Ground Based Strategic Deterrent

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Ground Based Strategic Deterrent
TypeIntercontinental ballistic missile
Place of originUnited States
Service history
In service2029 (proposed)
Used byUnited States
Production history
ManufacturerNorthrop Grumman
Specifications
WarheadW87 mod 0 thermonuclear warhead (300 kilotons of TNT (1,300 TJ))
W87 mod 1 thermonuclear warhead (unknown yield)[1]
Detonation
mechanism
Ground-burst and/or air-burst fusing modes
EngineThree-stage solid-fuel rocket
Guidance
system
astro-inertial + GPS
Launch
platform
Missile silo

The Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) is a future American land-based intercontinental ballistic missile system (ICBM) currently in the early stages of development.[2] It is slated to replace the ageing Minuteman III missiles, currently stationed in North Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, Nebraska and Colorado, from 2029 through 2075.[3][4] In 2020, under the Trump administration, the Department of the Air Force gave the defense contractor, Northrop Grumman, a $13.3 billion sole-source contract for development of the GBSD after Boeing withdrew its proposal. Northrop Grumman's subcontractors on the GBSD include Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics, Bechtel, Honeywell, Aerojet Rocketdyne, Parsons, Textron and others.[5][6][7]

History

In 2010, the ICBM Coalition, legislators from states that house nuclear missiles, told President Obama they would not support ratification of the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) with Russia unless Obama agreed to revamp the US nuclear triad: nuclear missiles that could be launched from land, sea and air;[8] in a written statement, Obama agreed to "modernize or replace" all three legs of the triad.[9]

A request for proposal for development and maintenance of a next-generation nuclear ICBM was made by the US Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center, ICBM Systems Directorate, GBSD Division in July 2016. The GBSD would replace the Minuteman III, which was first deployed in 1970, in the land-based portion of the US nuclear triad.[10] The new missiles, to be phased in over a decade from the late 2020s, are estimated over a fifty-year life cycle to cost around $264 billion.[11] Boeing and Northrop Grumman competed for the contract.[12]

In August 2017, the Air Force awarded 3-year development contracts to Boeing and Northrop Grumman for $349 million and $329 million, respectively.[13] One of these companies was to be selected to produce a ground-based nuclear ICBM in 2020. In 2029, the GBSD program is expected to enter service and remain active until 2075.[14]

On 25 July 2019, Boeing announced it would not place a bid for the program, citing Northrop's recent acquisition of Orbital ATK (now Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems), Boeing's supplier of solid rocket motors. Northrop signed an agreement to firewall Boeing's proprietary data after acquiring Orbital ATK.[15] The Air Force has since halted funding for the Boeing project, leaving Northrop Grumman as the sole bidder.[16]

In December 2019, it was announced that Northrop Grumman won the competition to build the future ICBM. Northrop won by default, as their bid was the only bid left to be considered for the GBSD program. The Air Force said that they will "proceed with an aggressive and effective sole-source negotiation" in reference to Northrop's bid.[17]

On 8 September 2020, the United States Department of the Air Force awarded Northrop Grumman a $13.3 billion contract to develop the GBSD intercontinental ballistic missile.[18] Work on the GBSD missiles will be done in Roy and Promentory, Utah; Huntsville and Montgomery, Alabama; Colorado Springs, Colorado; Bellevue, Nebraska; San Diego and Woodland Hills, California; Vandenberg Space Force Base, California; Chandler, Arizona; Annapolis Junction, Maryland, among other locations.[19][20]

Warhead

In March 2019, the W87 mod 1 thermonuclear warhead was selected for GBSD, replacing the W78 warhead currently used in Minuteman III. It is unclear if the W78 will be fitted to GBSD or if some other arrangement such as moving W87-0s to GBSD first will be made, but the estimated first production unit date was moved to 2030, a delay from the initial estimated entry into service date of 2027.[1]

Testing

GBSD testing would occur mainly at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, and at Vandenberg Space Force Base (VSFB), California, with missile launches from VSFB over the Pacific Ocean. Additional testing would be conducted at U.S. Army Dugway Proving Ground, Utah, U.S. Army Garrison–Kwajalein Atoll and within the territorial waters of the Republic of the Marshall Islands.[21]

