Thu, Dec 23, 2004
Upgrades On Minute Man III ICBMs
The Air Force wants
Northrop Grumman to continue full-rate production of the
intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) Guidance Replacement
Program (GRP). For that, the Pentagon is willing to pay $153
million. Northrop says the program is a key modernization effort
that will upgrade the guidance-system electronics in the Minuteman
III ICBM to extend the missile's service life through 2020.
This is the sixth of eight
production awards from the Air Force ICBM Systems Program Office at
Hill Air Force Base, Utah. The overall GRP program is valued at
$1.6 billion over the eight production awards and is expected to be
complete by 2009.
"The guidance replacement effort has been an extremely
successful program," said John Clay, vice president and general
manager, ICBM Prime Integration Contract, Northrop Grumman Mission
Systems. "We are on schedule with approximately 250 missiles left
to equip with the upgrades. The exceptional performance of our
guidance system is a tribute to the continued dedication and hard
work of our team."
Northrop Grumman's GRP teammate, Boeing Electronic Systems
Missile Defense produces the missile guidance sets for the program
under subcontract to Northrop Grumman. Honeywell Space Systems
Division is a major subcontractor to Boeing and provides the
system's computer.
Northrop Grumman Mission Systems is the Air Force's ICBM prime
integration contractor charged with maintaining alert readiness of
the United States' ICBM weapon system through 2020. As part of the
contract, Northrop Grumman manages nine modernization efforts,
including the Guidance Replacement Program, to maintain viability
of the United States' ICBM fleet. The 15-year prime contract was
awarded in December 1997 and is currently valued at $4.5 billion
with a total projected value of more than $6 billion. Northrop
Grumman manages a team consisting of four principal teammates and
more than 20 subcontractors.
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