Boeing announced it is no longer going to participate in the process to replace the US Minuteman III ICBM system with a new Ground Based Strategic Deterrent.
This leaves Northrop Grumman as the only company still seeking to build this new generation of nuclear weapons for the US.
Boeing cited concerns with the procurement process for the new missiles, especially as Northrop Grumman’s acquisition of Orbital ATK last year gives it an advantage in procuring solid rocket motors. Orbital ATK, now known as Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems, is one of two producers of solid rocket motors (Aerojet Rocketdyne is the other) and currently holds a number of contracts related to the Minuteman III system.
According to reporting by Defense News, it would be be unusual for the Air Force to move forward with only one company competing for this multi-billion dollar project.
While this may delay the GBSD project, and cause numerous cost overruns, there are so far no signals that this Boeing decision will cause an outright cancellation of the project.
Boeing continues to produce other components for nuclear weapons- including the B-61 gravity bomb, the Minuteman III ICBM and the Trident II (D5) system.