Published notice for the collection of manifestations of interest of companies, research institutions and universities, for collaboration in the sector of small satellite satellites
The notice for the collection of expressions of interest has been made public with which the Italian Air Force opens the possibility to collaborate, in the field of research and experimentation in the aerospace sector, to companies, research bodies and universities concerned. a series of study and development projects for an innovative small satellite launcher for an aerial platform. This notice - available on the "Tenders" page of the Armed Force website - www.aeronautica.difesa.it/bandi/Pagine/RACCOLTA-DI-MANIFESTAZIONI-DI-INTERESSE-ALLO-STUDIO-NELLA-RICERCA-DI-PROGETTI-FINALIZZATI-A-SOSTENERE-LO-SVILUPPO-DELLA-TEC.aspx
- follows the letter of intent signed last 12 December in Rome by Aeronautica Militare, CNR, CIRA, University of Rome Sapienza and Sitael SpA. A signature which - as underlined in the circumstance by the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, team general aerial Alberto Rosso - represented a symbolic but significant step in terms of inclusiveness of the network of excellence in the aeronautical, space and technological fields, with the aim of involving not only large companies, but above all the medium and small companies of which it is rich the country, and all the professionals of the national academic sector.
An agreement that, in the wake of the programmatic lines of the Defense, is one of the initiatives aimed at fostering ever greater integration and collaboration between armed forces, the academic world, research and industry in support of the community, and could represent an enabling factor for the development of further dual use technologies, such as those connected to the super / hypersonic flight sector, in particular for the development of new propulsion systems such as pre-cooled engines (so-called air breathing).
In this sense, the public notice represents an important step and a sign of transparency with a view to the subsequent signing of a framework agreement aimed at starting a feasibility and sustainability study for the experimentation of an airborne launch system and the placing in it orbits small satellites. These technologies will be able to support both telecommunications and surveillance operations of a specific area of interest, also in response to needs of a dual nature and at short notice. The use of aerial platforms for the launch of small satellites - which could also involve aero-tactical aircraft of the Italian Air Force - would lead to an increase in the number of possible launches, effectively eliminating the problems associated with meteorological conditions and freeing themselves from the need of complex ground-based infrastructures, as well as a significant reduction in launch costs, at least as regards nano / micro / mini satellites.
The aviation launch of small satellites, in particular, constitutes a field of research and study of great interest for the international scientific community which sees the Air Force - within the Defense Space Plan - responsible for the development and promotion of sector studies for the launch of satellites from aeronautical platforms. These applications are also due to the evolution of space technology - increasingly oriented towards the miniaturization of electronic components - and the development of numerous applications for small satellites, which it is believed could become effective assets for various space applications in the near future, from that of Earth Observation to that, in continuous evolution, of telecommunications.