No Dr. Strangelove Here: USAF Takes Steps to Beef Up ICBM Security

19-Nov-2009 16:01 EST  |  Related Stories: Americas - USA, Boeing, Contracts - Modifications, Lockheed Martin, Missiles - Ballistic, Northrop-Grumman, Other Corporation, Support Functions - Other

Dr. Strangelove
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In the 1960s dark comedy Dr. Strangelove, a rogue US Air Force general succeeds in usurping the US “fail-safe” security system preventing unauthorized use of nuclear weapons. As a result, a nuclear weapon is dropped on the Soviet Union, the doomsday machine is activated, and the protagonists argue about who gets to ride out the war in mine shafts.

In the 21st century, the US Air Force is taking steps to make sure that nuclear-tipped ICBMs stay securely in their silos. Through the ICBM Security Modernization Program, the USAF has launched a number of initiatives to beef up silo security.

One of those initiatives is the Remote Visual Assessment Program, which is designed to improve the situational awareness of the security staff around the ICBM silos. To support that program, the USAF awarded Northrop Grumman a $31 million contract.

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$47M to Engineering Services Network for IT Support at Hill Air Force Base

18-Nov-2009 12:35 EST  |  Related Stories: Americas - USA, Bases & Infrastructure, Contracts - Awards, IT - General, Other Corporation, Support Functions - Other

Engineering Services Network (ESN) in Arlington, VA received a $47 million contract to provide information technology service support to the 75th Air Base Wing at Hill Air Force Base in Utah.

The 75th Air Base Wing is responsible for base operating support of all units at Hill AFB.

Hill AFB is home to the Ogden Air Logistics Center, which provides worldwide engineering and logistics management for the F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jet, A-10 Thunderbolt II close air support aircraft, and Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile. The base performs depot maintenance of the F-16, A-10 and C-130 Hercules transport aircraft.

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ATA’s Consolidated Contract for Maintenance & Support of Arnold Engineering Development Center (updated)

25-Aug-2009 16:36 EDT  |  Related Stories: Americas - USA, Bases & Infrastructure, Contracts - Modifications, Design Innovations, Forces - Air, Forces - Space, IT - General, Other Corporation, Partnerships & Consortia, Public Partnering, Simulation & Training, Support Functions - Other, T&C - CSC, Testing & Evaluation

AEDC at work: X-29
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The Arnold Engineering Development Center (AEDC), named for U.S. Air Force pioneer Gen. Henry “Hap” Arnold, bills itself as “The World’s Premier Flight Simulation Test Facility.” Nearly half of the AEDC’s 58 test facilities are unique in the U.S., and 14 are unique in the world.

These specialized test facilities have played a crucial role in the development and sustainment of virtually every high performance aircraft, air-to-air and air-to-ground weapon, missile, and space system in use by all four of the U.S. military services today. The Center has also been involved in the development of every NASA manned space system, many satellites, and numerous commercial aircraft and spacecraft systems.

In 2003, the Air Force consolidated the test operations contract and the base services contract into a single contract for operations, maintenance, information management, and base support…

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$176.2M for “Minuteman Propulsion Replacement Program”

16-Oct-2007 18:08 EDT  |  Related Stories: Americas - USA, Contracts - Modifications, Missiles - Ballistic, Northrop-Grumman, Nuclear Weapons, Other Corporation, Partnerships & Consortia, Support & Maintenance

LGM-30G Minuteman III
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Northrop Grumman Space and Mission Systems of Clearfield, UT received a contract modification for $176.2 million, exercising the Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Propulsion Replacement Program’s (PRP) final full rate production (year 7) option. NGC tends to sub-contract large portions of this work to ATK Thiokol; the Minuteman III PRP began in 1998 as a Joint Venture between ATK and Pratt & Whitney, but all work content was transitioned to ATK in the 2003-2004 timeframe following a contract restructure. DID has covered related contracts in November 2006 ($222.5 million), March 2006 ($541 million) and January 2006 ($225.2 million). Presumably, the ICBMs’ Environmental Protection Agency certification has been taken care of by now.

The purpose of PRP is to ensure MM Flight Reliability and supportability of the USA’s LGM-30G Minuteman III nuclear ICBMs through 2020 by correcting identified mission threatening degradations, sustaining existing reliability, and supporting Minuteman Life Extension Efforts. America chose to retire its larger, newer, and more capable MX Peacekeeper missiles in 2005, in compliance with arms control treaties it has signed. This contract action will purchase the remaining 56 Minuteman III booster sets, making a total of 601 sets acquired during the PRP. At this time, $51.6 million has been obligated. The 526th ICBM Systems Wing at Hill Air Force Base, UT holds the contract (F42310-98-C-0001). See also Northrop Grumman release.

Another $160M for Minot AFB Family Housing

25-May-2007 03:02 EDT  |  Related Stories: Bases & Infrastructure

“Only the best come north”

Mainot’s most visible unit is the 5th Bomb Wing, making it one of two B-52H Stratofortress bomber bases in the USAF. The base also hosts the Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles assigned to the 91st Space Wing. With 2,447 family housing units (426 officer units; 255 senior enlisted and 1,766 for junior enlisted), Minot AFB has one of the largest housing complexes in the US Air Force.

