Delivery Systems & Nuclear Triad

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 […]

The Air Force’s two most expensive nuclear modernization programs are seeing notable year-over-year declines in their budget lines, driven less by program slowdowns than by the absence of one-time congressional funding infusions and a broader restructuring of acquisition timelines. Northrop Grumman’s LGM-35A Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile’s engineering and manufacturing development budget in particular would receive […]

Gen. Dale White, the director of critical major weapons systems at the Pentagon, said the Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) program will have an official cost estimate by this summer as a result of the program restructuring. “Cost Estimation will be completed in the summer,” White said while testifying Monday at a Senate Armed Services […]

Gen. Dale White, the director of critical major weapons systems at the Pentagon, said the Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) program will have an official cost estimation by this summer as a result of the program restructuring. “Cost Estimation will be completed in the summer,” White said while testifying Monday at a Senate Armed Services […]

Lockheed Martin Space has secured an $850.4 million contract modification from the U.S. Navy to continue work on the Trident II (D5) Life Extension 2 program, according to a Defense Department announcement. The cost-plus-incentive-fee modification supports advanced design and development efforts tied to the Strategic Systems Programs’ Shipboard Systems Program (SSP) Alteration initiative, the Pentagon […]

A wargame conducted by the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies suggested that a stand-in, penetrating force of the Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider stealth bomber for strategic attack were key to blunting a Chinese invasion of Taiwan. The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, a nonpartisan research organization in Washington, is advising the Air Force to buy […]

Solid rocket motors for the first five Air Force flight tests of the Northrop Grumman LGM-35A Sentinel future intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) are in construction, the company said on Monday. “Every propulsive element of the Sentinel missile has been prototyped and tested,” according to the company press release. “Northrop Grumman has assembled the first three-stage […]

Solid rocket motors for the first five Air Force flight tests of the Northrop Grumman LGM-35A Sentinel future intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) are in construction, the company said on Monday. “Every propulsive element of the Sentinel missile has been prototyped and tested,” according to the company press release. “Northrop Grumman has assembled the first three-stage […]

A wargame conducted by the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies suggested that a stand-in, penetrating force of the Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider stealth bomber for strategic attack were key to blunting a Chinese invasion of Taiwan. The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, a nonpartisan research organization in Washington, is advising the Air Force to buy […]

The head of U.S. Strategic Command told lawmakers last week that nuclear modernization remains the Pentagon’s top investment priority, while signaling openness to expanding the Navy’s next-generation ballistic missile submarine fleet beyond current plans. Testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Adm. Richard Correll said recapitalizing all three legs of the nuclear triad is essential […]

Testing of Northrop Grumman’s and Bechtel’s prototype missile silo for the Sentinel should demonstrate a modular design the service and industry can repeat for all of the 450 planned, new silos, a Northrop Grumman official said last week. “Proving out the launch silo concept is critical to creating a repeatable approach that will accelerate deployment […]

The head of U.S. Strategic Command told lawmakers last week that nuclear modernization remains the Pentagon’s top investment priority, while signaling openness to expanding the Navy’s next-generation ballistic missile submarine fleet beyond current plans. Testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Adm. Richard Correll said recapitalizing all three legs of the nuclear triad is essential […]

Testing of Northrop Grumman’s and Bechtel’s prototype missile silo for the Sentinel should demonstrate a modular design the service and industry can repeat for all of the 450 planned, new silos, a Northrop Grumman official said last week. “Proving out the launch silo concept is critical to creating a repeatable approach that will accelerate deployment […]

The head of arms control for the State Department told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Tuesday that continued modernization, including 150 B-21s, will prod China to engage in arms control talks with the United States. “I think the president’s broad view, and he’s been extremely forward leaning on this, is he wants to see fewer […]

The Navy last week awarded General Dynamics’ (GD) Electric Boat Corp. a $15.38 billion modification in more Columbia-class nuclear ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) work related to industrial base development support. This award covers additional Columbia-class submarine design, lead yard support and sustainment, “integrated enterprise plan initiatives for the class, and submarine industrial base supplier development […]

