Korea Aerospace Industries has partnered with Boeing to supply the conformal weapons bay for Boeing’s F-15 Silent Eagle model. “We are excited about KAI’s growing role on the development and production of key technologies for Boeing aircraft,” said Roger Besancenez, Boeing F-15 program vice president, in the company’s release. KAI already builds the wings and forward fuselage for South Korean air force F-15Ks. The Silent Eagle configuration features two CWBs, one of each side of the fuselage, for internal carriage of air-to-air and air-to-surface weapons. The bays help to “minimize the F-15SE’s radar signature and significantly increase its tactical options,” according to Boeing. They can also be installed on existing F-15 aircraft, and are removable. This partnership with KAI appears to be significant since Boeing officials have said they expect that South Korea would be the first Silent Eagle customer.
Americans’ trust and confidence in the U.S. military has declined precipitously in recent months, according to the results of a survey. Experts lay the blame on increasing political polarization and the fallout from this summer’s turbulent withdrawal from Afghanistan.