ROY, Utah – Northrop Grumman Corp. has successfully conducted the Integrated Baseline Review for the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent engineering and manufacturing development program. It is a critical milestone that sets the performance measurement baseline and keeps the program on track for initial operating capability by 2029, according to Northrop Grumman information released on Wednesday.

GBSD is the next generation ICBM system. It will replace the Minuteman III ICBM system at Minot Air Force Base, F.E. Warren AFB in Wyoming and Malmstrom AFB, Montana.

“Meeting our GBSD commitments is paramount,” said Greg Manuel, vice president and general manager, strategic deterrent systems division, Northrop Grumman. “Our team remains focused on delivering a modern strategic deterrent capability to keep pace with 21st century threats.”

The Integrated Baseline Review occurs within the first 180 days of contract award to set cost and schedule baseline, identify and quantify risks, and ensure mitigation plans are in place when executing the program. Early in the review, Northrop Grumman and the Air Force collaborated to develop a common understanding about the project’s baseline as it relates to technical, schedule, cost, resource, and management process risks and their impacts.

Northrop Grumman was awarded the GBSD engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) contract in September 2020 to begin modernizing the nation’s existing ICBM system. The EMD phase includes full system design, qualification, test and evaluation, and nuclear certification. Upon successful completion of EMD, the Northrop Grumman team will begin producing and delivering a modern and fully integrated ICBM system to meet the Air Force’s schedule of initial operational capability by 2029.