Delivery Systems & Nuclear Triad

The Air Force faces software design challenges for Northrop Grumman’s future LGM-35A Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), according to the Government Accountability Office (GAO). “Sentinel is software-intensive, and development progress remains slower than anticipated,” the new GAO two-page ‘national security snapshot‘ on Sentinel said. “These delays have raised concerns from program officials about the prime […]

The Pentagon’s $150.5 billion in fiscal 2026 reconciliation funding has $4.5 billion to accelerate production of the Air Force B-21 Raider stealth bomber, Northrop Grumman said Monday at the Air & Space Forces Association annual warfare symposium. The Air Force’s plans have called for 100 B-21s, yet that number might increase to 145 or more, […]

Rolls-Royce said Tuesday that it has completed altitude and operability testing for the company’s F130 engine as part of the U.S. Air Force’s Commercial Engine Replacement Program (CERP) modernization for the B-52. The announcement comes as the Air & Space Forces Association holds its annual symposium in Aurora, Colo. Under CERP, the more powerful F130s […]

Rolls-Royce said Tuesday that it has completed altitude and operability testing for the company’s F130 engine as part of the U.S. Air Force’s Commercial Engine Replacement Program (CERP) modernization for the B-52. The announcement comes as the Air & Space Forces Association holds its annual symposium in Aurora, Colo. Under CERP, the more powerful F130s […]

The Pentagon’s $150.5 billion in fiscal 2026 reconciliation funding has $4.5 billion to accelerate production of the Air Force B-21 Raider stealth bomber, Northrop Grumman said Monday at the Air & Space Forces Association annual warfare symposium. The Air Force’s plans have called for 100 B-21s, yet that number might increase to 145 or more, […]

The Air Force faces software design challenges for Northrop Grumman’s future LGM-35A Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), according to the Government Accountability Office (GAO). “Sentinel is software-intensive, and development progress remains slower than anticipated,” the new GAO two-page ‘national security snapshot‘ on Sentinel said. “These delays have raised concerns from program officials about the prime […]

The Navy’s first Columbia-class submarine is back on schedule to deliver by 2028, nine months ahead of schedule, the program executive officer (PEO) for Strategic Submarines said Feb. 11. This program update comes after the Navy and industry implemented an acceleration plan that put all the modules to the final assembly shipyard by the end […]

The Air Force is to start construction this month of a prototype silo for the Sentinel LGM-35A future intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) by Northrop Grumman, the service said this week. The construction is in advance of a planned Pentagon engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) recertification decision on the ballistic missile this year and a first […]

The Air Force is to start construction this month of a prototype silo for the Sentinel LGM-35A future intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) by Northrop Grumman, the service said on Tuesday. The construction is in advance of a planned Pentagon engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) recertification decision on the ballistic missile this year and a first […]

The Navy’s first Columbia-class submarine is back on schedule to deliver by 2028, nine months ahead of schedule, the program executive officer for Strategic Submarines said Feb. 11.. This program update comes after the Navy and industry implemented an acceleration plan that put all the modules to the final assembly shipyard by the end of […]

Northrop Grumman remains in negotiations with the Defense Department on accelerating production of the Air Force’s B-21 stealth bomber and an agreement to do so is expected this quarter, the company’s chief executive said last week. The B-21 talks are down to the “finer points” and what the “financial implications” are for Northrop Grumman, Kathy […]

BAE Systems said Jan. 30 it has opened a new office in Utah north of Salt Lake City to serve as a company hub for intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) sustainment and modernization.  Early last year, the company received a $1.2 billion award from the U.S. Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center’s ICBM directorate at Hill Air […]

BAE Systems said Jan. 30 it has opened a new office in Utah north of Salt Lake City to serve as a company hub for intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) sustainment and modernization.  Early last year, the company received a $1.2 billion award from the U.S. Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center’s ICBM directorate at Hill Air […]

Northrop Grumman remains in negotiations with the Defense Department on accelerating production of the Air Force’s B-21 stealth bomber and an agreement to do so is expected this quarter, the company’s chief executive said last week. The B-21 talks are down to the “finer points” and what the “financial implications” are for Northrop Grumman, Kathy […]

Kim Budil, director of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, said the Donald Trump administration did not consult the lab or the National Nuclear Security Administration on using the nuclear-armed sea-launched cruise missile (SLCM-N) in the future Trump-class battleships. Bradley Wallin, Deputy Director of Strategic Deterrence at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, also told the Monitor he did […]

