Aerojet Rocketdyne [AJRD] and Orbital ATK [OA] both announced late Aug. 21 that they have joined the Northrop Grumman [NOC] team that will compete against Boeing [BA] to develop the U.S. Air Force’s Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD).
Northrop Grumman spokesman Tim Paynter said that “both Aerojet Rocketdyne and Orbital ATK are providing propulsion solutions.” While Orbital ATK declined to discuss its specific role, Aerojet Rocketdyne said it “will evaluate multiple propulsion options and provide early designs” to Northrop Grumman.
“Over the last decade, Aerojet Rocketdyne has supported U.S. Air Force strategic propulsion research and development activities that were focused on advancing technology and keeping sharp the engineering and manufacturing skills associated with designing propulsion systems, most notably large solid rocket motors,” said Eileen Drake, Aerojet Rocketdyne’s chief executive officer and president. “In conjunction with these investments that have direct applicability to GBSD, we are well-positioned to provide the most reliable and most affordable propulsion system solutions to Northrop Grumman.”
The Air Force announced Aug. 21 that it has awarded three-year contracts to Boeing and Northrop Grumman to conduct technology maturation and risk reduction (TMRR) for GBSD, the replacement for the aging, nuclear-tipped, Boeing-built Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) (Defense Daily, Aug. 21). The Air Force plans to award an engineering and manufacturing development contract to one of the firms in late 2020.
Boeing might disclose its teammates at the Air Force Association’s Air, Space & Cyber Conference in September, company spokesman Jerry Drelling said. The Air Force’s decision to award one of the TMRR contracts to Boeing “reflects confidence in our design solution, experience, expertise and innovative approach,” the company said.
Lockheed Martin [LMT], the only losing bidder for the TMRR phase, expressed disappointment with the outcome and did not rule out filing a formal protest.
“We are confident our proposal delivered an affordable GBSD solution that meets all mission requirements,” company spokeswoman Sydney Owens said. “We will determine next steps following a debrief from the Air Force.”
Col. Heath Collins, the Air Force’s GBSD program manager, described the source-selection process as “thorough and fair.”
“We are ready, excited and honored to begin working with our industry partners to develop and deliver an affordable, low-risk ICBM replacement, guaranteeing uninterrupted nuclear deterrence capabilities for the nation,” Heath said.