Northrop Grumman Corporation was selected by the U.S. Air Force to modernize the nation’s aging intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) system under a $13.3 billion contract awarded on Sept. 8, 2020, for the engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) phase of the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) program.
“With programs like GBSD, Utah’s aerospace and defense industry will continue to be an important part of our state’s vibrant and diverse economy,” said Val Hale, executive director of the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development. “Utah has a long history of contributing to the nation’s defense, and we’re excited to continue this legacy.”
The Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center announced that the effort will span 8.5 years and include weapon system design, qualification, test and evaluation, and nuclear certification. Upon successfully completing EMD, the Northrop Grumman team will begin producing and delivering a modern and fully integrated weapon system to meet the Air Force schedule of initial operational capability by 2029.
The EMD award follows a highly successful three-year technology maturation and risk reduction (TMRR) phase-one effort under the GBSD competition. The Northrop Grumman team has demonstrated innovation and agility by applying a digital engineering approach and has achieved all TMRR design review milestones on time and on cost.
Utah plays an essential role in the GBSD program. Northrop Grumman is the largest aerospace and defense employer in Utah and one of the state’s top 20 largest employers. Work on the program will be performed at the Northrop Grumman GBSD facilities in Roy. Other Northrop Grumman facilities in Utah supporting GBSD include Promontory (test launch and booster integration facility), Clearfield, and Salt Lake City, as well as other sites across the U.S. In January 2020, GOED was pleased to offer Northrop Grumman a post-performance tax credit through the state’s EDTIF program for its Roy location to create up to 2,250 jobs in the next 20 years. This tax credit will help Northrop Grumman complete the work for this contract.
Overall, the GBSD program will involve over 10,000 people across the U.S. directly working on this vital national security program. For more information, please visit northropgrumman.com/gbsd.