Adm. Richard Correll, commander of the U.S. Strategic Command (STRATCOM), said Thursday the Navy has a plan to extend the lifespan of the Ohio-class nuclear-powered submarines to “bridge” the gap as its replacement Columbia-class endures delays. Correll, in testimony to the Senate Armed Services Committee on STRATCOM’s posture for fiscal 2027, was responding to a […]

The head of arms control for the State Department told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Tuesday that continued modernization, including 150 B-21s, will prod China to engage in arms control talks with the United States. “I think the president’s broad view, and he’s been extremely forward leaning on this, is he wants to see fewer […]

The Navy last week awarded General Dynamics’ (GD) Electric Boat Corp. a $15.38 billion modification in more Columbia-class nuclear ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) work related to industrial base development support. This award covers additional Columbia-class submarine design, lead yard support and sustainment, “integrated enterprise plan initiatives for the class, and submarine industrial base supplier development […]

Discussions continue about opening a second production line for the B-21, the U.S. Strategic Command (STRATCOM) head said on Tuesday at a hearing of the House Armed Services Committee’s (HASC) strategic forces panel. Former STRATCOM commander Gen. Anthony Cotton has said the service needs around 145 Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider stealth bombers–at least 45 more […]

The head of U.S. Strategic Command (STRATCOM) acknowledged ongoing challenges with the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent replacement program, emphasizing the need to carefully balance testing demands with the realities of an aging legacy system. During a recent House Armed Services Committee hearing, Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.) pressed STRATCOM Commander Adm. Richard Correll on how the […]

Discussions continue about opening a second production line for the B-21, the U.S. Strategic Command (STRATCOM) head said on Tuesday at a hearing of the House Armed Services Committee’s (HASC) strategic forces panel. Former STRATCOM commander Gen. Anthony Cotton has said the service needs around 145 Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider stealth bombers–at least 45 more […]

The president of General Dynamics Electric Boat division on Wednesday said a multi-year contract to procure 15 nuclear-powered submarines is still months away while also providing an update on lowering shipyard attrition rates and the utility of outsourcing. The Navy has been negotiating the deal with General Dynamics and Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) on awards […]

The commander of Naval Submarine Forces last week argued it is “critically important” the government continues supporting the SSN(X) next generation nuclear-powered attack submarine program to maintain its advantage over China. “The Virginia-class submarine is highly capable, it is by far the most capable nuclear attack submarine that’s ever existed in the world,” Vice Admiral […]

The president of General Dynamics Electric Boat division on Wednesday said a multi-year contract to procure 15 nuclear-powered submarines is still months away while also providing an update on lowering shipyard attrition rates and the utility of outsourcing. The Navy has been negotiating the deal with General Dynamics and Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) on awards […]

The commander of Naval Submarine Forces last week argued it is “critically important” the government continues supporting the SSN(X) next generation nuclear-powered attack submarine program to maintain its advantage over China. “The Virginia-class submarine is highly capable, it is by far the most capable nuclear attack submarine that’s ever existed in the world,” Vice Admiral […]

The Air Force broke ground Feb. 13 on a prototype silo for the Northrop Grumman LGM-35A Sentinel future intercontinental ballistic missile at the company’s Promontory, Utah, site, officials said at the Air & Space Forces Association’s warfare symposium. The prototype is to allow engineers to test and refine modern construction techniques, validating the new silo […]

The latest Air Force Minuteman III test on Tuesday featured multiple unarmed re-entry vehicles,according to the Air Force Global Strike Command said Wednesday. Air Force Global Strike Command’s (AFGSC) launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif., of the Glory Trip 255 test at 11:01 p.m. Pacific time on Tuesday included “two test re-entry vehicles,” AFGSC […]

The latest Air Force Minuteman III test on Tuesday featured multiple unarmed re-entry vehicles,according to the Air Force Global Strike Command said Wednesday. Air Force Global Strike Command’s (AFGSC) launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif., of the Glory Trip 255 test at 11:01 p.m. Pacific time on Tuesday included “two test re-entry vehicles,” AFGSC […]

The Air Force broke ground Feb. 13 on a prototype silo for the Northrop Grumman LGM-35A Sentinel future intercontinental ballistic missile at the company’s Promontory, Utah, site, officials said at the Air & Space Forces Association’s warfare symposium. The prototype is to allow engineers to test and refine modern construction techniques, validating the new silo […]