Guess you didn't follow the thread and read Murch's comments in the March 5, 2007 "In the Stratosphere" article about the company's immediate goal of keeping the strat afloat at least seven days, or the following excerpt from a DoD report posted by nilremerlin, or the other relevant and recent DoD UAV funding reports nilremerlin has posted, or carefully read the latest nr re the stratellite.
Page 21:
“In May 2006, DDR&E initiated a task force to define an investment roadmap to lower DoD energy requirements and to identify alternative energy sources in response to an SPG tasking from the Secretary of Defense. As a result of the Task Force, the FY 2008 defense budget increased funding for energy efficiency programs for weapons systems, tactical vehicles and in facilities and technologies to identify new, cost effective energy sources. We increased funding for the Highly Efficient Embedded Turbine Engine, the fuel efficiency element of the Versatile Affordable Advanced Turbine Engine program, enabling some technologies to be spiraled into programs earlier than planned. The small heavy-fueled engine quick demonstration will enable long duration UAVs and mobile ground power. We are also prototyping a carbon composite UAV that could fly for up to six days.
