Boeing eyes risk-sharing, lower costs for $100 million F-15SE

[tigershark]

Boeing eyes risk-sharing, lower costs for $100 million F-15SE
By Stephen Trimble

Boeing is seeking risk-sharing partners to develop a new version of the F-15E Strike Eagle that adds stealth characteristics and a new electronic warfare suite to the multi-role fighter.

The risk-sharing deals would shorten the timeline to develop the renamed F-15 Silent Eagle, which possibly would lower its estimated $100 million cost, Chris Chadwick, president of the military aircraft division, said on 3 June at a media roundtable hosted by Boeing.

The possible co-investment deals is one of the reasons, he added, that the $100 million price estimate that Boeing quoted at the 17 March launch ceremony may no longer be valid.

"I wouldn't give a price like $100 million," he said. "And here's why: for example, suppose Saudi Arabia decides to procure some F-15s. And they procure 24, 48 or whatever. That gives me an opportunity then to go an invest in my factory to accelerate cost reduction, to continue to lean it out and to continue to make it even more producible."

Chadwick said the risk-sharing partners could come from both foreign and domestic companies.

BAE Systems is Boeing's major supplier for the F-15SE, providing the all-new digital electronic warfare system (DEWS). BAE also supplies the electronic warfare suite for the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, and Boeing claims the F-15SE's DEWS would offer the same level of capability.

The F-15SE is aimed at challenging the F-35 on the foreign market, with Boeing targeting existing F-15 operators Israel, Korea, Japan and Saudi Arabia for potential sales.

Israel has launched a foreign military sales case to buy up to 50 F-35s, but the discussions have reportedly dragged out over price and technology access issues.

"The reason Israel has slowed down on the JSF is because of the price," said Chadwick, speaking to reporters during a media roundtable hosted by Boeing.

"The worse time you can buy a fighter is during the initial stages because the capability comes along later and the learning comes along later," he said.

The F-15SE also remains in discussions with the US government about export release, Chadwick said.

Boeing claims that the F-15SE's frontal aspect radar cross section will match the international release standard for the F-35.

However, both Lockheed and JSF programme officials dismiss that statement.

"What [Boeing] is talking about makes no sense," Brig Gen David Heinz, the F-35 programme executive, said at a 2 June press conference.

Heinz said the F-35 sold overseas will not have a reduced stealth profile compared to US jets, and that the F-35's stealth characteristics are inherently superior to the F-15.

Source
http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2009/06/04/327369/boeing-eyes-risk-sharing-lower-costs-for-100-million-f-15se.html

[AVIATOR]

I have always thought it tragic for NATO and ANZUS nations that the US sells it's best and latest technology to outsiders for mere money. If anyone knows what I mean.

[tigershark]

I don't think the F-15SE will become a stealth fighter by any means by these few changes but it would be interesting to see how much they can shrink the RCS?

I hope the US doesn't sell the F-22 overall and selling the SE isn't in the same class.

[Webmaster]

It will be "stealthy", probably more in the league of the Typhoon/Rafale than F-35/F-22.

I don't think it will do well, only some of the current F-15 operators might go for it. But like half of them will be able to get the F-35, while the other half have brand-new F-15E based types.

[shawn a]

So-- 140 million for an F-22, versus 100 million for an F-15SE. Which would you want your air force to buy?
And how long was it after the F-117 was made public, and flown at foreign airshows, until one was shot down?
Won't the same approaches to techniques and hardware that allowed the shootdown be furiously pursued by those who may have to deal with -22s and -35s in the future?
I still feel stealth is a fragile technology that will be compromised in the future.
Shawn A.