The Minuteman III weapon system is projected to be in service through 2030, and sustainment activities like those Orbital ATK is now performing on a Propulsion Subsystem Support Contract for the U.S. Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center, Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Systems Directorate at Hill Air Force Base, will ensure operational readiness through that time. Once Minuteman III is retired, the Air Force’s GBSD program will take over.
| 1962: Orbital ATK manufactures two of the three Minuteman I stages in Utah |
| 1965: Minuteman II increased-range missiles begin to replace its predecessor |
| 1970: Minuteman III, today’s current missile, begins replacing earlier versions |
| 1998: Minuteman III Propulsion Replacement Program (PRP) begins |
| 2009: PRP ends with 624 first and 506 second and third stage Minuteman III motors manufactured by Orbital ATK |
“The Orbital ATK team is dedicated to helping the Air Force with a smooth transition to the GBSD system,” said Charlie Precourt, Vice President and General Manager of Orbital ATK’s Propulsion Systems Division. “Minuteman III sustainment is a vital element of our nation’s defense and the Air Force is partnered with Orbital ATK to ensure that Minuteman remains safe, capable, reliable and responsive while beginning development of GBSD.”
As designs for the next generation ICBM are being matured, Orbital ATK’s experience has resulted in smart commonality, commercial practices, and shared facilities and workforce. The company has honed numerous capabilities that can reduce risk and shorten development timelines for GBSD. As an experienced flight system/launch vehicle provider, the company has integrated and launched flight systems at sites around the world, and advanced, common avionics have flown on more than 100 missions with 100 percent success. Including strategic missile targets and interceptors, Orbital ATK has developed, on average, two new flight systems each year for the past 20 years.
Orbital ATK has modern, automated facilities ready to support GBSD development and production. The company currently utilizes additive manufacturing, virtual reality and model-based systems engineering to design and build state-of-the-art rocket motors. In 2017, Orbital ATK’s solid rocket motors achieved 100-percent success on 16 flights and 11 static fires for a total of 64 motors fired.
In addition, Orbital ATK has significant experience building flight-proven composite structures like shrouds, interstages and motor cases. The company has also developed nuclear hardness and survivability protection for its structures, which will help ensure the success of GBSD.
With a long history of ICBM experience, proven expertise in flight systems and components, and the ability to share facilities and experienced workforce across programs to keep costs down, Orbital ATK is ready to provide the GBSD program with outstanding solutions throughout its lifecycle.
