Boeing was awarded a $4.1 billion contract to provide development services on the Ground-based Midcourse Defense anti-ballistic missile system.

The new deal, announced Friday by the Department of Defense, combines with a $6.56 billion award Boeing awarded in January 2018 for upgrades to the GMD system, bringing the total value of the contract to $10.8 billion.

The system is billed by Boeing as the only operationally deployed missile defense system capable of defending the entire United States, Alaska and Hawaii included, from long-range ballistic missile attacks.

The system provides early detecting and tracking of the boost and midcourse phases of enemy ballistic missiles, offering interception and destruction of target missiles through the force of collision.

The first GMD flight test was held in 2013, and the system successfully intercepted a defense target in 2017.

The new contract covers delivery of a new missile field with 20 silos, and two additional silos in a previously constructed missile field at Fort Greely, Alaska. The MDA opted to defer 20 additional ground-based interceptors -- which carry an estimated value of $1.3 billion -- because they did not meet the entrance criteria for the redesigned kill vehicle critical design review.

A portion of the effort to deliver 11 boost vehicles for flight tests and spares, which is estimated at $474 million, will also remain under the undefinitized contract action at this time.

Additional work under the contract includes boost vehicle development, assets for labs and test events, development of ground systems software to address emergent threats, development and fielding of launch support equipment, expanded testing efforts, cyber security and other needed logistics.

Work on the contract, expected to run through December 2023, will be performed Air Force bases across the United States, including Vandenberg AFB in California; Schriever AFB, Peterson AFB and Cheyenne Mountain Air Station in Colorado; Fort Greely, Alaska; Colorado Springs, Colo.; and Tucson, Ariz.

The MDA, at the time of award, has obligated more than $26.9 million in fiscal 2018 and 2019 research, development, test and evaluations funds.

Boeing, which the MDA said was chosen because "no other companies would have been able to satisfactorily perform the required services without unacceptable delays in fulfilling the agency's requirements," is working with Northrop Grumman, Orbital ATK and Raytheon as subcontractors on the project.

Related Links
Learn about missile defense at SpaceWar.com
Learn about nuclear weapons doctrine and defense at SpaceWar.com
All about missiles at SpaceWar.com
Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com

Tweet

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

Northrop Grumman awarded $713M for missile defense system for Poland
Washington (UPI) Mar 15, 2019
The U.S. Army has awarded Northrop Grumman a $713 million contract to provide a missile system for Poland as the United States considers setting up a major military base in the former Communist nation. The contract is for the first phase of Poland's Wisla Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System, Northrop Gumman said in news releases Wednesday. Patriots are deployed in the system. Northrop Grumman will manufacture IBCS engagement operations centers and integrated fire con ... read more