Missile Envy: Modernizing the US ICBM Force
Feb 18, 2021 04:58 UTC by Defense Industry Daily staff
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February 18/21: GBSD Design Review Northrop Grumman announced external link on February 16 that it has carried out the first major design review event for the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD). The GBSD is being develop to replace the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile. The review took place in November, 2020 over a period of three-days by a team from Northrop Grumman and the US Air Force.
Keep reading for the whole story with recent events put in context
ICBM LGM-30G Minuteman-III Launch Dark
LGM-30G Minuteman III
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For 50 years, land-based Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) have been part of the US primary strategic deterrence capability, the nuclear-armed triad that also includes submarine-launched ballistic missiles and long range heavy bombers.
Although the main target for the US deterrent – the Soviet Union – imploded in 1991, other threats – such as nuclear-armed rogue states and non-state actors – have emerged. To address these new threats, the US Air Force undertook a major ICBM modernization program.
To carry out this program, the USAF awarded a 15-year ICBM Prime Integration Contract external link (F42610-98-C-0001) in 1997 to a team led by Northrop Grumman. Since then, the team, which includes Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and ATK, has been carrying out a major modernization of the ICBM system to ensure its readiness.
https://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/missile-envy-modernizing-the-us-icbm-force-06059/
