Search

Air Force May Seek Funding Shift For New ICBM

Air Force May Seek Funding Shift For New ICBM
The Air Force test launches a Minuteman III ICBM in September 2010. Photo: Air Force.

The U.S. Air Force may ask Congress to move around previously approved funds for the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) because the program is running ahead of schedule, according to service officials.GBSD “is on schedule. In fact, it’s actually a little ahead of schedule and we may be coming to you with a reprogramming request in this year just to continue on and keep ahead of schedule,” Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson testified before the Senate Appropriations Committee’s defense panel…

Subscriber-only content. Please log in below.

Not a subscriber or registered user yet?

Please contact us at clientservices@accessintel.com or call us at 888-707-5814 (Monday – Thursday 9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. and Friday 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. ET.), to start a free trial, get pricing information, order a reprint, or post an article link on your website.



Congress Updates

Appropriators Press For Details On Iran War Costs; DoD’s $29B Estimate Doesn’t Include Base Damage

The Pentagon estimates the U.S.’ ongoing conflict with Iran has now cost at least $29 billion, while a lead official noted the updated figure does not factor in damage to […]


Appropriators Offer Skepticism On $350B Defense Reconciliation Plan, ‘Big Risk’ For Key Initiatives

Senate and House Appropriators told Pentagon leadership on Tuesday they’re skeptical of the department’s plan to fund $350 billion of the fiscal year 2027 defense budget through the reconciliation process, […]


All Future Systems Should Have Autonomy Features, Reed Says

Last week, Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) visited North Kingstown, R.I.-based Senesco, which is teaming with autonomous systems company Havoc to bid on the U.S. Navy’s Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel program. […]


Senate Appropriators Concerned With DoD’s Reconciliation Plan For Top FY ‘27 Priorities, Aide Says

Senate defense appropriators have concerns with the Pentagon’s decision to include key fiscal year 2027 funding priorities, such as critical munitions and drones production, among its request for $350 billion […]

Air Force May Seek Funding Shift For New ICBM

The U.S. Air Force may ask Congress to move around previously approved funds for the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) because the program is running ahead of schedule, according to service officials.

GBSD “is on schedule. In fact, it’s actually a little ahead of schedule and we may be coming to you with a reprogramming request in this year just to continue on and keep ahead of schedule,” Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson testified before the Senate Appropriations Committee’s defense panel May 17. 

The Air Force test launches a Minuteman III ICBM in September 2010. Photo: Air Force.
The Air Force test launches a Minuteman III ICBM in September 2010. Photo: Air Force.

A Wilson spokesman later indicated that GBSD is about five months ahead of schedule.

The Air Force is developing GBSD to replace its aging, nuclear-armed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile. The program received about $216 million in fiscal year 2018.

In August, Boeing [BA] and Northrop Grumman [NOC] received GBSD technology maturation and risk reduction contracts valued at $349.2 million and $328.6 million, respectively, over three years (Defense Daily, Aug. 21). The Air Force is currently slated to award a single engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) contract to one of the companies in late 2020.

The fiscal year 2019 defense authorization bill that the House Armed Services Committee passed last week calls for the Air Force to write a plan to accelerate GBSD.