The U.S. Air Force has raised significant concerns regarding the pace at which United Launch Alliance (ULA) is developing and preparing its Vulcan rocket for operational deployment. The Vulcan rocket, selected in 2020 to launch 60 percent of military payloads in the mid-2020s, has experienced multiple delays, prompting the Air Force to question ULA’s ability to meet future launch schedules.
Originally, the Vulcan rocket was anticipated to make its first flight within a year of its selection. However, the first launch did not occur until January of this year. While the initial mission was successful, ULA needs to complete a second flight to secure certification from the U.S. military for carrying national security payloads.
Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics, Frank Calvelli, expressed his concerns in a letter to ULA’s co-owners, Boeing and Lockheed Martin. Calvelli highlighted the urgency of accelerating the certification and production processes due to the backlog of 25 National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Phase 2 Vulcan launches that must be completed by the end of 2027.
The Vulcan rocket is critical for the U.S. military as it aims to transition away from the Atlas V rocket, which relies on Russian-built RD-180 engines—a move mandated by Congress in 2016. The Vulcan uses American-made BE-4 engines from Blue Origin, aligning with national policy to eliminate dependence on foreign rocket technology for national security launches.
Amidst these delays, there are operational implications for national security, as military satellite capabilities remain grounded. The Air Force has thus requested an independent review to determine if ULA can realistically scale Vulcan production to meet the required launch cadence.
The Vulcan program’s delays and the significant role it plays in national security launches have put ULA under considerable pressure to demonstrate its capability to reliably produce and launch the rockets at the necessary rate. With a target of two Vulcan launches per month by the end of 2025 and an average of fewer than six launches a year over the past five years, the Air Force’s concerns appear justified.
This situation occurs at a critical time for ULA, not only because of the impending high-profile launch of Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft but also due to ongoing sale negotiations, with Blue Origin reported as a potential buyer. The outcome of the independent review and subsequent actions by ULA could significantly influence the future operational capabilities of the U.S. military’s space launch resources.
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