(Reuters) – Defense contractor Northrop Grumman Corp said on Tuesday it was awarded a $13.3 billion contract by the U.S. Air Force to modernize the country’s intercontinental ballistic missile system.
The contract comes as the U.S. military embarks on a costly modernization of its aging atomic weapons.
The contract will span eight and a half years and include weapon system design and nuclear certification. The company will deliver a fully-integrated weapon system by 2029.
“The increased accuracy, extended range and improved reliability will provide the United States a broader array of options to address unforeseen contingencies,” said General Tim Ray, commander of Air Force Global Strike Command. (https://bit.ly/35hqKW0)
Boeing Co in December decided not to compete as a prime contractor to replace the Pentagon’s U.S.-based missile system, paving the way for Northrop Grumman to win the contract.
(Reporting by Sanjana Shivdas in Bengaluru; Editing by Krishna Chandra Eluri)
