US ICBM replacement to soon emerge, officials seek SLBM commonality

[Zarvan]

The Boeing Minuteman III ICBM was first deployed in the 1970s, though it has since been upgraded. Source: US Air Force
The US Air Force's (USAF's) plans for replacing the Boeing LGM-30G Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) are being formed now, and the solution could have some commonality with future US Navy (USN) submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs).

The Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) programme - previously known as Minuteman IV - is now undergoing an analysis of alternatives to determine specific attributes, Admiral Cecil Haney, head of US Strategic Command, told reporters during a 22 October breakfast meeting.

Once that is done the programme will move through the requirements process and eventually a request for proposals (RfP) would be released, perhaps sometime this year.

"In terms of commonality, I have signed a letter along with [USN acquisition executive] Sean Stackley and [USAF acquisition executive] William LaPlante such that we do look at a common approach where we can associate with a future missile," Adm Haney said.

ICBMs and SLBMs are somewhat different systems, but he noted that commonality is possible in the warhead - and some work on that has been done already - and common approaches are possible for certain components on the missile. "These are discussions that are starting, it's not matured but it's work that's ongoing right now," he said.

GBSD so far appears to be emerging as an iterative effort for replacing the ageing ICBMs, but maintaining much of the infrastructure and associated components. Some of this will be done through replacements or through upgrades.

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US ICBM replacement to soon emerge, officials seek SLBM commonality - IHS Jane's 360