Air Force Inks $86Mln Contract To Service Motors On US Nuclear Missiles - Northrop Grumman

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 18th January, 2019) The US Air Force has awarded an eight year $86 million contract extension to maintain all deactivated rocket motors for intercontinental ballistic missiles that are being stored at Kirtland Air Force Base in the state of New Mexico, the contractor Northrop Grumman said in a press release.

"The contract is an eight-year effort for ongoing aging surveillance for all deactivated Minuteman and Peacekeeper motors," the release said. "Efforts include component dissection, motor plugging, propellant properties testing and hazards analysis, as well as overall program support.

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Previously, Northrop Grumman has tested and maintained deactivated rocket motors since 1997, to ensure safe storage and flight reliability, the release said.

The United States deactivated its fleet of nuclear-tipped long-range MX Peacekeeper missiles in 2005 as a result of arms control talks with Russia.

Some deactivated rocket motors have since been used for satellite launches and to test missile defense systems.