U.S. Air Force, Northrop Grumman test Minuteman III propulsion system rocket engine

HERNDON, Va., 8 July 2013. Northrop Grumman Corp. (NYSE:NOC) supported the designated product quality assurance (PQA) test of the Minuteman III Propulsion System Rocket Engine (PSRE), the liquid post-boost upper stage of the Minuteman IIIintercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), at NASA's White Sands Testing Facility in Las Cruces, N.M.

The full mission duty ground static test, conducted inNASA's altitude test cell, is performed to verify the quality of the PSRE after it is refurbished by the PSRE life-extension program (LEP). This test is the last of seven PQA static tests for the PSRE LEP program.

"The entire ICBM team, including our Aerojet and Boeing teammates and the Air Force, celebrate the success of this program as it comes to an end with this final accomplishment," says Tony Spehar, Northrop Grumman vice president and program manager for the ICBM Prime Integration Contract. "These PSRE tests have ensured the reliability of the nation's deployed Minuteman fleet."

A joint partnership between Northrop Grumman and the U.S. Air Force manage the PSRE LEP program, initiated in 2000. The program team is responsible for refurbishing the entire Minuteman III fleet of PSREs, extending service life through 2030. Upon completion of the program last month, 558 PSREs will have been delivered to the Air Force.