Boeing F-15 Silent Eagle makes steady progress

The prototype F-15 Silent Eagle, a variant of the venerable F-15E Strike Eagle fighter that has stealth components incorporated into its design, has been steadily making progress.  In August and September of 2009, F15E1 (a standard F-15E test aircraft loaned to Boeing by the U.S. Air Force) went through radar-cross-section (RCS) trials to ascertain its stealth characteristics.  Various coatings were applied on the aircraft in order to determine what would provide the desired RCS design numbers.  First flight is expected for July 2010.  Another test (slated to occur around July-August 2010) will demonstrate the Silent Eagle's ability of safely firing an air-to-air missile from the conformal fuel tanks.  These conformal tanks are unique in that they can be outfitted with weapons bays for carrying missiles and air-to-ground weapons.  In other words, the aircraft can carry its weapons internally within the tanks instead of externally on weapons pylons under the wing, thus significantly reducing the aircraft's RCS.  This is similar to the F-22 Raptor and its ability to store its weapons within the fuselage.  Potential customers for the F-15 Silent Eagle include current F-15 operators who are looking to replace their fleet of older F-15's as well as those looking for a less expensive alternative to an all-stealth fighter like the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.  Such countries include South Korea, Israel, Singapore, and Saudi Arabia.

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