US DoD awards $165Mln Johns Hopkins Physics Lab to modernize ICBM

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
26 Jul 2023 10:07

The weapon in question is the USAF LGM-35A Sentinel weapon system.

Previously known as the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD), the LGM-35A Sentinel is the US Air Force’s newest intercontinental ballistic missile (Wikimedia Commons/US Air Force)

The Pentagon announced in a press release on Tuesday that Johns Hopkins University was awarded over $165 million to develop support for the Sentinel Program with the aim of modernizing the backbone of the US nuclear triad.

The weapon in question is the USAF LGM-35A Sentinel weapon system, which was previously named the Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD).

The project aims to modernize the ground-based leg of the US strategic nuclear triad by replacing the old Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) force that has been deployed for over the past 50 to 60 years with the GBSD.

Minuteman III #ICBM loading process
seen at silo E9 / Minot field pic.twitter.com/ePPuye0vDO
— ben-reuter (@benreuter_IMINT) July 19, 2023

"Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory [of] Laurel, Maryland was awarded a $165,914,899 task order for Sentinel support," the release read, noting that the task order will ensure that cooperation will remain between the government and JHU/APL.

"This contract provides for the procurement of engineering, systems engineering for complex systems, research, and development of specialized functions," the release said.

It further said that operations will be taking place over the next three years in Laurel, Maryland. The expected date for completion is set for July 23, 2026.