People Make the Difference: Sustaining and Modernizing America's ICBM Enterprise

People Make the Difference: Sustaining and Modernizing America’s ICBM Enterprise

April 12, 2021

The nuclear enterprise is built on trust and experience. Sustaining and modernizing that enterprise is a delicate business. Darrell Graddy, president of Integrated ICBM Support Services, a joint venture company formed by Leidos, Amentum, and Apex, shares a vision for sustaining ICBM systems today and the imperative to modernize both the missile systems and the infrastructure for tomorrow.

ICBM Modernization and Sustainment

STRATCOM Boss: AI Useful, But Don’t Expect ‘WarGames’

Nov. 20, 2024

Gen. Anthony J. Cotton wants to use artificial intelligence to more efficiently process vast amounts of data related to America’s nuclear weapons—but when it comes to actually making a decision on what to do with those weapons, it will be always be a human making the call, he said Nov. 19…

Behind the Scenes of a Minuteman ICBM Launch with Three Test Warheads

Nov. 6, 2024

The U.S. launched a Minuteman III missile from Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif., at 11:01 p.m. Pacific Time on Nov. 5., in an important test of the weapon's ability to strike its targets with multiple warheads.

AI ‘Will Enhance’ Nuclear Command and Control, Says STRATCOM Boss

Oct. 28, 2024

The Pentagon nuclear command, control, and communications enterprise is decades old and desperate for an upgrade, says the head of U.S. Strategic Command, and artificial intelligence could help fortify nuclear C3 for its no-fail mission.

USAF Going ‘Line by Line’ to Slash Sentinel’s Rocketing Costs

Sept. 5, 2024

Air Force officials are re-examining the infrastructure overhaul that sent costs soaring over plan for the next-generation Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile upgrade.

China Halts Nuclear Arms Control Talks with US: Why and What’s Next

July 19, 2024

Earlier this week, the People’s Republic of China confirmed it is halting its nuclear arms control talks with the U.S., in retaliation for the U.S. continuing to sell arms to Taiwan. The move reinforces a “pattern of behavior” from Beijing, experts say.

Can JADC2 Help the Air Force Build a New Nuclear Command and Control System?

July 16, 2024

As the Department of the Air Force and the broader Pentagon plan out billions of dollars in spending to upgrade and modernize nuclear command, control, and communications, there are natural opportunities to build on work already done for the sweeping joint all-domain command and control (JADC2) effort, a top Air…

USAF ‘Absolutely Committed’ to Keep Minuteman Going While Sentinel Is Delayed

July 15, 2024

The Air Force will take steps to ensure its Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles can keep operating while the new Sentinel ICBM is delayed—but the moves won’t constitute a service life extension program, Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration Lt. Gen. Andrew J. Gebara said July…

Air Force C3/BM Czar, ICBM Modernization Boss Nominated to Be Major Generals

July 10, 2024

Nearly 20 Air Force brigadier generals have been nominated to pin on second stars, the Pentagon announced July 10, including the service’s acquisition czar for C3 and battle management and the head of a new office created to oversee the modernization of the Air Force’s intercontinental ballistic missile fleet.

Sentinel ICBM Survives Pentagon Review, But Cost Jumps 81%

July 8, 2024

The Pentagon certified the Air Force’s Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile program to continue despite 81 percent cost growth after a six-month review determined there are no other acceptable alternatives. Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment William LaPlante announced the decision, but did not say where the funds would come…

People Make the Difference: Sustaining and Modernizing America’s ICBM Enterprise

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