Ogden Air Logistics Center at Hill AFB, Utah, has opted to pursue options No. 1 and 3 in the Propulsion System Rocket Engine Life Extension Program, awarding Northrop Grumman nearly $15.1 million on the ICBM Prime Integration contract, which USAF expects to extend Minuteman III readiness through 2020. The work includes refurbishing 96 propulsion system rocket engines and should be completed by October 2008.
A top Pentagon tech official called on industry this week to help the military develop “lighter, more efficient” directed energy weapons designed to go on aircraft and conduct special operations missions or down drones—areas where the Air Force’s directed energy efforts have been quiet as of late.