The first revamped Peacekeeper warhead (MK21 re-entry vehicle) has been deployed on a Minuteman III ICBM, according to a Northrop Grumman release. (We now find that the first SERV deployment took place in October 2006. The Air Force says it has since fielded several—actual number withheld—more.) The feat required a “major revision” on the Minuteman software, under the Safety Enhanced Re-entry Vehicle program. USAF expects to have its entire 500-strong MMIII fleet upgraded by 2012, extending the service life of the ICBMs to 2020.
Boeing received a $2.47 billion Air Force contract Nov. 25 for 15 more KC-46s, bringing to 183 the number of Pegasus tankers on contract to all customers, foreign and domestic. The new contract—for Lot 12 of the initially planned KC-46 buy—is to be completed by 2029.
