The Vector X-31A is now an important program for the german economy. i know that it's a technology demonstrator but with the Bankrupt of Dornier GmbH last year, EADS must recenter his activities and has relaunch the VECTOR/X-31A this year...

Yestersday, I had and read the 2002 report and 2003 previsions for EADS :

Airbus A380 - A400M - Eurofighter and Eurohawk - Iridium - UK Skynet5 program and Air to Air Meteor missiles are in progress and will be the most important contract for 2003-2004.

This effort is fairly impressive. They have been able to achieve a 24-alpha landing with the X-31 and take 30% (58 kt) off the landing speed. Where it took approximately 8000 ft to bring the X-31 to a stop, they have now demonstrated that they can turn completely around and head back down the runway at 1700 ft! The landing sequences are completely automated until the aircraft hits the concrete because the timing of the derotation maneuver is so critical it can't be left to human response.

Get a load of this. The first landing was done at 22 degree AOA. The next 11 at 24 degrees. Of these 11 landing at 24 AOA, they started derotation at 2 ft above the tarmak...and never missed that mark more than 4 inches.

That's what I call repeatable.