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| The MIC is alive and well as Northrop wins USAF contest for next-gen ICBMs |
| 2020-09-09 |
| [Defense News] WASHINGTON — Northrop Grumman has captured a $13.3 billion award for the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent competition to build the U.S. Air Force’s next-generation intercontinental ballistic missiles, the service announced Sept. 8. Beginning in 2029, GBSD will start replacing the LGM-30G Minuteman III ICBMs, which were fielded in 1970, Northrop said in a statement. According to the Air Force, GBSD "will have increased accuracy, enhanced security, and improved reliability to provide the United States with an upgraded and broader array of strategic nuclear options to address the threats of today and the future." Northrop was the sole bidder for the engineering, manufacturing and development contract after Boeing dropped out from the competition in July 2019 over Northrop’s acquisition of solid rocket motor manufacturer Orbital ATK, now known as Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems. Boeing contended that it did not have enough time to negotiate a competitive price for the motors needed for the GBSD program due to Northrop’s slow pace in signing an agreement that would allow Boeing to work with Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems while keeping Boeing’s intellectual property away from its rival GBSD team. However, the Air Force declined to alter its acquisition strategy. In December, Northrop Grumman submitted a bid for the engineering and manufacturing development phase of the program, while Boeing confirmed that it had not entered its own proposal. "Our nation is facing a rapidly evolving threat environment, and protecting our citizens with a modern strategic deterrent capability has never been more critical," Northrop CEO Kathy Warden said. "With more than 65 years of technical leadership on every ICBM system, our nationwide team is honored and committed to continuing our partnership with the U.S. Air Force to deliver a safe, secure and effective system that will contribute to global stability for years to come." |
| Posted by:Besoeker |
| #6 Once Northrop Grumman bought OTK this was over |
| Posted by: TZSenator 2020-09-09 20:01 |
| #5 B52 = flying F150 (drink up). M-2 .50cal HMG will live forever, and so will anyone forced to carry that damned tripod mount (or a mortar place). Some things were simply made right to begin with. Asking Musk to "take a look" at SRBs probably isn't a bad idea, he might come up with something off the wall that works well. |
| Posted by: Theager Borgia1057 2020-09-09 16:36 |
| #4 ^Reo trucks? |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2020-09-09 14:00 |
| #3 The B-52's are still going strong. They are always trying to replace the Ma' Deuce. Some things just keep on working. |
| Posted by: magpie 2020-09-09 13:58 |
| #2 The US has the oldest ICBMs on the planet. The Minuteman III ICBM came into service 50 years ago. |
| Posted by: Thraling Munster5941 2020-09-09 12:17 |
| #1 What's the option? Stand up a gummint backed solid fuel rocket maker Ala Solyndra? Talk Musk into entering the market? Buy Russian, Chinese or Iranian solid fuel (you probably think I'm kidding) |
| Posted by: M. Murcek 2020-09-09 11:55 |