Mars Exploration News  
LM To Upgrade ICBM Reentry System Upgrade

File photo: Minuteman III missile.
by Staff Writers
Valley Forge PA (SPX) May 17, 2006
Lockheed Martin announced Wednesday it has received a $28 million contract modification from Northrop Grumman to provide hardware components for the full-rate production phase of the Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missile's Safety Enhanced Reentry Vehicle program.

The entire force of Minuteman III missiles is slated to be upgraded with the SERV modifications by 2011. With options, the contract modification's total value over six years will be about $104 million, the company said in a statement.

LM is a principal teammate on the SERV program to Northrop Grumman, the ICBM prime integration contractor for the U.S. Air Force. LM Space Systems, the principal designer and manufacturer of Minuteman III reentry systems since the 1960s, has designed and developed all of the flight hardware and ground support equipment associated with the SERV program.

LM Space Systems will provide the Electronic Command Signal Generator component and associated cabling that interface between the guidance and control system of the Minuteman III missile and the reentry vehicles. The company also will provide the flight hardware for attachment of the reentry vehicles to the missile.

LM's Valley Forge facility produces the Electronic Command Signal Generator, cables, attachment hardware and a complete suite of ground support equipment, as well as associated engineering and logistics support.

With SERV, the Minuteman III is now capable of carrying single Mark 21 reentry vehicles that became available from the recently decommissioned Peacekeeper ICBM missile force. The Mark 21 is a newer design with enhanced safety features.

"The same commitment that has led to success on the earlier phases of the SERV program will help assure a reliable ICBM force through full-rate production and beyond," said Les Lyon, LM Space Systems' director of Air Force reentry programs.

Community
Email This Article
Comment On This Article

Related Links
LM Space Systems
Learn about missile defense at SpaceWar.com
Learn about nuclear weapons doctrine and defense at SpaceWar.com
All about missiles at SpaceWar.com
Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com



Memory Foam Mattress Review
Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily
XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News


Hamilton Sundstrands Thrust Vector Actuation System Demonstrated In THAAD Test
Rockford IL (SPX) May 17, 2006
The U.S. Missile Defense Agency and Lockheed Martin successfully tested Hamilton Sundstrand's Thrust Vector Actuation system May 11 on the Army's Terminal High Altitude Area Defense missile.









  • Could NASA Get To Pluto Faster? Space Expert Says Yes - By Thinking Nuclear
  • NASA plans to send new robot to Jupiter
  • Los Alamos Hopes To Lead New Era Of Nuclear Space Tranportion With Jovian Mission
  • Boeing Selects Leader for Nuclear Space Systems Program

  • India Hoping To To Unveil Space Prowess Before NASA
  • China To Launch Satellites For Lunar Surveying
  • Scientists Working To Help Astronauts To Breath Moon Dust
  • NASA Announces Lunar Lander Analog Competition Agreement

  • Russia To Double Soyuz Rocket Output And Boost Glonass GPS Constellation
  • International Workshop Eyes Cooperative Solar System Exploration
  • Japan space sneakers are ultra-high heels
  • NASA Testing Heat Shield Samples For CEV

  • Trio Of Neptunes And Their Belt
  • New Model Could Explain Eccentric Triton Orbit
  • New Horizons Taking Exploration To Edge Of Sol
  • Xena Poses A Bright Mystery

  • The Pull Of Jupiter
  • Hubble Takes Sharpest Shot Yet Of New Red Spot On Jupiter
  • Hitting Europa Hard Could Have A Real Impact
  • Solar Wind Whips Up Auroral Storms On Jupiter And Saturn

  • Venus Express Reaches Final Mission Orbit
  • Venus Express Transmits First Images
  • ESA Spacecraft Prepares To Lift Venusian Veil
  • Europe Places Spacecraft In Orbit About Venus

  • Cassini Captures Another Stunning Saturnian Vista
  • The Sands Of Titan
  • Cassini Takes Sharper Look At Xanadu
  • Scientists Compile Huygens Descent Movies

  • Revolutionary Japanese LED makes light work
  • GLAST Team Working Toward 2007 Launch
  • Ariane Satellite Payloads Receive Propellants
  • System Could Enable Ultra-Precise Satellite Formations

  • The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2006 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA PortalReports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additionalcopyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement