Minuteman III
Minuteman III is a silo-based Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) with three solid propellant stages and a fourth-stage liquid propulsion engine. It has been the prime nuclear deterrent for the U.S. for the last four decades, and plans are in place for it to continue in this role through 2020.
The Minuteman III continues to undergo
a major refurbishment under the U.S. Air Force's Prime Integration
Contract led by Northrop Grumman Mission Systems. ATK is responsible for refurbishing all three solid propellant stages
of the missile.
The Minuteman III refurbishment program
began in 1998 as a joint venture between ATK and Pratt & Whitney.
All work was transitioned to ATK in during 2003 and 2004 following
a contract restructuring.
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