Delivery Systems & Nuclear Triad

OMAHA, Neb. — U.S. Strategic Command (STRATCOM) Commander Adm. Richard Correll expressed confidence here the United States will smoothly transition from the aging Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) system to the Sentinel program, despite ongoing modernization challenges. “So, Minuteman III was designed for a decade. It’s been operating for nearly six decades,” Correll said […]

The Navy last week awarded General Dynamics (GD) Electric Boat a contract worth $76.6 billion to build nine Virginia-class Block VI attack submarines (SSNs) and five Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) after years of delays. The Navy has been negotiating this deal with prime contractor Electric Boat and HII for up to 10 Block VI […]

OMAHA, Neb. — U.S. Strategic Command (STRATCOM) Commander Adm. Richard Correll expressed confidence here the United States will smoothly transition from the aging Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) system to the Sentinel program, despite ongoing modernization challenges. “So, Minuteman III was designed for a decade. It’s been operating for nearly six decades,” Correll said […]

The Navy last week awarded General Dynamics (GD) Electric Boat a contract worth $76.6 billion to build nine Virginia-class Block VI attack submarines (SSNs) and five Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) after years of delays. The Navy has been negotiating this deal with prime contractor Electric Boat and HII for up to 10 Block VI […]

On its quarterly earnings call last week, Northrop Grumman reported favorable cost adjustments on the Air Force’s Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile program.  Sentinel remains on track for its first flight test in 2027, Kathy Warden, Northrop Grumman’s chair, president and CEO, said Tuesday July 21 on the company’s second quarter earnings call, highlighting a recent […]

DAYTON, Ohio – The Air Force is modifying a B-52H bomber to resume testing the Radar Modernization Program (RMP), which will feature an active electronically scanned array radar system based on RTX’s APG-79 to replace the bomber’s Northrop Grumman APQ-166. The dual-capable B-52 bomber delivers the Long Range Standoff cruise missile, which carries the W80-4 […]

On its quarterly earnings call last week, Northrop Grumman reported favorable cost adjustments on the Air Force’s Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile program.  Sentinel remains on track for its first flight test in 2027, Kathy Warden, Northrop Grumman’s chair, president and CEO, said Tuesday July 21 on the company’s second quarter earnings call, highlighting a recent […]

Northrop Grumman said this week that it is adding hundreds of jobs to the 5,000 the company now has working on the LGM-35A Sentinel future intercontinental ballistic missile. A ground breaking ceremony was recently held for a new building at the Roy Innovation Center (RIC) in Utah, according to a Northrop Grumman press release Tuesday. […]

The B-21 Raider will have two pilots instead of one pilot and a weapons systems officer (WSO), according to the Air Force, as the service creates a competitive pilot transition program for WSOs and combat systems officers (CSOs). The Air Force said in a July 9 press release the transition program would be for the […]

The B-21 Raider will have two pilots instead of one pilot and a weapons systems officer (WSO), according to the Air Force, as the service creates a competitive pilot transition program for WSOs and combat systems officers (CSOs). The Air Force said in a July 9 press release the transition program would be for the […]

The Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) latest report of major defense acquisition programs found that while several nuclear modernization efforts continue to advance through development and testing, the Sentinel program remains burdened by significant cost, schedule and design challenges. In its annual review of weapon systems released last week, GAO said the Air Force’s Sentinel intercontinental […]

The Air Force and Army Corps of Engineers broke ground May 28th at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont., on a construction project for the future Northrop Grumman LGM-35A Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). The project is a $26 million Commercial Entrance Control Facility (CECF) – the so-called “Gateway to Sentinel” – which, once built in […]

The Air Force and Army Corps of Engineers broke ground May 28th at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont., on a construction project for the future Northrop Grumman LGM-35A Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). The project is a $26 million Commercial Entrance Control Facility (CECF) – the so-called “Gateway to Sentinel” – which, once built in […]

The Senate Armed Services Committee’s (SASC) fiscal 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) would authorize over $41 billion for Department of Energy national security programs while advancing provisions tied to nuclear weapons programs. SASC has been marking up its version of the defense policy bill in closed hearings this week, and on Thursday released the […]

The House Armed Services Committee’s (HASC) rejected an amendment to the fiscal 2027 defense authorization bill to cut funding for the new Trump-class battleship but did agree to a report on how the Navy will manage another nuclear-powered vessel. During the full committee markup last week, ranking member Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) offered an amendment […]

