Popular Science on Area 51’s Aircraft

“Aurora” concept

“Area 51” in Nevada, USA has been the stuff of myth and legend. Known world-wide as the birthplace and testing ground of famous planes like the U-2 Dragon Lady, SR-71 Blackbird, F-117 Nighthawk, and other “black program” aircraft, it has also been the subject of wilder UFO rumours and speculation.

In the October 2006 issue of Popular Science, noted “black project” researcher Bill Sweetman pieces together “The Top-Secret Warplanes of Area 51.” It covers some of the projects he believes to be underway there, based on patent filings, budget holes, and unfilled niches in the USA’s arsenal. DID would caution readers that all of this is speculation; holes in the US arsenal could be real due to neglect or priorities, patent filings et. al. may well pertain to active programs and research related to the WALRUS, J-UCAS, HAA/ISIS and other less well-known but nonetheless public programs, etc. With that said, his article makes for interesting and entertaining reading. Sweetman’s most surprising conclusion? That the Mach 5-6 Aurora wave-rider aircraft (see extensive GlobalSecurity.org project & budget analysis) may be on again as a $9 billion program, possibly with global strike as well as reconnaissance capabilities.

$25M to UTenn to Support USAF Smart Operations 21

The University of Tennessee in Knoxville, TN is being awarded a $25 million indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract. It provides for services, training and development of materials supporting the Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st century program (AFSO 21), a USAF-wide process improvement effort. Solicitations began August 2006, negotiations were complete August 2006, and work will be complete September 2011. The Air Force District of Washington at Bolling Air Force Base, DC issued the contract (FA7014-06-D-0019).