US Strategic and Nuclear Forces:Building Up to the Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent

On 29 July 2016,the US Air Force issued Request for Proposals notices for both the Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) and the Long-Range Standoff Missile (LRSO).The programmes,regarded as critical because other nations have already upgraded their own strategic and nuclear forces,will provide tens of billions of dollars of new business for the major defence contractors through 2075.Boeing,Lockheed Martin and Northrup Grumman have already expressed interest in bidding on the two GBSD contracts expected to be awarded by the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017.It is unknown whether BAE Systems,Orbital ATK and SpaceX are also interested in the competition.*
It is believed the Air Force is looking to build about 642 new intercontinental ballistic missiles,a one-for-one replacement of the Minuteman III plus test missiles,and link them to modernised silos and launch control systems.*
The Minuteman III flight systems in use today were fielded the late 1990s and early 2000s with an intended 20-year lifespan,the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center Public Affairs said.The current Minuteman III system will face increased operational and sustainment challenges until it can be replaced.The Air Force is focused on developing and delivering an integrated weapon system,including launch and C2 segments.The new GBSD system will meet existing national requirements,while having the adaptability and flexibility to affordably address changing technological and threat environments through 2075.Deployment is projected to begin in the late 2020s.*
The Minuteman III will have a difficult time surviving in the active anti-access/area denial environment that we will be dealing with in the 2030 and beyond time period,added General Robin Rand,Commander of US Global Strike Command,to the House Armed Services Strategic Forces Subcommittee in March.
Among developments of concern to the national security community would be both laser and microwave emissions countermeasures against the Minuteman III and other legacy strategic assets,and advanced detection capabilities of potential adversaries such as Russia and China.If the US cannot assure that its bombs and warheads will hit their targets,that changes the strategic stability outlook.*
With the flexibilty to receive modifications such as decoys and electronic countermeasures,the new ICBMs will be very modular so they can be readily upgraded against any countermeasures.*
Northrop Grumman has already been selected as prime contractor of the new Long- Range Strategic Bomber,the B-21.*
Lockheed Martin (LMT),Boeing (BA),Northrop Grumman (NOC)