Northrup Grumman wins $13.3 billion Contract for Air Force's ICBM System

The Department of the Air Force awarded Northrup Grumman a $13.3 billion Engineering and Manufacturing Development contract for the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) program Sept. 8.

The contract will provide for the engineering and manufacturing of  GBSD, a US land-based intercontinental ballistic missile system that will replace the Minuteman II Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Weapon System. Work will be done in Roy, Utah, and multiple other locations worldwide, and is expected to be completed February 2029.

Air Force Global Strike Command unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile launches during an operational test

Here's why this is important:

Nuclear deterrence has been the cornerstone of national security policy for decades, and is a fundamental factor in the continued protection for the U.S. and its allies, according to a U.S. Air Force release.

“Modernizing the nuclear strategic triad is a top priority of our military,” said Defense Secretary Dr. Mark Esper.  “It’s key to our nation’s defense."

Land-based ICBMs have been part of the United States' primary strategic deterrence for 50 years. They are part of the nuclear-armed triad, which also includes submarine-launched ballistic missiles and long range heavy bombers, developed to protect the U.S. from the Soviet Union. Today, the army needs updated weapons to protect the U.S. from nuclear-armed rogue states and non-state international actors.

The U.S. Airforce undertook a major ICBM modernization program in 1997, with a 15-year ICBM Prime Integration Contract awarded to a team of multiple defense companies led by Northrup Grumman. Since then, the team has been working on modernization of thousands of missile propulsion, guidance, re-entry, and ground system components with the goal of extending the life of the U.S. Minuteman III ICBM to 2030.

The contract awarded Northrup this week advances the U.S.'s ability to maintain a robust, flexible and responsive strategic deterrent to meet changing global threats (ie. the nuclear armed rogue states and non state actors).

On Sept. 2, Air Force Global Strike Command airmen launched an unarmed Miinuteman III with a test re-etry vehicle, verifying the accuracy and reliability of the ICBM weapon system and demonstrating that the U.S. nuclear deterrent is safe, secure, reliable and effective to deter twenty-first century threats.

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