The F-15SE Silent Eagle was a proposed Strike Eagle variant that would contain certain fifth-generation fighter features such as stealth properties and internal weapons carriage. It was to feature conformal weapons bays to hold weapons internally, and was to be covered with radar-absorbent material. In addition, the twin vertical tails were to be canted outward by 15 degrees to reduce the radar cross section.
The F-15SE was to be optimized for the air-to-air mission. F-15E 86-0183 was modified as an F-15SE demonstrator, and flew in July 2010 with a left side conformal weapons bay. The F-15SE was to only have a level of stealth that the US Government would allow for export, and was aimed at F-15 users such as Israel, Saudi Arabia, Japan, and South Korea. However, the F-15SE attracted no customers, the Saudis choosing the F-15SA, whereas Israel, Japan, and South Korea selected the F-35.
Sources:
- McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDonnell_Douglas_F-15E_Strike_Eagle
