2020s

German startup hoping to launch in 2022. Their rocket is roughly the same size/performance as Rocket Lab. I couldn't find a launch price but they state "low cost". They have a video on their website here: https://www.rfa.space/mission/

There appears to be a 'merely' supersonic rival, from a company called Exosonic, though I suspect that it may be being funded as more of a back-up option. https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/sep/2/pentagon-takes-first-step-toward-building-superson/ (This thread originally began as part...

Created this thread to bring together news reports on the impact of the COVID crisis on different specific civil aircraft (likely many early retirements and exits for a number of types).

Not surprising there isn’t a thread for this launcher as it isn’t exactly used that often. The next launch is for the NRO. https://spaceflightnow.com/2020/07/04/top-secret-nro-payload-installed-on-minotaur-rocket-for-launch-from-virginia/

Under the Chinese tank designations thread, I've mentioned the VN50 project: https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/chinese-tank-designations.34040/#post-399542 The thing is, I don't even known for sure that this was a real project. For the record, the VN50 was reputed to be a heavy IFV...

In the spring of 2019, the Army awarded a contract to four industry partners to provide non-developmental tactical systems, also known as "off the shelf" technology. The Army will provide the tactical UAS to units so Soldiers in U.S. Army Forces Command can evaluate the system under field...

At the end of the Cold War it looked as if the M113 and FV432 would leave service either not to be replaced or to be replaced by more suitable vehicles. Thirty years later, they still serve in many forms and much refurbished. A bit like a London Taxi the simple box on tracks is right for the...

I noticed a Teddy Bear in Guards Uniform carrying an M16 (like the Canadian Army) and it got me wondering about the saga of the SA80 and what we are going to replace it with. I get the impression that of the rifles introduced from the 1970s on only the French Army got one they liked. But even...

https://www.ang.af.mil/Portals/77/documents/Resources/2019%20Mod%20Book%20v2.pdf?ver=2019-05-30-122634-043

Time this has its own thread. https://spacenews.com/europa-clipper-seeking-savings-as-cost-reserves-plummet/

DARPA has launched in August its research program for Active flow control airframe demonstrator called CRANE (Control of Revolutionary Aircraft with Novel Effecters) : https://www.darpa.mil/news-events/control-of-revolutionary-aircraft-with-novel-effecters-proposers-day I thought we needed a...

Photo of Ivan Papanin, first ship of the class. 27 November 2019 was laid down first serial (second in construction) patrol icebreaker Nikolai Zubov of project 23550. Intended for patrolling in all climatic zones, including tropical and arctic waters, it, having displacement of 9000 tonnes, has...

https://www.forbes.com/sites/arielcohen/2019/10/30/a-breakthrough-in-american-energy-dominance-us-navy-patents-compact-fusion-reactor/#3a23e8971070

SKYRORA is new British/Ukraine Company for Small Satellite launcher Based in Edinburgh, Scottland. They continue were Black Arrow was Stop, using rocket power on Kerosine/HTP to launch Small Satellite. For moment they have 3 models Skyrora Nano II a small sounding rocket with 10kg Payload...

https://spacenews.com/nasa-to-develop-mission-to-search-for-near-earth-asteroids/

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/16/technology/neuralink-elon-musk.html

https://news.usni.org/2019/07/03/report-to-congress-on-navy-large-unmanned-surface-and-undersea-vehicles-2

Dornier Seastar all-composite amphibian evolved from 1984, more then 3 decades. For certain years, Dornier teamed Chinese company, Wuxi for further developement. Official site. Seastar initially offered as aircraft, that could be used in many application - from passenger and VIP-transportation...

https://arstechnica.com/science/2019/05/hermeus-announces-plan-to-build-the-fastest-aircraft-in-the-world/ Pretty nebulous right now, which is why I didn't post this in Projects. The usual insanely ambitious timeline that they will fail to meet, while blowing through multiple rounds of VC funding.

First directly mentioned on SPF back in 2017: Most recent development: https://news.usni.org/2019/03/13/navy-wants-ten-ship-3b-unmanned-experimental-ghost-fleet Likely related in some way to the CARACaS program.