As competition to secure a $7.3 billion deal with South Korea for the Asian nation’s next-generation fighter enters its final stages, key “stealth” feature were dropped off Boeing’s F-15 Silent Eagle (F-15SE). Boeing’s F-15SE is in a tough round of evaluations as it competes with Lockheed Martin’s F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) and EADS’ Eurofighter Typhoon to nail down a multi-billion contract with South Korea for as many as 60 fifth-generation fighters.
Back in 2009 Boeing praised the Silent Eagle’s stealth capabilities. Along with conformal weapon’s bay, canted tail fins were key stealth-enhancing features that would go far in reducing the fighter’s radar cross-section (RCS) return while also delivering slightly greater range, and much improved flight characteristics.
The canted tails would also, Boeing claimed, reduce the aircraft’s overall weight. Some industry specialists claim that the tail fins, canted outward 15 degrees, are essential in a stealth fighter design.
And now, Boeing said the canted tail-fin configuration would be offered only as an option and not a standard feature on the F-15SE. According to reports published by the Korean media, wind tunnel tests revealed the canted tail fins delivered only marginal improvement in the aircraft’s performance. (The most significant contribution of the canted tail in reducing radar reflection cannot be tested in wind tunnel)
In response to inquiries from Defense-Update, Boeing responded “Silent Eagle builds on a continuous evolution of capability in the combat-proven F-15 family of aircraft.” The company is “confident that our compliant Silent Eagle offering is best suited to address F-X requirements. Canted Vertical Tails, one of the many capability elements of the Silent Eagle, were offered as an option in our proposal to Korea…” Boeing commented.
Boeing went on to say that “our Silent Eagle offering is best suited to address F-X requirements and provides our ROK customer a highly capable, yet low-risk and affordable Silent Eagle F-X solution on a schedule that will meet the ROK requirements.” As clarification, Boeing insists that development of the canted tail surfaces was not being abandoned or suspended and the company intended to continue development efforts.
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Internal weapon carriage, a second stealth feature included on the F-15SE will apparently remain part of the standard package. Boeing’s conformal weapon’s bay feature is a configuration that South Korea is already familiar with and is engaged in aspects of its development and future production. Boeing already included the conformal weapon’s bay concept in upgrade offers to Saudi Arabia recently.
South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) has declined to comment on Boeing’s bid, but an unnamed official with the agency has confirmed that Boeing is dropping the canted tail feature and wishes to focus on the conformal weapon’s bay as the primary stealth attribute of the F-15SE.
The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) has made no secret of its intense desire to acquire a fifth-generation with proven stealth capabilities. The Eurofighter Typhoon has no stealth features to offer, but it is a proven performer that likely may be had at a lower initial cost than its two competitors. And, EADS has offered some very attractive setoff agreements and technology-sharing proposals as part of its bid.
The F-15SE, even without the canted tails, offers an unmatched level of interoperability with South Korea’s existing fleet of fighters, 60 of which are earlier versions of the F-15. Boeing has also offered to assist the South in future aircraft development projects as part of the deal.
Lockheed Martin’s F-35A entrant has been plagued by some very highly-publicized difficulties since its debut. Cost increases, design challenges, and production delays have created an environment of uncertainty that continue to grab headlines.
Since it is probable that the ROKAF still places a priority on stealth, the F-35A may have the edge in this competition. China’s unveiling of its J-20 advanced stealth fighter and North Korea’s sizeable investment in integrated anti-air defense systems has the ROKAF focused on being able to deploy a force with stealth capability.[/ismember]
As with all things in life, cost and timely availability are also primary concerns, what makes reducing the developmental risk the F-15SE an advantage, rather than drawback for the Silent Eagle. With The F-35A is still in the developmental stages, the F-22 Raptor cannot be had, the Typhoon is no longer cutting-edge – the Silent Eagle may be the best deal on the table.
