More pix/video at source
Posted on 11/03/2015 12:44:37 AM PST by sukhoi-30mki
A report from Flightglobal.com states that Israel is requesting a batch of F-15s as part of a compensation program for the U.S. making a deal with Iran over its nuclear program. According to the report, not just any F-15 was requested, but the F-15SE Silent Eagle.
The F-15SE was Boeing’s attempt to compete internationally with the F-35A Joint Strike Fighter, especially for major purchasing competitions like those recently held in Korea and Japan, both of which are F-15 users. These users ended up selecting the F-35, and Israel also opted for the F-35 even though they are among the most prevalent F-15 operators in the world.
The F-15SE concept included conforming internal weapons bays, V-shaped tails, radar baffles over its engine-fan faces, radar absorbent coatings, along with other enhancements used to lower the jet’s radar signature, especially from the forward hemisphere. It also would feature many of the options found on the latest F-15 Strike Eagle derivatives today, including fly-by-wire controls, a wide-screen cockpit, updated electronic warfare and radar warning systems, an infrared search and track system (IRST) and the most powerful fighter-based AESA radar in the world.
The idea was that an F-15SE could be outfitted in a stealthy configuration with conforming weapons bays for “first days of war†operations. Once the enemy’s air defense have been degraded, the jet can be quickly reconfigured to the hard-hitting enhanced Strike Eagle configuration with many external stores configurations. This flexibility is an enticing capability mix for what is already a highly proven and low-risk platform.
If this report is correct, and Israel wants more Eagles to join their 25 F-15Is and mix of earlier F-15A/B/C/Ds, many of which have been converted into multi-role fighters are quite old, it could be great news for Boeing’s St. Louis plant.
Currently, there are no F-15 orders after the Saudi Arabian F-15SA order is fulfilled in 2019, and future Super Hornet orders also remain an unsure thing at this point. With the recent loss of the Long Range Strike Bomber contract to Northrop, and the fact that T-X competition for a new Air Force jet trainer remains highly competitive, Boeing is facing slim pickings when it comes to its tactical military aircraft production outfit. Boeing has recently pitched a new upgrade path for existing Eagles, but producing upgrade kits is not the same as keeping an aircraft in production.
Not only does extending the production time of a fighter open up new possibilities for more sales, but if the Silent Eagle really is the aircraft Israel wants, and gets, its capabilities can be showcased in a real-world environment. Seeing the F-15SE in action could lead to other air-arms’ interest in the type. This is especially true if Israel’s order pays for the sub-type’s development costs.
Also on Israel’s wish list via a multi-year U.S. foreign aid program are V-22 Ospreys, KC-46 tankers, additional F-35s and bunker buster bombs that are currently not available for export. Offering more F-35s would fit the Obama’s Administration dedication to the type as a synergistic foreign policy tool, but it would also mean giving Israel an even greater military edge in the region.
Additionally, an F-15 can be tailored to support Israel’s current air combat fleet, whereas the F-35 can be tailored to a far smaller degree. With this in mind, new F-15s may be more necessary for the IAF to work as force multipliers for its larger F-16 fleet than just procuring more F-35s.
Even if this report is wrong, and Israel is actually looking for more Eagles based on the newest non-stealthy Strike Eagle derivative option, and they get them, it would mean the F-15 production line lives to fight on into the 2020s. Considering that would mean surviving through yet another Presidential election cycle, it could be a very good thing for Boeing.
More pix/video at source
Love that bird.
The video of the aircraft seen here is quite amazing in that the super high quality is presented in gif format.
we all realize that is computer animation and not an actual video, right?
But it is pretty.
After screwing Israel and Arab allies in the region, the current administration let's the Jews of Israel go on a last minute shopping spree to “stock up” on weapons’ systems unfortunately they are going to absolutely need in the future.
So it is compensation for setting up the next major middle eastern war. The Israelis would have preferred that Pres. Ovomit not agree to the terms of the agreement but there you have it.
Instead of PREVENTING a major war (like in WWII), the US prefers that Israel just “deal with it” down the road. So, Jews of Israel, buy up, its going to be your “Black Friday”.
Thanks for nothing Barry & John. With allies like you, who needs enemies?
We should have bought 1000 of them.
The article states merely that Israel has requested the new F15s. The stealth capability would mean the purpose would be offensive, not defensive. Now just where do you think Benjamin Netanyahu may perceive a use for stealth fighters with air to air capability?
On a bombing mission over Iran perhaps?
This is what tells me that Obama will see to it that this request is not approved, it would most certainly tick off his friends in Teheran. As a matter of fact, I’m not so sure the F15 Eagles deployed in recent days to Turkey aren’t meant to focus Benjamin’s mind, seeing as how the Iran nuke agreement calls for the US to protect Iran in the event of an attack.
The F15s in question have air-to-air capability only, and in my opinion, Obama’s too chicken to shoot down a Russian plane.
The F-15E/SE are multi role strike aircraft, not just air-to-air fighters.
0bummer has a year left in office. The F-15SE is just a mock-up concept thus far, so there are at least 3-4 years of development before they can be deployed. It will be up to Her Thighness or The Donald to give a thumbs up or down on the request.
Whether it’s the new F15, Super Hornet Advanced, F35, when are gonna give these guys an off boresight missile capability????!!!!
This would be a blessing for our Air Force when the F-35 fails.
The only viable F-35 version is the VTOL version for the USMC.
I did some digging. The F-16XL Delta Wing variant just lost to the F15E and many think it was politics and that the F-16XL couldn't fly in Supercruise mode, although the web says the GE powered variant achieved Supercruise after the program and ditto that the laminar-suctioned wing cuff NASA version of the XL when NASA used it as a test-bed.
It gets better, the F-16 was used as a test bed for the DSI, the Diverterless Supersonic Inlet ( Less weight, simpler, less cost and sadly, the Chinese have copied it and ran with it).
At one point a F-16IN with the DSI was proposed.
Where am I going with this? This has all been done, albeit not a bazillion flight hours but it is their. You want Supercruise? Stick a F-119 in the F-16XL. It will carry as much as a F-15E, be a single, stick the conformal fuel tanks on it and you have IMHO a plane that might just kick the snot out of a F-35 although not as stealthy.
IMHO?
Give the Israeli's the Plans for the DSI and the XL Config, and let them retrofit their F-16's themselves, ditto that let them come up with an F-119 engine retrofit...
As far as I know, that F-16IN was just fan art. The biggest opponent to such a variant is the manufacturer itself: it will hit the F-35’s chances itself.
The last pic you posted is the F-16U variant proposed to the UAE in the mid-90s. F-22-style wing, conformal AMRAAM capability, super cruise and massive range ... It would have been a beast. But the UAE judged it as too high risk after the USAF showed no interest.
Sukhoi, I don’t disagree with all you said, but my denoting the DNA of these pieces might give us what you said about the F-16U “a beast”. You are correct, the manufacturers themselves are the biggest enemy. Sadly the best fighter doesn’t win. To me this is a no brainer do it in 100 days ( for a proto ) type of thing a Trump Admin / get-r-done America can pull off. Those days maybe gone forever.....
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