Northrop Grumman Receives $153 Million ICBM Award for Guidance Systems Modernization

The U.S.
Air Force has awarded Northrop Grumman Corporation (
a $153 million contract to continue full-rate production
of the intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) Guidance
Replacement Program (GRP). This program is a key modernization
effort that will upgrade the guidance-system electronics
in the Minuteman III ICBM to extend the missile’s service
life through 2020.

This is the sixth of eight production awards from the Air
Force ICBM Systems Program Office at Hill Air Force Base,
Utah. The overall GRP program is valued at $1.6 billion
over the eight production awards and is expected to be complete
by 2009.

“The guidance replacement effort has been an extremely successful
program,” said John Clay, vice president and general manager,
ICBM Prime Integration Contract, Northrop Grumman Mission
Systems. “We are on schedule with approximately 250 missiles
left to equip with the upgrades. The exceptional performance
of our guidance system is a tribute to the continued dedication
and hard work of our team.”

Northrop Grumman’s GRP teammate, Boeing Electronic Systems
Missile Defense produces the missile guidance sets for the
program under subcontract to Northrop Grumman. Honeywell
Space Systems Division is a major subcontractor to Boeing
and provides the system’s computer.

Northrop Grumman Mission Systems is the Air Force’s ICBM
prime integration contractor charged with maintaining alert
readiness of the United States’ ICBM weapon system through
2020. As part of the contract, Northrop Grumman manages
nine modernization efforts, including the Guidance Replacement
Program, to maintain viability of the United States’ ICBM
fleet. The 15-year prime contract was awarded in December
1997 and is currently valued at $4.5 billion with a total
projected value of more than $6 billion. Northrop Grumman
manages a team consisting of four principal teammates and
more than 20 subcontractors.

Northrop Grumman Mission Systems, based in Reston, Va.,
is a global integrator of complex, mission-enabling systems
and services for defense, intelligence and civil government
markets. The sector’s technology leadership and expertise
spans areas such as strategic systems, including ICBMs;
missile defense; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance;
command and control; and technical services and training.