Thread: Boeing Claims Secret Strike Weapon Effort

Does anyone care to speculate on what form this "secret" strike weapon might have? Is a manned secret strike platform similar to the F-117 in the 1980s a possibility today? My totally speculative thoughts are that it would likely be an unmanned platform of some sort, maybe one of the UAVs that are spotted from time to time in Afghanistan. I'm also kind of surprised that this would get mentioned at a press conference, I guess that Shelley Lavendar and I have different concepts of the meaning of secret, my definition absolutly prohibits press of any sort. But hey, what do I know.

Boeing Claims Secret Strike Weapon Effort | AVIATION WEEK

Boeing is in production on at least one “proprietary” strike weapon system, claims Shelley Lavender, vice president and general manager of global strike systems. But Lavender refused July 20 at the Farnborough International Airshow to provide more information when pressed.

“I have nothing further for you on that,” the executive said.

More details were available on a new set of modifications to the company’s workhorse F-18 Super Hornet, described as “a roadmap for the international market” but designed to be retrofitted to any Block 2 aircraft. The most visible change is a stealth-configured weapon pod designed to accommodate a range of weapons, including four Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (Amraams), but other changes include conformal fuel tanks and more powerful engines.

General Electric demonstrated an improved F414 engine core some years ago, and the conformal tanks are expected to boost range by 10 percent. Other changes include a chin-mounted internal infrared search-and-track system and an all-aspect missile and laser warning system.

Boeing’s been quietly talking about a “beyond Block 2” Super Hornet configuration since around 2005, and its low observable team has been working on ways to reduce the signatures of conventional aircraft. The latest disclosure, however, may indicate that slippage in the F-35 program has encouraged Boeing to be more aggressive, as expected.

Secret — or “proprietary” — programs were included on a chart presented to reporters here, colored to indicate that they were in production. The secret program or programs are unidentified, but could well have emerged from Boeing’s history of ultra-stealthy tailless configurations, including the Bird of Prey demonstrator unveiled in 2002.

That project was aimed at combining reduced radar cross section with visual signature reduction, to achieve 24-hour stealth.