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USAF releases draft RfP for RD-180 replacement, plans final request in May
Marina Malenic, Washington, DC - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
28 April 2015
Lift-off of an Atlas V vehicle from Space Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. The rocket is powered by the Russian-built RD-180 engine, which the USAF has been instructed by Congress to replace Source: ULA
Key Points
The US Air Force (USAF) has released a draft request for proposal (RfP) for a new rocket propulsion system to provide space launch capabilities.
"This pre-solicitation notice addresses the urgent need to support the propulsion-related technology needs for future and near-term National Security Space (NSS) space-lift requirements and the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) Phase 2 programme," the 24 April announcement said.
General John Hyten, the head of Air Force Space Command, told reporters on 28 April that a final RfP will be released by the end of May. "We're asking the industry to … build through a preliminary design review, and plan to develop prototypes and capabilities so we can decide where we want to go in the future," he said during a Defense Writers Group breakfast.
"It really is a difficult acquisition strategy," he added. The RfP will seek engine solutions, as well as information about what partnerships industry intends to form. The USAF contracts for launch services rather than buying the rockets outright.
The incumbent on the EELV programme, United Launch Alliance (ULA) - a Boeing and Lockheed Martin joint venture - will be a key player in the next competition to provide launch services, as will SpaceX and OrbitalATK. Two engine manufacturers, AerojetRocketdyne and Blue Origin, will also likely respond to the USAF's request in conjunction with the launch providers. AerojetRocketdyne has said it will need US government funds to proceed with development of an RD-180 replacement, while SpaceX and Blue Origin have both said they will not, Gen Hyten noted.
"It will be very interesting to see what partnerships we get back from industry," he said. "The law Congress passed last year not only gave us much needed money, it also put some very important restrictions on it. One of which was full and open competition with an engine that is available to anybody."
It will take an estimated USD1 billion to develop the new rocket, Congress allocated USD220 million in fiscal year 2015, and the USAF in June asked for an additional USD40 million in reprogrammed money to begin technology development.
(403 of 587 words)
USAF releases draft RfP for RD-180 replacement, plans final request in May - IHS Jane's 360
Marina Malenic, Washington, DC - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
28 April 2015
Lift-off of an Atlas V vehicle from Space Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. The rocket is powered by the Russian-built RD-180 engine, which the USAF has been instructed by Congress to replace Source: ULA
Key Points
- The USAF is seeking a new rocket propulsion system to provide space launch capabilities
- The request is seeking engine solutions, as well as information about what partnerships industry intends to form
The US Air Force (USAF) has released a draft request for proposal (RfP) for a new rocket propulsion system to provide space launch capabilities.
"This pre-solicitation notice addresses the urgent need to support the propulsion-related technology needs for future and near-term National Security Space (NSS) space-lift requirements and the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) Phase 2 programme," the 24 April announcement said.
General John Hyten, the head of Air Force Space Command, told reporters on 28 April that a final RfP will be released by the end of May. "We're asking the industry to … build through a preliminary design review, and plan to develop prototypes and capabilities so we can decide where we want to go in the future," he said during a Defense Writers Group breakfast.
"It really is a difficult acquisition strategy," he added. The RfP will seek engine solutions, as well as information about what partnerships industry intends to form. The USAF contracts for launch services rather than buying the rockets outright.
The incumbent on the EELV programme, United Launch Alliance (ULA) - a Boeing and Lockheed Martin joint venture - will be a key player in the next competition to provide launch services, as will SpaceX and OrbitalATK. Two engine manufacturers, AerojetRocketdyne and Blue Origin, will also likely respond to the USAF's request in conjunction with the launch providers. AerojetRocketdyne has said it will need US government funds to proceed with development of an RD-180 replacement, while SpaceX and Blue Origin have both said they will not, Gen Hyten noted.
"It will be very interesting to see what partnerships we get back from industry," he said. "The law Congress passed last year not only gave us much needed money, it also put some very important restrictions on it. One of which was full and open competition with an engine that is available to anybody."
It will take an estimated USD1 billion to develop the new rocket, Congress allocated USD220 million in fiscal year 2015, and the USAF in June asked for an additional USD40 million in reprogrammed money to begin technology development.
(403 of 587 words)
USAF releases draft RfP for RD-180 replacement, plans final request in May - IHS Jane's 360
