DRS Technologies announced that it received a $25 million contract from the U.S. Air Force for the design, development and delivery of two Transporter Erector Replacement Vehicles to support the Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) Minuteman III fleet. If all options are exercised by the Air Force, the total program value for up to 26 mobile vehicles under this contract could reach over $92 million.
The Transporter Erector is a vehicle used for transporting, positioning and removing the Minuteman III booster at launch facilities at F.E. Warren AFB, Wyoming; Malmstrom AFB, Montana; Minot AFB, North Dakota; Hill AFB, Utah; and Vandenberg AFB, California.
The current Transporter Erector used by the Air Force was fielded in 1988. The Air Force Global Strike Command, overseeing this replacement, requires a modern and forward-looking system that will sustain booster handling operations through 2030.
The design and development of the first two Transporter Erectors to be used in system qualification are due to be completed in November 2015. If all production options are exercised, 26 Transporter Erectors will be delivered to the Air Force throughSeptember 2019.
"DRS will draw upon its 40 years of experience with system engineering, design, and production of mission-critical mobile shelters and transport trailers for the military," said Roger Sexauer , president of DRS Power and Environmental Systems. "The Environmental Systems Team has been supporting the Air Force ICBM program office for over 20 years and is committed to providing continued support to a critical part of the our Nation's strategic deterrent forces," according to Sexauer.