buy and how many by the end of the summer.

Israel would like to buy the JSF fifth generation fighter jet manufactured by Lockheed Martin, but is concerned with expected delays and the soaring price of the plane, now estimated at close to $150 million. In comparison, the F-15SE will reportedly cost around $100m.





Israel debates F-15 purchase

 

[Thomas]

They are 100 million each. F-35 is estimated at 150 million according to the article.

F-35 production costs are much lower then people realize. Over and over articles have been posted here to this effect but people refuse to get rid of the 150 million dollar price tag in their heads. part of it is the concerted media blitz that was mounted by f-35 critics.

Lockheed: F-35 Can Compete On Cost | AVIATION WEEK


Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"The USAF's budget data in 2010 projects the F-35 to have a US$89 million flyaway cost based its planned production of 1,753 F-35As. Lockheed Martin expects to reduce government cost estimates by 20%"

 

[SpArK]

@ Thomas - On comparison where you put F-15SE with contemporaries.?