BAE awarded $45.2 million ICBM contract

July 21 (UPI) -- BAE Systems has received a $45.2 million modification to an existing contract for development work on the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent intercontinental ballistic missile replacement program, the Department of Defense announced Thursday.

The modification provides for planning, management, integration and engineering services for GBSM development.

Work will be conducted at Hill Air Force Base in Utah with an expected completion date of July 23, 2018. Air Force 2016-17 research, development, test and evaluation funds of $6.4 million have been obligated with the remainder to be incrementally provided.

The Ground Based Strategic Deterrence program is the U.S. Air Force's effort to replace the venerable LGM-30 Minuteman III ICBM which is nearing the end of its lifespan.

Upgrades of the Minuteman series of ICBMs have been in service since the early 1960's and much of its components are more than 50 years old and making replacement necessary.

The GBSM program is still in its early stages and is expected to start entering service in 2027 and is planned to be in service until 2075.

The current Minuteman III is an underground silo-launched armed with nuclear warheads with up to a 350 kiloton yield. It has a range of well over 6,000 miles with the exact maximum range classified.

The missiles can carry up to three multiple independent reentry vehicle warheads but is restricted to one per missile by treaty. There are currently 450 of the ICBMs in U.S. service.