Rapid Fire: 2010-09-17

• EADS Astrium will market SpaceX’s Falcon 1e rockets as a lower-cost launch option for European customer to put small payloads into Low Earth Orbit. Agreement runs through to 2015.

• The German Air Force is grounding all 55 of its Eurofighters, made by EADS, out of concern for the functioning of the pilot ejector seats.

• Is the UAE about to ditch France’s Rafale as a Mirage 2000v9 replacement, and buy Super Hornets? Or are they just exercising some savvy negotiating?

• Chemring Group, a UK maker of countermeasures and IED detection and disposal systems, is bullish on its FY 2011 outlook after it reported surging revenue and order-book growth, which it attributed to diversification outside Europe; the firm also reported a fire at its Kilgore Flares plant in Tennessee.

• More US bases should be shut down to save money, says Gen. Brady, US Air Force commander in Europe.

• Open tender for Russia’s amphibious ships? Russia appears to be continuing talks with France in the background.

• NATO backs US on need for alliance-wide cybersecurity shield, US Deputy Defense Secretary Lynn says after visit to Brussels.

• First British FSTA A330 aerial tanker flight at Getafe, Spain.

• F-15 AESA radar replacement moves forward: 1st AN/APG-63v3 AESA radar installed and tested on USAF F-15C; 1st AN/APG-82v1 AESA radar delivered to Boeing for the USAF’s F-15E RMP program.

• Kyrgyzstan might double or triple the rent Russia pays for military facilities on Kyrgyz territory.

DARPA’s Vulture: What Goes Up, Needn’t Come Down

Initial Boeing concept

Phase 2 contract for Boeing/ QinetiQ’s SolarEagle. (Sept 15/10)

In April 2008, 3 teams received Phase 1 contracts to begin developing develop a radical new aircraft, under a US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) program known as “Vulture.” DARPA’s goals for Vulture are not trivial: 5 years on station with a 450kg/ 1,000lb payload, 5kW of onboard power, and sufficient loiter speed to stay on station for 99% of the time against winds encountered at 60,000-90,000 feet.

So, what is the significance of a platform like that, who is competing, and what is happening now? Well, Phase 1 is done, and Phase 2 has been awarded.

• The Potential, and the Process
  
• The Designers & The Designs
  
• Contracts and Related Events [updated]
  
• Additional Readings