Boeing’s Nuclear Deterrent ICBM Program Completes First Key Review

Boeing’s Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) program to replace the nuclear-armed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) completed its first key review with the U S Air Force.

The review validated program technical requirements prior to the design and development phase of America’s next intercontinental ballistic missile system, a Boeing release said.

The November review established the baseline for the GBSD, which will replace the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) and continue the nuclear deterrence mission for generations to come.

Boeing completed the System Requirements Review about two months after being awarded $349 million to mature the GBSD system design under a Technology Maturation and Risk Reduction contract.

Frank McCall, Boeing director of Strategic Deterrence Systems and GBSD program manager said, “We concentrated on modularity and affordability to enable efficient government ownership of the system through 2075 and beyond.”

Boeing’s design addresses the replacement of the entire ICBM system, including new flight systems, weapon system command and control (WSC2), and launch systems within existing Minuteman silos.

Now that the requirements baseline has been set, Boeing will move through a series of cost-capability studies, weighing affordability against configuration options to come up with a GBSD solution that is capable, flexible and affordable. Boeing will present its Preliminary Design Review to the Air Force in 2020.