Defence Online

Northrop Grumman to provide surveillance of retired Minuteman and Peacekeeper rocket motors

Air January 22, 2019

Northrop Grumman has been awarded a follow-on contract worth up to $86 million from the US Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center, Launch Systems Enterprise, Small Launch and Targets Division.

The eight-year deal will see the Company provide ongoing aging surveillance for all deactivated Minuteman and Peacekeeper motors. Efforts include component dissection, motor plugging, propellant properties testing and hazards analysis, as well as overall program support. In addition, the RSLP contract provides for special studies and additional component development or testing on an as-required basis. Northrop Grumman has supported RSLP solid rocket motor testing and analysis for all deactivated Minuteman and Peacekeeper assets ensuring safe storage and flight reliability since 1997.

Retired Minuteman and Peacekeeper motors are used for a variety of purposes, including government launches for the Minotaur series of rockets, Missile Defense Agency missions, test launches such as next year’s Ascent Abort-2 NASA Orion and Launch Abort System test flight, and sounding rockets.

Kent Rominger, Vice President, Strategic Programs, Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems, said: “We are honoured and very pleased to continue our support to the Air Force’s Rocket Systems Launch Program. Northrop Grumman’s long history of working with the Air Force and SMC speaks for itself – we’re very proud of our work on this effort.”

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Minuteman Northrop Grumman Peacekeeper US Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center

Post written by: Matt Brown