Northrop Grumman Corporation has been awarded a $306 million five-year base contract from the U.S. Air Force to continue its role as the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) Ground Subsystems Support Contractor (GSSC). This competitive award has a potential ceiling of $3.86 billion over 18 years.
“Northrop Grumman brings proven performance, a highly skilled team of experts, and a continued commitment to ensuring Minuteman III weapon system operational readiness for the U.S. Air Force,” said Greg Manuel, sector vice president and general manager, strategic deterrent systems division, Northrop Grumman. “Our team is using the latest in digital engineering and innovation to keep today’s system reliable, safe and secure while positioning the Air Force for a smooth transition to the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) system over the next couple decades.”
As prime contractor on GSSC since 2015, Northrop Grumman will continue to provide engineering and field services to sustain Minuteman III, the world’s oldest deployed strategic ballistic missile system, through the end of its service life later next decade.
Work will be managed in Roy, Utah and executed throughout many different locations.
Ground Based Strategic Deterrent
The U.S. Air Force’s Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) is the weapon system replacement for the aging LGM-30 Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile system (ICBM). GBSD represents the modernization of the ground-based leg of the nuclear triad.
The Minuteman III first became operational in the early 1970s. While certain components and subsystems have been upgraded, most of the fundamental infrastructure in use today is the original equipment supporting more than 50 years of continuous operation.
On Sept. 08, 2020, a Northrop Grumman-led team was awarded the GBSD prime contract for the Engineering and Manufacturing Development phase. The Air Force is focused on developing and delivering an integrated weapon system that will meet the combatant commander’s current requirements, while having the adaptability to affordably address changing technology and emerging threats through 2075.
