Several major defense contractors have confirmed their intention to bid on the requests for proposals the U.S. Air Force released on July 29 for technology maturation and risk reduction operations for the Long-Range Standoff (LRSO) and Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) missile programs, part of the United States’ plan to modernize each leg of the nuclear triad.
The service plans to award up to two contracts in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017 for each program. The TMRR is an advanced development phase intended to identify specific technologies for integration into the full system.
Boeing, Northrop Grumman, and Lockheed Martin said they will submit bids for the GBSD contract; Lockheed also confirmed it will bid for the LRSO contract.
The LRSO nuclear cruise missile is intended to replace the aging air-launched cruise missile. The missile, to be fielded by 2030, will be carried on B-52, B-2, and B-21 aircraft, the Air Force says. The program is expected to cost $20 billion to $30 billion for approximately 1,000 missiles, which will be able to carry both conventional and nuclear warheads.
“LRSO’s range, survivability, reliability and credibility are key elements of the air-delivered leg of the U.S. Strategic Nuclear Forces deterrent,” the Air Force said in announcing the RFPs. “Nuclear-capable bombers armed with standoff missiles provide the nuclear triad a clear, visible and tailorable deterrent effect, and deny geographic sanctuaries to any potential adversary.”
The service said it plans to award contracts to up to two prime contractors after it receives industry proposals to its classified RFP. These contractors will then create a preliminary missile design over 54 months, after which the Air Force will choose a single contractor to build the weapon.
The LRSO has faced pushback from Capitol Hill, with critics in Congress arguing the missile is too costly and when deployed could lead to miscalculation by adversaries and inadvertent nuclear war. The program’s supporters counter that the United States has fielded nuclear and conventional cruise missiles in the past without similar ambiguity concerns.
Meanwhile, the GBSD intercontinental ballistic missile is meant to replace the decades-old Minuteman III ICBM, which the Air Force said “will face increased operational and sustainment challenges until it can be replaced.”
The Air Force expects to begin deploying the new GBSD system in the late 2020s, with a service life that will extend through 2075. It intends to award up to two cost-plus-fixed-fee contracts for GBSD technology maturation and risk reduction operations, with an estimated 36-month period of performance.
The contract award is expected in summer 2017, the solicitation said. Proposals for the GBSD solicitation are due by Oct. 12. Interested bidders may visit fbo.gov to contact Air Force contracting officers for access to RFP documents.
Boeing spokeswoman Queena Jones confirmed by email that the aircraft giant will respond to the RFP for the GBSD technology, maturation, and risk reduction contract.
“Given Boeing’s proven capabilities in ICBM design, development, production, deployment, and sustainment, we are confident the U.S. Air Force can rely on Boeing to develop a low-risk GBSD weapon system,” Jones said, noting that Boeing developed the original Minuteman missile in 1958.
The company declined to comment on its intentions for LRSO.
Northrop Grumman spokesman Randy Belote also confirmed that the company will submit a proposal for GBSD as a prime contractor, but declined to comment on the company’s intentions for the LRSO. “We believe GBSD aligns well with Northrop Grumman’s core capabilities. This opportunity allows us to continue the company’s 60-year partnership with the Air Force on the Intercontinental Ballistic Missile System,” Belote said.
Northrop was the Air Force’s ICBM systems engineering and technical assistance contractor for several decades, tasked with maintaining ICBM weapon system readiness.
Lockheed said in a statement it is preparing its proposal for the GBSD contract. “Lockheed Martin has a long track record of success in engineering, evolving and sustaining ballistic missile systems,” it said, noting that the company has “vast expertise to the design, development and fielding of the Air Force’s and the Navy’s next-generation strategic missile weapon systems, as well as the nation’s missile defense systems. We are uniquely qualified to offer the government the most affordable, low-risk GBSD solution that meets all mission requirements.”
A Lockheed Martin spokesperson said the company is also developing LRSO technologies to modernize the air-launched leg of the triad: “We are focused on developing a complete solution including survivable airframes, mission planning, platform and payload integration, and logistics training. We believe our experience and forward-looking technologies will deliver the most reliable and effective solution to our nation’s strategic deterrence approach.”
Lockheed developed the Air Force’s first-ever operational ICBM and has provided ground command and control systems for the Minuteman III.
A Raytheon spokesperson could not be reached for comment.
