Delivery Systems & Nuclear Triad

Marc Selinger Defense Daily U.S. Air Force efforts to develop the new B-21 Raider bomber aircraft are proceeding as planned, according to the head of Air Force Global Strike Command. ”We’re where we said we were going to be,” said Gen. Robin Rand, whose command will eventually be charged with operating the aircraft. “I’m satisfied […]

U.S. Air Force efforts to develop the new B-21 Raider bomber aircraft are proceeding as planned, according to the head of Air Force Global Strike Command. ”We’re where we said we were going to be,” said Gen. Robin Rand, whose command will eventually be charged with operating the aircraft. “I’m satisfied with where we’re at […]

Raytheon CEO Thomas Kennedy told investors last week his company is reviewing its options when it comes to teaming on the Air Force’s Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent, which is intended to replace the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile as the ground-based leg of the nuclear triad. “Right now, our strategy is we are engaging with multiple […]

BWX Technologies on Monday said it had secured a $76.2 million contract to produce more Common Missile Compartment (CMC) tube assemblies for next-generation U.S. and U.K. ballistic missile submarines. This is the third contract the BWXT Nuclear Operations Group has received from Columbia-class vessel prime General Dynamics Electric Boat for the assemblies – the vertical […]

Lockheed Martin Corp. on Tuesday announced net sales of $11.1 billion and net earnings from continuing operations of $763 million for the first quarter of 2017. Net sales increased from $10.4 billion in the same three-month period of 2016, while year-over-year net earnings fell from $806 million. Lockheed subsidiary Sandia Corp., with only a few […]

U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command airmen from the service’s bases in Wyoming, Montana, and Nebraska on Wednesday launched an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile, the Air Force announced. The operational test involved an unarmed ICBM with a single test re-entry vehicle containing a telemetry package, launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. […]

Lockheed Martin Corp. on Tuesday announced net sales of $11.1 billion and net earnings from continuing operations of $763 million for the first quarter of 2017. Net sales increased from $10.4 billion in the same three-month period of 2016, while year-over-year net earnings fell from $806 million. Lockheed subsidiary Sandia Corp., with only a few […]

BWX Technologies on Monday said it had secured a $76.2 million contract to produce more Common Missile Compartment (CMC) tube assemblies for next-generation U.S. ballistic missile submarines. This is the third contract the BWXT Nuclear Operations Group has received from General Dynamics Electric Boat for the tube assemblies, following deals in November 2014 and March […]

A top U.S. general on Thursday joined military leadership and lawmakers in condemning the continuing resolution that is currently funding the government and is soon to expire, asking Congress to deliver a budget for the Pentagon in the coming weeks – even if it is subject to spending constraints. “This is the ninth year that […]

The nuclear arsenals of the United States and Russia continue to fluctuate as the two countries work to meet the terms of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START), according to the latest aggregate data released Monday by the U.S. State Department. The bilateral accord requires each country by next February to cap its […]

Air Force Gen. John Hyten, commander of U.S. Strategic Command, said Tuesday he is “reviewing” the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, underscoring the Defense Department’s focus on addressing Russia’s violation of the 1987 accord. U.S. officials in February said Russia has deployed a ground-launched nuclear-capable cruise missile with two battalions in breach of the treaty, which […]

Air Force Gen. John Hyten, commander of U.S. Strategic Command, said Tuesday he is “reviewing” the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, underscoring the Defense Department’s focus on addressing Russia’s violation of the 1987 accord. U.S. officials in February said Russia has deployed a ground-launched nuclear-capable cruise missile and that the administration plans potential responses to the […]

The head of U.S. military forces in Europe said Tuesday the United States should do more to bring Russia back into compliance with the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty; former U.S. officials on Thursday then discouraged a “tit-for-tat” response and gave their own suggestions to the new administration. The Trump administration has determined that Russia is […]

Defense Secretary James Mattis on Wednesday reaffirmed the necessity of sustaining all three legs of the U.S. nuclear triad and indicated the “level” of that deterrent is under consideration. “The need for a nuclear deterrent . . . requires a triad,” Mattis said during a hearing of the Senate Appropriations defense subcommittee. “To determine what […]

Defense Secretary James Mattis on Wednesday reaffirmed the necessity of sustaining all three legs of the U.S. nuclear triad and indicated the “level” of that deterrent is under consideration. “The need for a nuclear deterrent . . . requires a triad,” Mattis said during a hearing of the Senate Appropriations defense subcommittee. “To determine what […]