Debate

Pro

Supporters of the GBSD include the Heritage Foundation, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, former Secretary of Defense Ash Carter and members of Congress in the "ICBM Coalition."[22][23] They argue that the current ICBMs, first introduced in the 1970s, have had their life extended long enough and need to be replaced with a modular system in which components are easier to replace or update. In defending the importance of land-based missiles, supporters say they are the least expensive leg of the nuclear triad because they do not necessitate large maintenance crews or incur expensive refueling costs, like nuclear-powered submarines. Additionally, they argue land-based missiles are visible reminders that the U.S. can strike back in the event of a nuclear attack, thus making them essential to nuclear deterrence.[24] In its annual 2021 Threat Assessment, the US Intelligence community said China was planning to double its arsenal of nuclear weapons over the next ten years in “the most rapid expansion … in its history.” It also warned that Russia may expand and modernize its nuclear arsenal. [25] One of the main supporters of the GBSD is Senator Jon Tester (D-MT), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense. In a March 21, 2021, interview with Defense News, Tester said, "“As of right now, I think it’s important that we move forward with the GBSD because I believe there’s still an important deterrent.”[26] Jennifer Granholm, Secretary of Energy in the Biden administration, told the press (4/9/21), "“We have to keep and maintain the stockpile to make sure that it is safe and effective, and we will continue to do that to ensure that we can deter nuclear aggression from other countries.”[27]

Con

GBSD critics include former Secretary of Defense William Perry, Daniel Ellsberg, Pentagon Papers whistleblower and author, The Doomsday Machine: Confessions of a Nuclear War Planner,[28] [29] the Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL), Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), Federation of American Scientists (FAS) and Peace Action. They argue the new missiles would not only be costly, but also dangerous, increasing the risk of accidentally launching a nuclear war.[30] Critics say ICBMs, which are supposed to act like a sponge drawing fire to the region, depleting Russia's nuclear power, could result in the deaths of more than 10 million people.[31] Physicist David Wright, former co-director of the UCS Global Security Program, in his report, "Rethinking Land-Based Nuclear Missiles" writes that submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) are as accurate, if not more, than ICBMs or land-based missiles, and are "virtually undetectable," making the ICBMs not only obsolete but sitting ducks in the five states that house ICBMs.[32] Wright concludes the vulnerability of ICBMs has prompted the Air Force to keep them on high alert, which is dangerous and could trigger a nuclear war.[33] According to William Hartung, author of Prophets of War: Lockheed Martin and the Making of the Military-Industrial Complex, a president would have only minutes to decide whether to launch ICBMs in a crisis to avoid the missiles being destroyed in a perceived first strike.[34] Ellsberg and Author Norman Solomon argue peace groups must oppose not only the GBSD but the entire land-based leg of the nuclear triad to reduce the threat of an accidental nuclear war.[35]

Polling

In 2020, the Program for Public Consultation at the University of Maryland, issued a report entitled “Common Ground of the American People," which was a compilation of studies conducted over the previous five years, collecting data from nearly 86,000 individuals who were polled on the GBSD. Sixty-one percent of Americans–including both Democratic and Republican majorities–said they supported phasing out the United States’ 400 land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles.[36]

Another 2020 poll conducted by the Federation of American Scientists and ReThink Media found a majority of both Republicans and Democrats favored alternative solutions to the GBSD, including extending the life of the Minuteman III ICBM. Over 800 registered voters were surveyed, with an oversampling of 200 registered voters in ICBM states: Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska and Wyoming. When respondents were asked, “What do you think the government should do about ICBMs?", 30 percent favored updating existing ICBMs rather than replacing them, 26 percent supported the GBSD, 20 percent preferred eliminating the ICBMs and 10 percent supported abolishing all nuclear weapons.[37]

ICBM Coalition

The ICBM Coalition in Congress, which lobbies for the GBSD, was able to limit the reduction of deployed land-based missiles to 50 in the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START).[38] As of May 2021, membership in the coalition included senators from states that will either house or develop the proposed GBSD missiles: Co-Chair, Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND); Co-Chair, Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT); Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY); Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT); Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT); Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD).[39]

Tester serves as Chair of the Senate Appropriations defense subcommittee. During a spring 2021 event hosted by the Washington, D.C.-based Advanced Nuclear Weapons Alliance, Tester said he was committed to keeping the GBSD "on track" though added there will be debate about the proposed new missiles during the 2022 defense appropriations process.[40]