The House Armed Services Committee’s (HASC) rejected an amendment to the fiscal 2027 defense authorization bill to cut funding for the new Trump-class battleship but did agree to a report on how the Navy will manage another nuclear-powered vessel. During the full committee markup last week, ranking member Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) offered an amendment […]

The Navy’s top officer last week outlined updates in the service’s strategy to extend the service life of several nuclear-armed Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) that could result in quicker turnarounds for delays in the new Columbia-class boats. “We were looking at a number between four and five of these PIRAs, as we call them, […]

Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink could gain the authority to transfer funds appropriated for non-ICBM programs to the LGM-35A Sentinel future ICBM and the existing Minuteman III, under the fiscal 2027 House Armed Services Committee (HASC) proposal by Chairman Mike Rogers (R-Ala.). The transfer authority would last from fiscal 2027 through fiscal 2030, […]

The Navy’s top officer last week outlined updates in the service’s strategy to extend the service life of several nuclear-armed Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) that could result in quicker turnarounds for delays in the new Columbia-class boats. “We were looking at a number between four and five of these PIRAs, as we call them, […]

Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink could gain the authority to transfer funds appropriated for non-ICBM programs to the LGM-35A Sentinel future ICBM and the existing Minuteman III, under the fiscal 2027 House Armed Services Committee (HASC) proposal by Chairman Mike Rogers (R-Ala.). The transfer authority would last from fiscal 2027 through fiscal 2030, […]

As the Air Force prepares to modify two B-52H bombers later this year for the Commercial Engine Replacement Program (CERP), the bomber directorate’s contracting office will meet with contractors interested in supplying support equipment to install new engines. The Office at Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., will meet with contractors interested in supplying support equipment […]

Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) criticized the omission of funding for the nuclear-armed sea-launched cruise missile from the fiscal 2027 budget request, warning the absence of appropriated funding could jeopardize the Navy’s ability to meet a congressionally mandated deadline. Speaking to Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao on Tuesday during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, Fischer […]

Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) criticized the omission of funding for the nuclear-armed sea-launched cruise missile from the fiscal 2027 budget request, warning the absence of appropriated funding could jeopardize the Navy’s ability to meet a congressionally mandated deadline. Speaking to Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao on Tuesday during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, Fischer […]

As the Air Force prepares to modify two B-52H bombers later this year for the Commercial Engine Replacement Program (CERP), the bomber directorate’s contracting office will meet with contractors interested in supplying support equipment to install new engines. The Office at Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., will meet with contractors interested in supplying support equipment […]

Under an Air Force initiative for the service’s B-2 Spirit stealth bomber by Northrop Grumman, the service would create a government-owned technical data library through reverse engineering and data rights acquisition. This news comes from a Thursday business notice from the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center bomber directorate’s contracting office at Tinker Air Force […]

Under an Air Force initiative for the service’s B-2 Spirit stealth bomber by Northrop Grumman, the service would create a government-owned technical data library through reverse engineering and data rights acquisition. This news comes from a Thursday business notice from the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center bomber directorate’s contracting office at Tinker Air Force […]

The U.S. Air Force Commercial Engine Replacement Program for the Boeing B-52J recently passed a Critical Design Review, according to the service. The passage of review allows Boeing’s San Antonio, Texas, plant to modify two B-52Hs later this year to carry new F130 engines by Rolls-Royce. “Following this initial work, the two modified B-52J test […]

The U.S. Air Force Commercial Engine Replacement Program for the Boeing B-52J recently passed a Critical Design Review, according to the service. The passage of review allows Boeing’s San Antonio, Texas, plant to modify two B-52Hs later this year to carry new F130 engines by Rolls-Royce. “Following this initial work, the two modified B-52J test […]

Northrop Grumman sold the U.S. Air Force one of the company’s test B-21 Raiders as part of an effort to accelerate production of the 6th generation stealth bomber. “To support the acceleration of aircraft deliveries, we agreed to sell an aircraft to the Air Force that was previously planned to be utilized as a company-owned […]

The Pentagon is looking at competition in the software and support construction realms for the Northrop Grumman future LGM-35A Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), a top official said last week. The Air Force has been restructuring the program since July 2024 and expects Pentagon acquisition chief Michael Duffey to re-certify Sentinel for engineering and manufacturing […]