Marc Selinger Defense Daily The U.S. Navy loaded the first two life-extended Trident II D-5 ballistic missiles on an Ohio-class submarine last month, a service official said March 8. The event was a “significant milestone” for the nuclear-armed missile, said Adm. Bill Moran, vice chief of naval operations, who testified before the House Armed Services […]

There is no more room to delay construction and deployment of the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine if the United States is to maintain a continually viable sea-based nuclear deterrent, the former head of the program said last week. The U.S. Navy’s current fleet of 14 Ohio-class submarines will begin to retire about a decade from […]

Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) on Wednesday introduced legislation that would limit funding for the Long-Range Standoff (LRSO) nuclear cruise missile, a controversial weapon intended to replace the aging air-launched cruise missile. Democrats in Congress say the missile, expected to cost roughly $20 billion to $30 billion over 20 years for approximately 1,000 missiles, would increase […]

The House of Representatives approved Wednesday a $577.9 defense appropriations billion for fiscal 2017 by a vote of 233-185, with three Republicans against the legislation and five Democrats in favor. The House Appropriations Committee last week introduced the bill, which funds the Defense Department at a level $5.2 billion higher than the fiscal 2016 enacted […]

The House of Representatives on Wednesday approved a $577.9 billion bill for funding the Defense Department in fiscal 2017, which began last October. The Pentagon and all other federal agencies have operated under two separate continuing resolutions in this budget year. The latest resolution expires in late April. The bill passed the house by a […]

Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) on Wednesday introduced legislation that would limit funding for the Long-Range Standoff (LRSO) nuclear cruise missile, a controversial weapon intended to replace the aging air-launched cruise missile. Democrats in Congress say the missile, expected to cost roughly $20 billion to $30 billion over 20 years, would increase the risk of nuclear […]

The U.S. Navy loaded the first two life-extended Trident II D-5 ballistic missiles on an Ohio-class submarine last month, a service official said March 8. The event was a “significant milestone” for the nuclear-armed missile, said Adm. Bill Moran, vice chief of naval operations, who testified before the House Armed Services Committee during a hearing on […]

The House Appropriations Committee on Thursday introduced its fiscal 2017 defense appropriations bill, which funds the Defense Department’s national security needs at $577.9 billion – $5.2 billion higher than the fiscal 2016 enacted level and $1.6 billion more than former President Barack Obama’s request. The bill, scheduled for consideration this week on the House floor, proposes […]

Marc Selinger Defense Daily The U.S. Navy and General Dynamics Electric Boat may soon wrap up negotiations on the detail design contract for the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine, an industry official said March 1. “We expect to continue [the negotiations] for the next month or so and get to the point where we reach an agreement,” said […]

U.S. Strategic Command on Friday announced the conclusion one day earlier of its Global Lightning 17 exercise. The annual series of exercises involves Strategic Command, additional U.S. combatant commands and agencies, and personnel from the United Kingdom and other partner nations, according to a Strategic Command press release. This year’s event started on Feb. 7  “and […]

Calvin Biesecker Defense Daily The projected cost to operate, maintain, and modernize America’s nuclear forces during the next 10 years is $400 billion, an average of $40 billion annually, according to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). CBO’s new estimate of nuclear force plans for the departments of Defense and Energy is based on fiscal 2017 […]

The United States appears set to spend $400 billion on its nuclear deterrent over the next decade, with spending rising as weapons modernization advances, the Congressional Budget Office reported Tuesday. “If carried out, the plans for nuclear forces delineated in the Department of Defense’s (DoD’s) and the Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) budget requests for fiscal […]

The U.S. Defense Department is set to complete its new Nuclear Posture Review this spring, and deliberations could address the weapons and nuclear yields necessary for the U.S. nuclear deterrent going forward, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein said Tuesday. “I do believe we’re going to have discussions about munitions. I do believe […]

The U.S. Defense Department is set to complete its new Nuclear Posture Review this spring, and deliberations could address the types of weapons and nuclear yields necessary for the U.S. deterrent going forward, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein said Tuesday. “I do believe we’re going to have discussions about munitions. I do […]

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein recently told President Donald Trump to boost the service’s readiness so it can perform all the critical missions it is tasked. Goldfein said Friday that he had five minutes to discuss the Air Force when the Joint Chiefs of Staff, which includes the Air Force’s top officer, […]