ARLINGTON, VA – The U.S. Air Force is considering modular missile silos to house the service’s future LGM-35A Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) by Northrop Grumman, while using the same locations as the previous siloes. “My understanding is they [the Air Force] will largely use the same locations,” Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) told reporters Wednesday […]

ARLINGTON, VA – The U.S. Air Force is considering modular missile silos to house the service’s future LGM-35A Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) by Northrop Grumman, while using the same locations as the previous siloes. “My understanding is they [the Air Force] will largely use the same locations,” Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) told reporters Wednesday […]

The top lawmaker on the House’s Navy acquisition oversight panel Jan. 14 backed the Donald Trump administration’s plan to build a new fleet of battleships, calling the initiative a “great idea.” Rep. Trent Kelly (R-Miss.), chair of the House Armed Services Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee also offered his support for the Trump administration’s recently […]

The top lawmaker on the House’s Navy acquisition oversight panel on Wednesday backed the Donald Trump administration’s plan to build a new fleet of battleships, calling the initiative a “great idea.” Rep. Trent Kelly (R-Miss.), chair of the House Armed Services Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee also offered his support for the Trump administration’s recently […]

Northrop Grumman has tested a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) target by using a decommissioned LGM-118 “MX” Peacekeeper ICBM’s SR119 second stage motor, the company said last week.  The second stage motor came from the Space Force’s Rocket Systems Launch Program.  The company makes components for the LGM-35A Sentinel future ICBM, as well as ICBM […]

Northrop Grumman has tested a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) target by using a decommissioned LGM-118 “MX” Peacekeeper ICBM’s SR119 second stage motor, the company said last week.  The second stage motor came from the Space Force’s Rocket Systems Launch Program.  The company makes components for the LGM-35A Sentinel future ICBM, as well as ICBM […]

As the anchors of a “Golden Fleet,” President Donald Trump pledged to build 20 to 25 gun and missile-equipped battleships named after himself that are to carry the nuclear-armed sea-launched cruise missile (SLCM-N). Flanking Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate Dec. 22 for his pledge were Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Navy Secretary John Phelan and Secretary […]

The Navy plans to award a sole source contract to the service’s two largest shipbuilders, General Dynamics (GD) Bath Iron Works and Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding, for the Donald Trump administration’s new battleship design. In December, Trump and senior administration officials announced plans for a new class of battleships named after the president, […]

The Navy plans to award a sole source contract to the service’s two largest shipbuilders, General Dynamics (GD) Bath Iron Works and Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding, for the Donald Trump administration’s new battleship design. In December, Trump and senior administration officials announced plans for a new class of battleships named after the president, […]

As the anchors of a “Golden Fleet,” President Donald Trump pledged to build 20 to 25 gun and missile-equipped battleships named after himself that are to carry the nuclear-armed sea-launched cruise missile (SLCM-N). Flanking Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate Dec. 22 for his pledge were Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Navy Secretary John Phelan and Secretary […]

The fiscal year 2026 defense authorization bill is giving the Navy some flexibility in how it buys Columbia-class nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs). The compromise bill, signed by President Donald Trump Dec. 18, allows the Navy to procure up to five Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines starting next year.  The explanatory statement released with the bill […]

The conferenced fiscal 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) turns back a proposal by the Senate to accelerate the U.S. Air Force AGM-181 Long Range Standoff (LRSO) nuclear cruise missile under development by RTX’s Raytheon. The Senate bill recommended $756 million for LRSO – $149 million more than requested by the Air Force – including […]

Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, a naval technical agent, was awarded a $453.9 million contract modification to fund engineering support on the Trident D5 missile guidance subsystem, the Pentagon announced last week. The cost-plus-fixed-fee modification applies to a previously announced and awarded Navy contract to continue engineering and support services for the submarine-launched ballistic missile system. […]

The Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) completed the last production unit of the W88 Alteration 370, a program to modernize the W88 nuclear warhead over several years, NNSA announced Tuesday. The W88 nuclear warhead entered the stockpile in late 1988 and is deployed in the U.S. Navy’s Ohio-class Trident II D5 Submarine-Launched […]

The Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) completed the last production unit of the W88 Alteration 370, a program to modernize the W88 nuclear warhead over several years, NNSA announced Tuesday. The W88 nuclear warhead entered the stockpile in late 1988 and is deployed in the U.S. Navy’s Ohio-class Trident II D5 Submarine-Launched […]