Delivery Systems & Nuclear Triad

Northrop Grumman tapped Bechtel National and Kratos Defense & Security Solutions to provide construction services and specialized transportation equipment for the Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) intercontinental ballistic missile production program the aerospace giant hopes to win this summer. Northrop Grumman is the only bidder for the estimated $25 billion engineering and manufacturing development contract to […]

The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) seeks nearly a fourfold funding increase for development of the W87-, silo-based intercontinental ballistic-missile warhead in fiscal 2021, plus more than $1 billion to help build the plutonium cores for that warhead, according to new budget details released Monday. The budget proposal from the semiautonomous Department of Energy nuclear […]

Complications with the B61-12 and W88 Alt-370 programs might delay production of new intercontinental ballistic missile fuzes at the Kansas City National Security Campus by more than a year, Pentagon budget documents show. The Air Force will need 10 months longer than expected, 41 months total, to purchase long-lead parts for the the ICBM Fuze […]

The Navy conducted a single missile flight test of an unarmed life-extended Trident II (D5LE) ballistic missile from the Ohio-class submarine USS Maine off the coast of San Diego on Feb. 16. The test on the Western Test Range followed the Maine’s demonstration and shakedown operation test flight on Feb. 12. The Navy said this test validated performance expectations […]

The Navy has awarded Lockheed Martin a $474 million contract for Trident II (D5) ballistic missile life-extension work. The contract, announced last week, specifically covers the Life Extension 2 Strategic Systems Programs Alteration Advanced Development Program. Work will largely occur in Denver, Colo., and is expected to be finished by September 2026. The Navy obligated […]

The Air Force launched an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile in the early morning hours on Wednesday, testing a new fuse that would set off the nuclear warhead tipping that weapon, as well as its planned successor. The Air Force development test launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California happened one year from the […]

Northrop Grumman on Wednesday said its board has elected David Keffer as its new chief financial officer effective Feb. 17. He succeeds Kenneth Bedingfield, who will remain with the company until Feb. 21 to help with the transition. Keffer comes to Northrop Grumman from the private equity firm Blue Delta Capital Partners, which he joined in 2018 […]

The Air Force launch an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile in the early morning hours on Wednesday, a test to verify the functioning of hardware intended to extend the service life of the nuclear delivery vehicle. The Air Force development test launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California happened one year from the […]

The Navy on Friday awarded Lockheed Martin a $474 million contract for Trident II (D5) ballistic missile life-extension work. The contract specifically covers the Life Extension 2 Strategic Systems Programs Alteration Advanced Development Program. Work will largely occur in Denver, Colo., and is expected to be finished by September 2026. The Navy obligated $3 million […]

Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) said Monday it has appointed Brandi Smith as program director for the U.S. Navy’s Columbia-class submarine program at the company’s Newport News Shipbuilding division. There was no incumbent Columbia program director at HII, according to a Tuesday email from a spokesperson for the shipbuilding subcontractor for the Navy’s next nuclear-armed ballistic-missile submarine fleet. […]

Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) said Monday it has appointed Brandi Smith as program director for the U.S. Navy’s Columbia-class submarine program at the company’s Newport News Shipbuilding division. There was no incumbent Columbia program director at HII, according to a Tuesday email from a spokesperson for the shipbuilding subcontractor for the Navy’s next nuclear-armed ballistic-missile […]

The U.S. Air Force officially ended the B52-H’s mission to carry nuclear gravity bombs late last year, according to an updated operating military manual making the rounds online this week. Air Force Instruction 91-111, dated Sept. 5, calls for “removal of B61-7 and B83-1 from B-52H approved weapons configuration.” Hans Kristensen, the Washington-based director of […]

The U.S. Air Force officially ended the B52-H’s mission to carry nuclear gravity bombs late last year, according to an updated operating military manual making the rounds online this week. Air Force Instruction 91-111, dated Sept. 5, calls for “removal of B61-7 and B83-1 from B-52H approved weapons configuration.” Hans Kristensen, the Washington-based director of […]

The U.S. Navy on Dec. 16 awarded General Dynamics Mission Systems a $300 million sole-source contract for fiscal years 2020-2023 for U.S. and U.K. Trident II D-5 support work. This specifically covers Trident II fleet ballistic missiles submarine fire control system, guided missile submarine attack weapon control system, and support equipment rework facility support. Most […]

The U.S. Navy on Dec. 16 awarded General Dynamics Mission Systems a $300 million contract for fiscal years 2020-2023 for U.S. and U.K. Trident II (D-5) support work. This specifically covers Trident II fleet ballistic missiles submarine fire control system, guided missile submarine attack weapon control system, and support equipment rework facility support. Most of […]

