Number-two U.S. defense firm Boeing has designed a new “Silent Eagle” version of the venerable F-15 fighter that is stealthier than older models. Ares and AvWeek have the scoop.
The U.S. Air Force and the separate F-22 and F-35 fighter lobbies continue to make the claim that the future of U.S. air power depends solely on buying thousands of the latest stealthy, “fifth-generation” fighters. But Boeing, which also builds the Navy’s F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, is offering alternatives that are thoroughly tested, battle-proven and less risky, cost-wise.
If air power is a function of complex families of systems, in which you must have adequate numbers of fighters without short-changing pilot training, weapons and supporting aircraft, then Super Hornets and Silent Eagles are arguably better than F-22s and F-35s, for they can be bought in large numbers that still afford us funds for all these other systems.
Boeing says Silent Eagle isn’t meant for the domestic market. But maybe it should be.
(Photo: via Ares)
Related:
Getting the Most from Your New F-22
F-22s to Darfur? Not so Fast …
Advocating a Systemic View of Air Superiority
More fighter-jet hyperventilating
Growler Chomps on Raptor
A U.S. Navy F-22? Don’t Hold Your Breath
Nearly 100,000 Jobs Depend on the F-22? Not Really
Only 60 More Raptors? Everybody Panic!
Russian Super-Fighter Not So Scary
In 2014, the F-35 Might Cost More than the F-22
600 F-22s? Hilarious
F-35 jumps the shark
Raptors in Japan
New Russian fighter to challenge F-35
The amazing shrinking air force
Related posts:
Boeing is just trying to milk all the McDonnell Douglas designs for all their worth. Every competition they just toss some old 30-40 year old airframe at it.
They’re not talking Domestic Market for fear of pissing off the AF, which is still trying to play the “F-22s and F-35s only” game. But if you put an arm on the boys in blue and tell them to seek more cost effective “75% solutions” as Gates favors, I’m sure Boeing would be more than happy to cook up a domestics Silent Eagle with even more stealthy bits.
[...] Related: Boeing Unveils New “Stealthy” F-15 Getting the Most from Your New F-22 F-22s to Darfur? Not so Fast … Advocating a Systemic View of Air Superiority More fighter-jet hyperventilating Growler Chomps on Raptor A U.S. Navy F-22? Don’t Hold Your Breath Nearly 100,000 Jobs Depend on the F-22? Not Really Only 60 More Raptors? Everybody Panic! Russian Super-Fighter Not So Scary In 2014, the F-35 Might Cost More than the F-22 600 F-22s? Hilarious F-35 jumps the shark Raptors in Japan New Russian fighter to challenge F-35 The amazing shrinking air force No Comments so far Leave a comment RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URI Leave a comment Line and paragraph breaks automatic, e-mail address never displayed, HTML allowed: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <code> <em> <i> <strike> <strong> [...]
[...] Related: Analysts: Buy Fighters, or Die Boeing Unveils New “Stealthy” F-15 Getting the Most from Your New F-22 F-22s to Darfur? Not so Fast … Advocating a Systemic View of Air Superiority More fighter-jet hyperventilating Growler Chomps on Raptor A U.S. Navy F-22? Don’t Hold Your Breath Nearly 100,000 Jobs Depend on the F-22? Not Really Only 60 More Raptors? Everybody Panic! Russian Super-Fighter Not So Scary In 2014, the F-35 Might Cost More than the F-22 600 F-22s? Hilarious F-35 jumps the shark Raptors in Japan New Russian fighter to challenge F-35 The amazing shrinking air force 6 Comments so far Leave a comment [...]
[...] So what? The F-15 Silent Eagle has been rolled out. Touted by Warisboring.com(when they are not advocating disbanding the air force), among others. The Congressional Budget Office put out a proposal to a proposal to deal with the future fighter gap. Out of four solutions, one was to buy 2,000 F-16E (block50/60). That is highly unlikely due to our commitment to F-35 partner nations. The other proposals called for increased funding of the F-35. [...]
[...] U.S. fighters will include: * Boeing’s F-15, which is available in a semi-stealthy version that is longer-legged, heavier-lifting and cheaper than the F-35. * Lockheed Martin’s F-16, which [...]
[...] from Itself F-22s versus Russia’s Rusting, Ramshackle Air Force Analysts: Buy Fighters, or Die Boeing Unveils New “Stealthy” F-15 Getting the Most from Your New [...]