Northrop Grumman officials say the recent static test fire of a technology demonstrator motor for the Minuteman III ICBM was successful and heralds arrival of a motor that could “greatly improve performance, range, and affordability” of the MMIII. Northrop credited teammate Alliant Tech Systems with designing and building the motor, as part of more than 50 programs managed by Northrop to aid USAF improvements to the nation’s lone ICBM.
The Air Force is launching an effort to develop a new stand-off missile with a range of 1,000 nautical miles, or 1,150 miles, that would eventually be used for both air-to-air and air-to-surface missions.