Boeing applies to export F-15SE to South Korea

FlightGlobal ^ | 6/25/2010 | Stephen Trimble

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

Boeing has applied for an export licence to brief South Korea on sensitive details of a stealthier version of the F-15E that is within a few months of its first flight.

The US government approved an export policy in the second quarter for the F-15SE Silent Eagle after Boeing submitted details of its radar cross-section about six months earlier, says Brad Jones, Boeing programme director for F-15 development programmes.

The export policy allows Boeing to request an export licence for specific customers, with South Korea as the first in queue, Jones says. The F-15SE is competing against the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter for a contract in South Korea.

Boeing has backed down from previous statements comparing the frontal-aspect radar cross-section of the F-15SE to an international release standard for the F-35.

However, Jones confirms that Boeing's original briefing chart - claiming the F-15SE provides frontal-aspect stealth offered by fifth-generation fighters - remains accurate.

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

Ping

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

[Yossarian]

Let’s play “spot the differences”:

1) Longer nose? (Could be the lens used to photograph affecting that);
2) Tail fins are at an angle;
3) That big bulge by the air intake and lack of outer pylon tells me weapons will be internalized;
4) Is there a more “radar protective” downward angle on the top of the intake than before?

[TokuMei]

[TokuMei]

More detail:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pWhKHrz28k

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

F15Eagle, Any comments?

[mcshot]

Improving a proven format makes more sense to me then designing new angles and equipment to fit in them. I like the F-15SE but that’s a worthless personal decision from someone who prefers to be grounded.

[Yo-Yo]

Let’s play “spot the differences”:

1) Longer nose? (Could be the lens used to photograph affecting that);

Yup, optical delusion.

2) Tail fins are at an angle;

Yup, on that non-flying static prototype, but if Boeing funds a flying prototype, they've said the tails will remain parallel for now.

3) That big bulge by the air intake and lack of outer pylon tells me weapons will be internalized;

That big bulge is the conformal fuel tank, and is also used on F-15E Strike Eagles. Boeing modified the CFT to include an internal weapons bay.

4) Is there a more “radar protective” downward angle on the top of the intake than before?

The intakes are powered, and they tilt up and down depending on aircraft airspeed and angle of attack. This is normal for every F-15 all the way back to the A model. Here's a picture of one "winking:"

[Yossarian]

Thanks for the info. In particular, I never knew that about the intakes being adjustable!

[Sequoyah101]

Might as well sell them to some country that at least has some resemblance to a democracy.

They have been offered to the USAF at $60mm a copy, same price as a paint job for a B-2 as I remember.

The F-15E looks like an awfully good place holder for the killed F-22 and the delayed and dying F-35. It is a damn site better than the airframe life extension projects planned and probably a lot faster.

Damn obastard and all of his thugs to hell!