US Unveils F-15 Stealth Fighter

Both South Korea and Israel are showing interest in a new stealth version of Boeing’s classic F-15 fighter called the F-15SE1 “Silent Eagle.”

Both nations already have conventional versions of the F-15 in their air force inventories. The Silent Eagle, which is a stealth version of the F-15, was designed to supplement American tactics until the F-35 is finally up and flying, if ever, plus be sold to allied nations.

The modified version of the fighter/bomber uses new radar absorbing coatings, canted vertical tails and weapons bays inside the aircraft body to reduce its radar signature.

Boeing is marketing the Silent Eagle as a less expensive and more immediately available alternative to Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Lightning II, especially to those countries who are in line for their own F-35s, which is years behind schedule and costs are expected to top $120 million each - some experts say much more.

Boeing says its list price for the F-15SE including spare parts and training is about $100 million. The F-15SE is planned to be available two years or so before the F-35, match the stealthiness of the F-35 when viewed from the front, but likely to have a larger radar profile when viewed from the side or from the ground.

The new fighter will be built in Boeing’s St. Louis plant.