A 2020 appropriations package passed by Congress this week would fully fund the next generation of nuclear-tipped intercontinental ballistic missiles, along with the civilian-operated infrastructure that makes their warheads. Gone from the 2020 budget are nearly all the restrictions House Democrats wanted to put on the Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) procurement, and supporting infrastructure and […]

Congress wants the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration to slide about $5.5 million from the maintenance budget for the W80 cruise-missile warhead into a Pentagon study to select a design for a nuclear-tipped, sea-launched cruise missile, according to a compromise 2020 spending bill that would fund the agency through September. The Donald Trump administration proposed […]

Congress wants the National Nuclear Security Administration to slide about $5.5 million from the maintenance budget for the W80 cruise-missile warhead into a Pentagon study to select a design for a nuclear-tipped, sea-launched cruise missile, according to a compromise 2020 spending bill that would fund the agency through September. The Donald Trump administration proposed studying […]

The U.S. Navy still has margin to burn on the first Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine, despite some of that programmatic breathing room getting burned after BWX Technologies incorrectly welded a dozen tubes for the Common Missile Compartments intended for that vessel and Virginia-class attack subs, a senior Navy officer said. “They do have margin to […]

Northrop Grumman is officially the only company to bid on the potentially $25 billion contract to build and deploy the U.S. Air Force’s Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) intercontinental ballistic missiles. The company confirmed Friday, at the deadline to submit bids, that it put in an offer with the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center. Boeing, the […]

House Democrats failed to slow procurement of next-generation, nuclear-tipped intercontinental ballistic missiles via the 2020 National Defense Appropriations Act (NDAA), the final version of which almost fully supports the Trump administration’s funding request and approves the National Nuclear Security Administration’s plan to build warheads for the missile. However, the bill is loaded with legally binding language […]

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) has not received a status report yet from the U.S. Department of Energy on procurement of a new multibillion-dollar contract for the Hanford Site in Washington state. “We haven’t received a response yet,” a Feinstein spokesman said via an email Tuesday. On Sept. 27, Feinstein, along with Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), […]

The U.S. Air Force is still sticking to its plan to build 100 B-21 Raider strategic bombers, but if it does need to procure more, it should be able to boost production without renegotiating the contract with Northrop Grumman, Air Force Materiel Command Chief Gen. Arnold Bunch told reporters recently. “We’ve got the contract structured […]

The U.S. Air Force has not yet addressed any plans to export the B-21 Raider as the next-generation bomber moves through development, Will Roper, the service’s acquisition chief, told reporters Nov. 12. “I’m going to keep my head focused on getting to initial operational capability on time and then I’ll let the debate go where […]

Dan Leone and Vivienne Machi WASHINGTON — Questionable “competence” within U.S. Air Force procurement ranks helped turn a competition to build a fleet of next-generation nuclear ballistic missiles into a one-horse race, the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee said here Wednesday. Proposals to build and deploy the Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD), silo-based missiles […]

WASHINGTON — Questionable “competence” within U.S. Air Force procurement ranks helped turn a competition to build a fleet of next-generation nuclear ballistic missiles into a one-horse race, the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee said here Wednesday. Proposals to build and deploy the Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD), silo-based missiles designed to replace the nuclear-tipped […]

ARLINGTON, Va. — The head of the U.S. Navy’s Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program had reassuring words for the nuclear shipbuilding industry and its suppliers here Thursday. “I … want you to know that contrary to what you might read or hear … submarine force leadership values our close, enduring relationships with our industry partners,” Adm. […]

House Appropriations defense subcommittee Chairman Pete Visclosky (D-Ind.) said Nov. 6 that he will not run for office again in 2020, ending a 35-year career in public office and opening up the chairmanship to new candidates should Democrats hold the majority after next year’s elections. “For my entire career I have worked to build support […]

By Richard Abott A top U.S. Navy official said the service is unlikely to reach above 310 ships at current funding levels, let alone the congressionally-mandated goal of 355 ships. “Will we get to 355 ships? I think with today’s fiscal situation and where the Navy’s topline is right now – we can keep around […]

By Calvin Biesecker Raytheon on Thursday reported strong third quarter financial results driven by higher sales across its defense segments and improved operating performance and the company increased its outlook for the top and bottom lines this year. Net income soared 34% to $860 million, $3.08 earnings per share (EPS), from $644 million ($2.25 EPS) a […]