Comments on: McCain presses Air Force for information on RD-180 costs

By: numbers_guy101

numbers_guy101 — Mon, 30 Jun 2014 18:07:30 +0000

I’m surprised McCain’s letter is not getting more attention in these forums. Reason being, it seems far too detailed, much more than a vague fishing expedition, and more like a set of questions around some insider information. The whole EELV program is so secretive about costs (purposefully perhaps, or through sheer incompetence in DoD contracting or industry management?) that it makes me think the senator was slipped a little help for his memo.

By: Donald F. Robertson

Donald F. Robertson — Mon, 23 Jun 2014 17:15:54 +0000

OSC should be running away from the Russians as fast as they can

I am not generally a big fan of solid rockets, but in this case, this OSC shareholder agrees. My company would be insane to commit to a Russian engine at this time, and I will retain or sell my shares, accordingly.

— Donald

By: Willns

Willns — Sun, 22 Jun 2014 02:30:45 +0000

OSC should be running away from the Russians as fast as they can and sending chocolates to ULA

ULA may have saved OSC from a terrible fate. By keeping OSC from accessing the engines, OSC didn’t invest into a doomed rocket. ULA’s trade restrictions could have saved OSC billions of dollars.

Now that OSC has merged with ATK, their future looks solid.

By: Willns

Willns — Sun, 22 Jun 2014 02:25:28 +0000

No one is stopping ULA from building a domestic version.

A US version of the RD-180 wouldn’t be ready until 2019 to 2021. By either date, there’s little chance it would still be needed. If the Russians keep shipping engies, ULA will take them over US versions becuase the Russian ones will be cheaper. If the engines don’t ship, Altas won’t survive, and again, the engines won’t be needed.

If ULA wants to build a US version, they should do it. The US government doesn’t need to fund it. Government funding for a US RD-180 would be flushing money down the drain.

ULA is a private company. The government doesn’t need to choose winners and losers. Lockheed and Boeing don’t need corporate welfare.

The government should ban all Russian engines from government business. The Russians have proven to be an unreliable supplier.

By: Andrew Swallow

Andrew Swallow — Sat, 21 Jun 2014 21:45:55 +0000

OSC would be taking a very high risk buying a second engine from the Russians. They need a secure supply for the next 15-20 years. NATO is mobilising rather than going back to sleep, this is likely to annoy the Russians.

By: amightywind

amightywind — Sat, 21 Jun 2014 21:15:33 +0000

The Russians can set the price. I am sure it is exorbitant. Typical of outsourcing. They lure you in with low initial pricing and stick it to you once you have become dependent. It is the story of America in the past 25 years and why our country is in relative decline. Build an RD-180 domestically. National security depends on it. If there is anyone in the Air Force or Lockmart left who approved the decision they should be summarily fired.

By: Malmesbury

Malmesbury — Sat, 21 Jun 2014 18:13:50 +0000

Perhaps Shelby could add some language requesting transparency….