VIDEO: Silent Eagle Bay Watch

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Top Bay Only in Prototype, Production will Have Bottom Bay as Well


Door Opening and Missile Extending


Launch of an AIM-120

Boeing has now successfully flown a demonstrator for its slelent eagle, the F-15E1 demonstrator.

It has both extended and retracted a missile, and made a successful launch of the AIM-120 AMRAAM.

While these are significant, it should be noted that the system is nowhere near combat ready, with the time for opening the door and extending the missile being at least 10 times what you would want in real air to air combat.

Still, the aerodynamics involved, at least when flying straight and level at around 15,000 feet.

More significant might the fact that Boeing has secured an export license of the aircraft to South Korea.

It's a low cost solution compared to either the F-35 or F-22, which is more of an indicator of just how the costs of combat aircraft have gotten completely out of control, rather than an indication of how inexpensive the F-15 is as platform.