Engineering:F-15SE Silent Eagle

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Short description: American stealth fighter proposal in 2009
F-15SE
F-15SE in St. Louis on March 17, 2009
General information
RoleStealth-optimized multirole fighter concept

The Boeing F-15SE Silent Eagle was a modified F-15 Eagle with stealth characteristics, It was a concept developed by Boeing as an export-oriented, stealthier variant of the F-15E Strike Eagle. The F-15SE was designed with conformal weapons bays and other features[1] aimed at reducing its radar cross-section, the aircraft is not operational and actively being used by the Air Force

The F-15SE planned to incorporate several features to minimize its radar cross-section (RCS), making it harder to detect by enemy radar. The traditional vertical stabilizers were canted outward at a 15-degree angle to reduce radar reflections. Extensive use of radar-absorbent material (RAM)[2] on the airframe helped absorb radar waves, further reducing the RCS. The F-15SE was designed to carry weapons internally, eliminating the need for external hardpoints that would increase the RCS.

History

The F-15SE was officially unveiled by Boeing on March 17, 2009, as a stealth-enhanced variant of the F-15E. It was designed primarily for foreign military sales,[3] targeting countries that were restricted from acquiring the F-22 or seeking more affordable alternatives to the F-35.

The F-15SE was pitched to South Korea during its F-X fighter program. South Korea ultimately selected the F-35A in 2013,[4] marking a major setback for the F-15SE. Other potential customers, such as Saudi Arabia, Japan, and Israel. also explicitly outclassed the platform, favoring the F-15SA, F-15IA, or the F-35A.

By the mid-2010s, Boeing had shifted focus toward developing the F-15EX, a modernized evolution of the F-15 platform optimized for payload, range, and Open Mission Systems (OMS).

Avionics

The F-15SE was planned to feature an avionics suite based on the F-15E. It was planned to feature the APG-82 AESA radar, offering improved detection range, resolution, and electronic counter-countermeasures compared to earlier models. The F-15SE was planned to be equipped with the Digital Electronic Warfare System[5] (DEWS), which could detect, track, identify, and categorize radar and electronic signals from potential threats, distinguishing between search, tracking, and targeting systems,[6] as well as locate surface-to-air missiles, and perform jamming and deception against hostile radar. Its cockpit was planned to feature an 11x19 inch Large Area Display[7] (LAD).

The F-15SE was planned to feature the AN/AAQ-33[8] allowing for precision targeting in various operational conditions, The aircraft was planned to equip Link-16 for situational awareness and data sharing capabilities.

To reduce its radar cross-section (RCS), the F-15SE was designed with conformal weapons bays (CWB) replacing the standard conformal fuel tanks. This allowed for internal carriage of air-to-air missiles, such as AIM-120 and AIM-9, and air-to-ground weapons like JDAMs and SDBs, minimizing external hardpoints.

See also

  1. ↑ "Boeing Unveils New International F-15 Configuration -- the F-15SE" (in en-US). https://boeing.mediaroom.com/2009-03-17-Boeing-Unveils-New-International-F-15-Configuration-the-F-15SE. 
  2. ↑ Trimble, Stephen (March 17, 2009). "Boeing unveils upgraded F-15 Silent Eagle with fifth-generation features" (in en). https://www.flightglobal.com/pictures-boeing-unveils-upgraded-f-15-silent-eagle-with-fifth-generation-features/85551.article. 
  3. ↑ Kass, Harrison (2024-11-17). "F-15SE Silent Eagle: 'Stealth' F-15 That Never Joined the Air Force" (in en-US). The National Interest. https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/f-15se-silent-eagle-stealth-f-15-never-joined-air-force-207324. 
  4. ↑ "F-15SE Silent Eagle Rejected by South Korea" (in en-US). https://www.defensemedianetwork.com/stories/f-15se-silent-eagle-rejected-by-south-korea/. 
  5. ↑ admin (2009-03-18). "Silent Eagle F-15SE - Defense Update:" (in en-US). https://defense-update.com/20090318_f-15se_180309.html. 
  6. ↑ "Electronic Warfare". https://www.baesystems.com/en-us/product/electronic-warfare. 
  7. ↑ "Boeing F-15SE Silent Eagle" (in en-US). https://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/boeing-f15se-silent-eagle/. 
  8. ↑ "Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 75 / Thursday, April 18, 2013". https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2013-04-18/pdf/2013-09096.pdf. 




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