Lockheed Martin will compete for GBSD contract from office at HAFB

Aerospace industry giant Lockheed Martin will base its new Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) program at the Falcon Hill National Aerospace Research Park at Hill Air Force Base, the company announced recently. The company made the announcement with the Governor’s Office of Economic Development at a lease signing ceremony with Woodbury Corp., the developer of Falcon Hill.

Aerospace industry giant Lockheed Martin will base its new Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) program at the Falcon Hill National Aerospace Research Park at Hill Air Force Base, the company announced recently. The company made the announcement with the Governor’s Office of Economic Development at a lease signing ceremony with Woodbury Corp., the developer of Falcon Hill.

The GBSD program is a competition to replace the Air Force’s Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) system with a modern and capable integrated weapon system. Lockheed Martin is in competition with Northrop Grumman and Boeing to lead the development of the system.

“Our GBSD program management team will work and live in Utah because the Hill Air Force Base community matters to the ICBM mission,” said John Karas, Lockheed Martin vice president and GBSD program manager. “We look forward to moving into this state-of-the art facility and building partnerships across the state to deliver a capable, low-risk GBSD solution that meets all mission requirements.”

Lockheed Martin employees in Utah currently work on Minuteman III sustainment programs and aircraft like the F-35 Lightning II and F-22 Raptor in the Hill Air Force Base area.

The company participated in the first Rural Utah Aerospace Tour earlier this month. The goal of the event, sponsored by the Aerospace States Association Utah Chapter and the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, was to learn about the capabilities of local businesses and potential supplier opportunities. The group also visited local schools during the tour to share information about careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Lockheed Martin submitted a proposal to the Air Force for the Technology Maturation and Risk Reduction phase of GBSD on Oct. 11. Lockheed Martin expects to occupy the building beginning in August 2017.

Lockheed Martin has also announced its partners for the GBSD program. Joining the effort at HAFB will be General Dynamics for weapon system command and control; Draper Laboratories for guidance, navigation and control; Moog for thrust vector control systems; Bechtel for launch facility expertise; Orbital ATK for propulsion subsystems; and Aerojet Rocketdyne for propulsion subsystems.