Article Posted on : - Oct 07, 2010

Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) system of USAF in which the Reentry Field Support Equipment (RFSE) will be fitted.

KING OF PRUSSIA, USA (BNS): Northrop Grumman has awarded a $106 million contract to Lockheed Martin to develop the next-generation Reentry Field Support Equipment (RFSE) for US Air Force’s Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) system.

Under the 58-month contract, the company will design, develop, test and deliver two sets of RFSE. Lockheed Martin will further manufacture additional 10 RFSE sets for deployment to all operational US Air Force Minuteman III wings under a follow-on contract.

The RFSE will replace the aging Minuteman III Reentry System Test Set (RSTS).

“This contract represents an important modernisation effort for the US Air Force’s Minuteman III reentry systems. Lockheed Martin is committed to provide highest quality hardware and systems engineering to US Air Force in support of the operational ICBM force,” Les Lyon, Director of Air Force Reentry Programmes, Lockheed Martin Space Systems company said.

The RFSE, which represents a substantial enhancement to the Minuteman III sustainment effort, will be used to support testing and maintenance of all Minuteman III reentry systems – both the Mk12A and Mk21 configurations.

The RFSE in conjunction with the recently deployed Safety Enhanced Reentry Vehicle (SERV) support equipment will provide a full suite of new support equipment for the US Air Force’s Minuteman III reentry systems.