Osprey replacements, assured networking, and inexpensive satellite launches this week on Rapid fire

A new generation of vertical takeoff-and-landing (VTOL) aircraft, inexpensive satellite launches from conventional aircraft, and keeping networked communications open in dire conditions highlight this week's Rapid Fire interview with John Keller and Ernesto Burden of Military & Aerospace Electronics.

Each week the Military & Aerospace Electronics exclusive Rapid Fire interview at Google Hangouts highlights and discusses the top three stories of this week, chosen by John Keller, chief editor of Military & Aerospace Electronics.

Readers can see the top three stories for Rapid Fire this week online. Click on the headlines below for details and complete stories.

DARPA competitors vying to design fast vertical-takeoff aircraft expands to four

Boeing to help DARPA find ways to launch satellites inexpensively from aircraft in $30.7 million contract

Air Force eyes layered airborne networking for degraded, outmanned, and outgunned conditions