Northrop Grumman Corporation : Northrop Grumman Supports U.S. Air Force Minuteman Missile Test Launch
04/20/2012| 12:34pm US/Eastern
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HERNDON, Va., April 20, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Northrop
Grumman Corporation (NYSE:
NOC) recently supported the successful reliability
testing of the United States Air Force's Minuteman III
intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) weapons system.
The Northrop Grumman led ICBM prime team includes Boeing,
Lockheed Martin, ATK and more than 20 other subcontractors.
The ICBM team is responsible for overall sustainment of the
weapon system including development, production, deployment
and system modifications.
"We are honored to be part of this ongoing ICBM test
process and the day-to-day deterrent mission the Minuteman
force provides to the nation," said Bill Carty, vice
president and general manager of Northrop Grumman's
Defense and Government Services division. "Northrop
Grumman has supported our nation's ICBM missile systems
program for more than 50 years and we look forward to
supporting the needs of the Air Force long into the
future."
The operational test was designated Glory Trip 203GM. The
test launch proceeded as planned with the missile traveling
roughly 4,800 miles in 30 minutes. The Minuteman III carried
a single Mk21 re-entry vehicle specially instrumented to
measure operational performance parameters such as in-flight
reliability and accuracy.
The re-entry vehicle landed on target in a pre-designated
area within the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test
Site near Kwajalein Atoll in the western chain of the
Marshall Islands. Operational tests, with the aide and
oversight of the 576th Test Squadron, were conducted by
maintenance and operations personnel from the 90th Missile
Wing at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo.
"The Northrop Grumman System Engineering Support team
executes critical support functions before, during and after
each Air Force Global Strike Command test launch," said
Tony Spehar, vice president and ICBM prime integration
contract program manager for Northrop Grumman.
"Successful operational test launches assess and
demonstrate the effectiveness of the deployed weapon system
and are critical to determining the health of the Minuteman
weapon system."
Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company
providing innovative systems, products and solutions in
aerospace, electronics, information systems, and technical
services to government and commercial customers worldwide.www.northropgrumman.com
for more information.
CONTACT: Bryce McDevitt
(703) 713-4584
Bryce.mcdevitt@ngc.com
Leah Smith
(703) 713-4616
Leah.smith@ngc.com
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