F-15SE Silent Eagle

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

F-15SE
F-15SE in St. Louis on March 17, 2009
General information
Role	Stealth-optimized multirole fighter concept
Status	Cancelled, never entered production

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.