According to the Arms Control Association, Caucus Senators received the following contributions from military contractors from 2012-2020: Romney ($645,000); Tester ($102,360); Barasso ($89,000); Daines ($85, 948); Enzi ($68,500); Cramer ($49,593). In total, military contractors have donated $1.2 million to the current members of the Senate ICBM Coalition and more than $15 million to the 64 members of the influential committees, the Senate and House Armed Services strategic forces subcommittees and the Senate and House Appropriations defense subcommittees, that can decide the fate of ICBM legislation. ICBM contractors are also engaged in lobbying representatives in Congress, with corporate backers of GBSD employing 380 lobbyists, according to the Arms Control Association.[41]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "W87-1 Modification Program". March 2019. https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2019/03/f60/2019-03-08-FACTSHEET-W87-1.pdf. 
  2. ↑ "Why is America getting a new $100 billion nuclear weapon?" (in en-US). 2021-02-08. https://thebulletin.org/2021/02/why-is-america-getting-a-new-100-billion-nuclear-weapon/. 
  3. ↑ "Why is America getting a new $100 billion nuclear weapon?" (in en-US). 2021-02-08. https://thebulletin.org/2021/02/why-is-america-getting-a-new-100-billion-nuclear-weapon/. 
  4. ↑ Johnson, Benji (November 10, 2020). "Ground Based Strategic Deterrent". https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IF/IF11681/3. 
  5. ↑ Kaplan, Fred (2021-03-10). "It’s Time for Biden to Stand Up to Tom Cotton and the Congressional Missile Caucus" (in en). https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2021/03/icbm-gbsd-missile-lobby.html. 
  6. ↑ "Ground Based Strategic Deterrent" (in en). https://www.bechtel.com/projects/ground-based-strategic-deterrent/. 
  7. ↑ "Northrop Grumman selects subcontractors for new ICBM missile system" (in en). https://www.upi.com/Defense-News/2019/09/16/Northrop-Grumman-selects-subcontractors-for-new-ICBM-missile-system/6561568654531/. 
  8. ↑ Hewitt, Kate (2019-01-17). "Experts discuss the politics of New START and strategic nuclear modernization" (in en-US). https://www.brookings.edu/blog/order-from-chaos/2019/01/17/experts-discuss-the-politics-of-new-start-and-strategic-nuclear-modernization/. 
  9. ↑ Kaplan, Fred (2021-03-10). "It’s Time for Biden to Stand Up to Tom Cotton and the Congressional Missile Caucus" (in en). https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2021/03/icbm-gbsd-missile-lobby.html. 
  10. ↑ "Boeing Ready to Design Next Generation of US Nuclear Missiles". http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Boeing_Ready_to_Design_Next_Generation_of_US_Nuclear_Missiles_999.html. 
  11. ↑ Kaplan, Fred (2021-03-10). "It’s Time for Biden to Stand Up to Tom Cotton and the Congressional Missile Caucus" (in en). https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2021/03/icbm-gbsd-missile-lobby.html. 
  12. ↑ "US Air Force set to replace intercontinental nuke arsenal". http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/US_Air_Force_set_to_replace_intercontinental_nuke_arsenal_999.html. 
  13. ↑ Aaron Gregg Washington Post (21 August 2017) "Pentagon narrows competition for the next big U.S. nuclear missile"
  14. ↑ "Boeing, Northrop Grumman receive development contracts for new ICBM". http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Boeing_Northrop_Grumman_receive_development_contracts_for_new_ICBM_999.html. 
  15. ↑ Marcus Weisgerber (25 July 2019). "Boeing: $85B Competition to Build New ICBMs Favors Northrop Grumman". https://www.defenseone.com/business/2019/07/boeing-85b-competition-build-new-icbms-favors-northrop-grumman/158695/. 
  16. ↑ "Aaron Gregg (Oct. 22, 2019) Air Force halts funding for Boeing's ballistic missile replacement". https://www.seattletimes.com/business/air-force-halts-funding-for-boeings-ballistic-missile-replacement/. 
  17. ↑ Sandra Erwin (14 December 2019). "Northrop Grumman wins competition to build future ICBM, by default". https://spacenews.com/northrop-grumman-wins-competition-to-build-future-icbm-by-default/. 
  18. ↑ "Space News". https://spacenews.com/northrop-grumman-receives-13-3-billion-contract-to-develop-next-generation-icbm/. 
  19. ↑ "StackPath". https://www.militaryaerospace.com/sensors/article/14183010/intercontinental-ballistic-missile-icbm-ground-based-strategic-deterrent-gbsd. 
  20. ↑ "Ground Based Strategic Deterrent" (in en). https://www.bechtel.com/projects/ground-based-strategic-deterrent/. 
  21. ↑ "Air Force releases environmental study on Ground Based Strategic Deterrent ICBM recapitali" (in en-US). https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2509117/air-force-releases-environmental-study-on-ground-based-strategic-deterrent-icbm/. 
