Israel Prefers F-15 ‘Silent Eagles’ to More F-35s

[gambit]

The F-15SE shall have a level of stealth that the U.S. government allows for export, being optimized for air-to-air missions (against X-band radars) and much less effective against ground radars (which use other frequencies)....

Ground stations are line-of-sight (LOS) limited. Talking about the science is one thing, but the deployment and use of the products that came from the science falls under tactics.

Assume that certain freqs will render the F-15SE EM visible, this would be a scientific advantage. But those freqs requires physical constructs that cannot be airborne, or very difficult to make it airborne, which is a tactical limitation for the other side to exploit.

 

[Penguin]

But instead of buying additional F-35s, Israel is opting to boost its fleet of F-15s. Part of the reason for that might be because Tel Aviv has concerns about the F-35’s performance. In 2014, Israeli strategic affairs minister Yuval Steinitz cited misgivings about the F-35’s range, payload and maneuverability, which might not meet Tel Aviv’s needs.

But the fifth-generation jet’s astronomical price tag was also a deterrent because even with more than $3 billion in annual U.S. military aid, Israel is struggling to pay for the stealthy new jets.

Thus, the Israeli request for a new and developmental version of the F-15 might be an indication of just how deep those misgivings run. The Silent Eagle is not much cheaper than the F-35 since its costs roughly $100 million per plane or more. Further, there are developmental costs to consider, which add to the price tag. Therefore, Israel must be concerned about the stealthy fifth-generation jet’s performance.

This article originally appeared at The National Interest, where Dave Majumdar is defense editor.

Well, realistically, they fly both F-16 and F-15C en E. The F-35 is an F-16 replacement. In the absense of a F-15 replacement, it would be natural to look into something that could serve to augment the F-15 capability. F-15SE may give that and be a (more) cost-effective option.

Israel’s original estimates made their F-16 replacement plan seem feasible. They pegged a 100-plane F-35A deal at around $5 billion, and Gen. Snir added that:
“The IAF would be happy to equip itself with 24 F-22s but the problem at this time is the US refusal to sell the plane, and its $200 million price tag.”
Unfortunately, Israel’s September 2008 request for its first 75 F-35s revealed an estimated $15 billion price tag – or about $200 million per plane. All in return for a fighter with poorer air-to-air performance than the F-22, and less stealth. Defense News quoted an official in the IDF General Staff as saying that:
“It’s unbelievable, first it was $40 million to $50 million, and then they [the IAF] told us $70 million to $80 million. Now, we’re looking at nearly three times that amount, and who’s to say it won’t continue to climb?”
Unless its price drops sharply, the F-35 can expect to experience continued competing against other options for each successive IAF offer.

Israeli Air Force (IAF) chief procurement officer Brigadier-General Ze'ev Snir
Adir Who? Israel’s F-35i Stealth Fighters

Money money money

 

[bdslph]

the silent eagle version is the best and in the hand Israel it will be a deadly plane
i would rather say buy silent eagle then the 35

and israel will add there own avionics and weapons