DID covered a $41.6 million August 2006 contract to Small business qualifier RMR Joint Venture in Minot, ND. Now they’re received an additional $160.7 million firm-fixed-price contract for replacement of family housing at Minot Air Force Base, ND. Work is expected to be complete by May 24, 2011. Bids were solicited via the World Wide Web on Feb. 7, 2007, and 1 bid was received by the U.S. Army Engineer District in Omaha, NB (W9128F-07-C-0008).

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$53.1M for Minuteman III ECS Upgrades

21-Dec-2006 04:27 EST  |  Related Stories: Americas - USA, Contracts - Modifications, Missiles - Ballistic, Northrop-Grumman

Minuteman III launch

Northrop Grumman Space and Mission Systems in Clearfield, UT, received a $53.1 million fixed-price-incentive-firm and cost-plus-award fee contract modification, exercising option 1 to continue upgrading the Environmental Control System for the Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missile System. Work will be complete October 2008. The Headquarters Ogden Air Logistics Center at Hill Air Force Base, UT issued the contract (F42610-98-C-0001/no modification number has been assigned at this time).

This effort includes production, deployment, and interim contractor support for launch facilities and missile alert facilities at the Missile Wings. The replacement system provides filtered, temperature and humidity control, circulating air to the electronic equipment as well as the missile combat crews located in the Launch Control Centers.

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$225.2M to Remanufacture Minuteman III Rocket Motors

01-Nov-2006 08:29 EST  |  Related Stories: Americas - USA, Contracts - Modifications, Missiles - Ballistic, Northrop-Grumman, Nuclear Weapons, Support Functions - Other

LGM-30G Minuteman III
(click to view full)

Northrop Grumman Mission Systems in Clearfield, UT received a $225.2 million cost-plus-fixed fee, cost-plus-incentive fee contract modification to remanufacture Stage 1, 2, and 3 rockets motors and offer product quality assurance test support. The contractor shall provide 75 complete booster components sets (one each Stage 1, 2 and 3 motors and an ordnance kit) and 2 product quality assurance test motors. A similar contract was issued in January 2006.

This contract action by the Headquarters 526th ICBM Systems Wing at Hill Air Force Base, UT exercises the Propulsion Replacement Program Full Rate Production year 6 options. Which means the engines are destined for LGM-30G Minuteman III nuclear ICBMs. At this time, $220.9 million has been obligated, and work will be complete January 2009 (F42610-98-C-0001/will advise modification number).

$41.6M for Family Housing At Minot AFB, ND

09-Aug-2006 03:28 EDT  |  Related Stories: Americas - USA, Bases & Infrastructure, Contracts - Awards, Small Business

“Only the best come north”

Small business qualifier RMR Joint Venture in Minot, ND received a $41.6 million firm-fixed-price contract for construction of family housing at Minot Air Force Base, ND, and is expected to be complete by June 12, 2008. There were 190 bids solicited on October 12, 2005, and 2 bids were received by the Army Corps of Engineers in Omaha, NB (W9128F-06-C-0032).

Mainot’s most visible unit is the 5th Bomb Wing, making it one of two B-52H Stratofortress bomber bases in the USAF. The base also hosts the Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles assigned to the 91st Space Wing. With 2,447 family housing units (426 officer units; 255 senior enlisted and 1,766 for junior enlisted), Minot AFB has one of the largest housing complexes in the US Air Force.

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SERV Program for “Safety Enhanced” Nuclear Warhead RVs Enters Full-Rate Production

06-Apr-2006 08:36 EDT  |  Related Stories: Americas - USA, Contracts - Modifications, Northrop-Grumman, Nuclear Weapons

Old W-78/Mk-12A MIRVs

DID actually began covering the SERV program over a year ago. It’s all part of a $135 million dollar, six-year contract that will transition the USA’s Minuteman III nuclear missile fleet from 3-warhead MIRVs to single Mk 21 reentry vehicles, recently decommissioned from the MX Peacekeeper missile force.

The entire force of 500 Minuteman III missiles is slated for SERV upgrades by 2011; this is just one of eight large modification programs Northrop Grumman currently manages in support of U.S. Air Force efforts to sustain the country’s ICBM arsenal. Lockheed Martin and Boeing are Northrop-Grumman’s principal teammates on this particular program.

Quantities required are:

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$11.4M to Aerojet for “Innovative Post-Boost Propulsion Concepts”

29-Mar-2006 03:34 EST  |  Related Stories: Americas - USA, Contracts - Modifications, Launch Vehicles, New Systems Tech, Nuclear Weapons, Other Corporation, R&D - Contracted

Aerojet-General Corp. in Sacramento, CA received an $11.4 million cost-plus fixed-fee contract modification to evaluate, develop, and demonstrate “innovative post boost propulsion concepts.” It exercises option 1 of the Phase II baseline program for research and development to and component technologies to support the Minuteman III nuclear missiles. The scheduled completion date is June 2008. The Headquarters 526th ICBM Systems Wing at Hill Air Force Base, UT issued the cotract (FA8402-05-C-0036-P00002).

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