The Craziest F-15 Variants Ever Proposed

When the F-15 was first developed, it came with an unprecedented combination of power, maneuverability, and advanced avionics. As insane as the F-15 became, it was also the basis for several even crazier concepts. 

Here is a list of some of the craziest F-15 variants ever proposed:

F-15N Sea Eagle

During the 1970s, the US Navy considered developing this jet as a much more agile, lighter, and cheaper alternative to the F-14.

However, modifying the F-15 with folding wings and stronger landing hear of carriers did have its drawbacks.

Eventually, however, McDonnell Douglas’ proposed navalized version of the Eagle never did compare to the F-14 Tomcat. 

Global Strike Eagle

In 2005, Boeing proposed mounting a 45-foot rocket on the legendary F-15.

The idea behind it was using the plane’s afterburning turbofan engines and an incredible amount of lift offered by its design, ferrying rockets to high speeds and altitudes before being released. 

At 47,800 feet and a speed of Mach 1.35, the rocket would detach from the Eagle, giving it enough time to pitch down and away before the first-stage rocket motor ignites.

F-15 Silent Eagle

The two-seat F-15SE Silent Eagle emphasizes reducing the fighter’s radar return along with other avionics and system upgrades and updates.

It also comes with notable changes – 50-gallon conformal fuel tanks were removed from the fuselage and replaced with new conformal weapons bays (CWBs.) Doing so allowed the Silent Eagle to carry firepower internally like 5th-generation fighters.