Boeing has won a contract potentially worth up to $27 million over the next 42 months for the final production phases of the new personnel access hatches that the Air Force is installing at its Minuteman III ICBM launch facilities in Montana, North Dakota, and Wyoming, the company announced Oct. 20. Boeing has already delivered more than one-fourth of these 459 hatch systems, called fast rising B-plug kits, and will provide the remainder under this contract. First deliveries are expected in January. The B-plug kit provides an active delay device that allows personnel in a missile launch facility to rapidly secure the facility from any of multiple locations. Boeing is a subcontractor to Northrop Grumman for Minuteman III modernization activities.
Air Force Chief of Staff nominee Gen. Henneth Wilsbach said he'll give special attention to coordinating with the Navy on buys of new weapons like the Joint Advanced Tactical Missile.
