On Sept 08, 2020, the U.S. Air Force awarded Northrop Grumman the GBSD Engineering and Manufacturing Development contract for the Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent competition to build the U.S. Air Force’s next-generation intercontinental ballistic missiles.

The worth of the contract is approximately $ 13.3 billion.  Northrop Grumman Systems will develop the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) to replace the Minuteman III (MM III) Intercontinental Ballistic Missile System.

According to the contract, the US Air Force will make a payment of US $ 85 million to the company for 2020.  Company will complete the work by February 2029.

LGM-30 Minuteman III, the Intercontinental Ballistic Missile System (ICBM) developed by Boeing; fired from a silo, powered by three solid-fuel rocket engines, with a range of about 10,000 kilometres. The missile, which entered into use in the most crisis period of the cold war, in the early 1970s, is one of the weapons that the USA relies on in terms of deterrence. The new system is planned to remain in service until 2075.