Stealth Eagle?

[BQZip01]

but how much will a fleet retrofit for longerons cost?...

[Dupe]

but how much will a fleet retrofit for longerons cost?...

That was a C-model issue. The E fleet was only grounded for a few days while they sorted the issue out.

[BQZip01]

That was a C-model issue. The E fleet was only grounded for a few days while they sorted the issue out.

...and the joke has already been lost on some people...

[Danger41]

but how much will a fleet retrofit for longerons cost?...

How much does 300+ rolls of duct tape cost?

[Guest Unconfirmed Source]

How much does 300+ rolls of duct tape cost?

Don't forget the bailing wire also.

[M2]

The backpedalling begins...

Cheers! M2

Clarification: In unveiling its "stealthy" F-15 Silent Eagle concept on March 17, Boeing did not make any direct comparison between the level of low observability achievable with the Silent Eagle and the level of stealth of the Lockheed Martin F-35. Nor did Boeing comment on the F-35's level of stealth. Instead, says Boeing spokesman Damian Mills, the company was trying to make the point that the Silent Eagle could meet the level of stealth approved by the US Government for release to international customers. We have amended our original coverage of the Silent Eagle to reflect Boeing's points. (See Stealth Eagles? plus Not Keeping Silent (below))

Not Keeping Silent: Boeing’s announcement March 17 that it is exploring the concept of a “stealthy” F-15 Silent Eagle model with a level of stealthiness has raised some skeptical eyebrows in the industry. Asked for comment, a Lockheed Martin spokesman said, “The experience of the aerospace community to date is that very low-observable stealth, as possessed by the F-22 and F-35”—both of which Lockheed has the lead in producing—“can be achieved only when it is incorporated into an aircraft’s design from the outset.” Strap-on measures like “treatments and shapes generally achieve a relatively minor radar signature reduction” when tried with fourth-generation fighters (such as the F-15 and F-16), continued the Lockheed official. Boeing did not disclose how it would reduce the radar signature of the engine fan blades on the Silent Eagle; they are a huge radar reflector. Brad Jones, the company's F-15 Future Fighters program manager, said there are ancillary measures such as fan blade blockers and radar-absorbent treatments of the engine intakes. But, he would not discuss the main solution, saying only, “stealth technology has come a long way” over the last 20 years.

Stealth Eagles?: A new wrinkle has been added to the tacair choices facing the new Administration. Yesterday, Boeing unveiled its new F-15SE, the “Silent Eagle,” an aircraft which it claims will have a degree of stealth permitted under US export rules. It achieves that feat via several design changes: using conformal pallets that can carry weapons and fuel internally, canting the vertical fins outward, and applying stealth coatings across the whole aircraft. The SE also will incoporate the F-15E Strike Eagle's digital electronic warfare suite and AESA radar. There are ways to address the large radar cross section of the F-15’s fan blades, but those would depend on what technologies the US government deems releasable, Brad Jones, Boeing’s F-15 Future Fighters program manager, told the Daily Report. The new conformal weapons pallets are interchangeable with the previous, fuel-only conformal fuel tanks, and therefore don’t change the F-15SE’s aerodynamics. Boeing calculates the flyaway cost of an F-15SE at about $100 million, including some spares and additional maintenance gear. The stealthy mods are also available as a retrofit for existing F-15 customers, although the company would not quote a price. (Also see Boeing release (below))

Boeing Unveils New International F-15 Configuration -- ST. LOUIS, March 17, 2009 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] today in St. Louis unveiled the F-15 Silent Eagle (F-15SE), a new F-15 configuration designed to meet the future needs of international customers.

"The F-15 Silent Eagle is designed to meet our international customers' anticipated need for cost-effective stealth technologies, as well as for large and diverse weapons payloads," said Mark Bass, F-15 Program vice president for Boeing. "The innovative Silent Eagle is a balanced, affordable approach designed to meet future survivability needs."

Improvements in stealth include coatings and treatments on the aircraft. With the added advantage of redesigned conformal fuel tanks (CFTs) that allow for internal weapons carriage, the Silent Eagle becomes a very attractive fighter for Boeing's international customers.

Depending on the specific mission, the customer can use the CFTs that are designed for internal carriage or change back to the traditional CFTs for optimum fuel capacity and external weapons carriage. The Silent Eagle will be able to internally carry air-to-air missiles such as the AIM-9 and AIM-120 and air-to-ground weapons such as the Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) and Small Diameter Bomb (SDB). The standard weapons load used on current versions of the F-15 is available with the traditional CFTs installed.

The aircraft's canted vertical tails improve aerodynamic efficiency, provide lift, and reduce airframe weight. Another aerodynamic improvement is the Digital Flight Control System, which improves the aircraft's reliability and reduces airframe weight.

Survivability improvements include a BAES Digital Electronic Warfare System (DEWS) working in concert with the Raytheon Advanced Electronic Scanning Array (AESA) radar.

Boeing has completed a conceptual prototype of the CFT internal-carriage concept, and plans to flight-test a prototype by the first quarter of 2010, including a live missile launch.

The design, development, and test of this internal carriage system are available as a collaborative project with an international aerospace partner.

[Guest Unconfirmed Source]

No really LM we're not after your money..... Really