  22. ↑ "Senate Coalition Highlights Value of America's Nuclear Missiles | U.S. Senator John Hoeven of North Dakota" (in en). https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/senate-coalition-highlights-value-of-americas-nuclear-missiles. 
  23. ↑ "Nuclear Triad: Supporting Voices" (in en-US). 2019-12-20. https://www.northropgrumman.com/cyber/gbsd-icbm/nuclear-triad-supporting-voices. 
  24. ↑ Morrison, Tim. "The Case for Modernization". https://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2021/01/20/gbsd_the_case_for_modernization_so_obvious_even_two_think_tankers_get_it_657204.html. 
  25. ↑ "Opinion | The wizards of Armageddon may be back" (in en-US). Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/05/06/wizards-armageddon-may-be-back/. 
  26. ↑ Gould, Joe (2021-03-01). "New Senate defense appropriations chairman talks nuclear modernization, defense cuts and earmarks" (in en-US). https://www.defensenews.com/congress/2021/03/01/senate-defense-appropriations-chair-talks-nuclear-modernization-defense-cuts-and-earmarks/. 
  27. ↑ cdemarest@aikenstandard.com, Colin Demarest. "Modernization of U.S. nuclear weapons is a must, energy secretary says at White House" (in en). https://www.postandcourier.com/aikenstandard/news/savannah-river-site/modernization-of-u-s-nuclear-weapons-is-a-must-energy-secretary-says-at-white-house/article_2a418e62-989b-11eb-90a9-a7c3604a2446.html. 
  28. ↑ "BOOK REVIEW: Daniel Ellsberg’s Essential Truths About Our Nuclear Age | Arms Control Association". https://www.armscontrol.org/act/2018-03/book-reviews/book-review-daniel-ellsberg%E2%80%99s-essential-truths-about-our-nuclear-age. 
  29. ↑ Kaplan, Fred (2017-12-04). "Daniel Ellsberg’s Memoir About Life as a Nuclear War Planner Would Be Terrifying Even if Trump Weren’t President" (in en). https://slate.com/culture/2017/12/the-doomsday-machine-daniel-ellsbergs-sobering-new-memoir-about-life-as-a-nuclear-war-planner.html. 
  30. ↑ May 4, Diana Ohlbaum |; 2021. "Cancel the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent" (in en). https://www.fcnl.org/updates/2021-05/cancel-ground-based-strategic-deterrent. 
  31. ↑ Eaves, Elisabeth (2021). "Why is America getting a new $100 billion dollar nuclear weapon?". https://thebulletin.org/2021/02/why-is-america-getting-a-new-100-billion-nuclear-weapon/. 
  32. ↑ "ICBMs are unnecessary, according to Union of Concerned Scientists | Union of Concerned Scientists" (in en). https://www.ucsusa.org/about/news/icbms-are-unnecessary-according-union-concerned-scientists. 
  33. ↑ "ICBMs are unnecessary, according to Union of Concerned Scientists | Union of Concerned Scientists" (in en). https://www.ucsusa.org/about/news/icbms-are-unnecessary-according-union-concerned-scientists. 
  34. ↑ Hartung, William D. (2020-04-14). "Now isn’t the time to push for nuclear modernization" (in en-US). https://www.defensenews.com/opinion/commentary/2020/04/21/now-isnt-the-time-to-push-for-nuclear-modernization/. 
  35. ↑ Ellsberg, Daniel; Solomon, Norman (2021-10-16). "To Avoid Armageddon, Don’t Modernize Missiles—Eliminate Them" (in en-US). ISSN 0027-8378. https://www.thenation.com/article/world/eliminate-nuclear-missiles/. 
  36. ↑ Korda, Matt. "Democrats And Republicans Agree: Phase Out Land-Based Nuclear Missiles" (in en). https://www.forbes.com/sites/matthewkorda/2020/08/12/democrats-and-republicans-agree-phase-out-land-based-nuclear-missiles/. 
  37. ↑ Mehta, Aaron (2021-02-05). "Majority of voters support ICBM replacement alternatives, new poll finds" (in en-US). https://www.defensenews.com/smr/nuclear-arsenal/2021/02/05/majority-of-voters-support-icbm-replacement-alternatives-new-poll-finds/. 
  38. ↑ "Inside the ICBM Lobby: Special Interests Or the National Interest? | Arms Control Association". https://www.armscontrol.org/act/2021-05/features/inside-icbm-lobby-special-interests-national-interest#endnote09. 
  39. ↑ "Senate ICBM Coalition - Summary from LegiStorm". https://www.legistorm.com/organization/summary/123159/Senate_ICBM_Coalition.html. 
  40. ↑ "Tester Says He Will Keep GBSD “On Track;” Ex-Obama Official Says GBSD ‘Vulnerable’ - ExchangeMonitor | Page 1" (in en-US). 2021-04-02. https://www.exchangemonitor.com/tester-says-will-keep-gbsd-track-ex-obama-official-says-gbsd-vulnerable-2/?printmode=1. 
  41. ↑ "Inside the ICBM Lobby: Special Interests Or the National Interest? | Arms Control Association". https://www.armscontrol.org/act/2021-05/features/inside-icbm-lobby-special-interests-national-interest#endnote09. 

External links




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