Intercontinental Ballistic Missile - Dem/Val

Mission — Intercontinental Ballistic Missile - Dem/Val source

The Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) Demonstration/Validation (Dem/Val) program ensures the development of strategic capabilities in response to United States Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) Strategic Advisory Group, USSTRATCOM Commander Guidance, and the Defense Science Board Task Force on Nuclear Deterrence. ICBM Dem/Val provides responsive solutions to address emerging threats and issues through technology insertion and technology application for legacy and future ICBM systems, and other common strategic deterrent mission areas. The ICBM Dem/Val program conducts technology maturation and risk reduction activities for new capabilities to support Minuteman (MM) III sustainment, MM III-to-LGM-35A Sentinel weapon system transition, and future ICBM systems development. ICBM Dem/Val conducts advanced component development and prototyping to validate emerging strategic technologies and future upgrades to the ICBM enterprise. Efforts will identify methods to improve system performance, develop potential future Reentry Vehicle (RV) designs, mitigate evolving threats, reduce life-cycle costs, and develop/expand modeling and simulation. Additionally, ICBM Dem/Val will provide experimental platforms for weapon qualification activities, improving nuclear safety and surety and ensuring both the viability and durability of strategic missile systems. The ICBM Dem/Val program will develop key enabling engineering tools for the ICBM mission to include Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE), test software, and modernization of existing analytical tools. This program will leverage modular system, open architecture, and agile software development to build key enabling engineering tools and future upgrades to ICBMs. The FY 2026 request was reduced by 1.088 million for Advisory and Assistance Services to promote efficiencies and advance the policies of the Administration in alignment with Executive Order 14222, "Implementing the President's Department of Government Efficiency Cost Efficiency Initiative.” This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver weapon system capability. The use of such program funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program element 0605827F, 0605828F, 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605832F, 0605833F, 0605898F, 0606398F. In FY 2024 0M was expended for civilian pay expenses in this program element, and in FY 2025 0M is forecasted for civilian pay expenses in this program element. This effort is in Budget Activity 4, Advanced Component Development and Prototypes (ACD&P), because efforts are necessary to evaluate integrated technologies, representative modes or prototype systems in a high fidelity and realistic operating environment.

Mission — ICBM Guidance Applications source

The Guidance Applications Program (GAP) studies and assesses both legacy and future ICBM Guidance System technology applications. Efforts are focused on current and future requirements and technologies, reduced life-cycle costs, and increased nuclear safety and surety. Activities leverage the efforts of the science and technology community and are coordinated with the Navy strategic applications program to enhance synergy and avoid duplication. Key elements include developing responsive technologies with common applications for future strategic guidance capabilities. This program also includes any needed nuclear surety, certification, and system vulnerability assessments. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver weapon system capability. The use of such program funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program element 0605827F, 0605828F, 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605832F, 0605833F, 0605898F, 0606398F. In FY 2024 0M was expended for civilian pay expenses in this program element, and in FY 2025 0M is forecasted for civilian pay expenses in this program element.

Mission — Long Range Planning (LRP) source

The Long Range Planning (LRP) effort identifies, analyzes, and evaluates potential modifications to current and future ICBM Weapon Systems required to meet warfighter objectives related to executing flight tests, long-term sustainment, technology insertion, battle space awareness, employment, force structure, and future systems. The studies will focus on system supportability, operability, reliability, innovation, and maintainability. Options/concepts generated by these studies are evaluated for feasibility, system impacts, and cost. LRP supports and conducts testing in support of future weapon system development and deployment. Pre-milestone activities may be conducted for current and/or future ICBM weapon systems, which may include entry criteria for milestone activities enabling a rapid response to evolving warfighter priorities and emerging requirements. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver weapon system capability. The use of such program funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program element 0605827F, 0605828F, 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605832F, 0605833F, 0605898F, 0606398F. In FY 2024 0M was expended for civilian pay expenses in this program element, and in FY 2025 0M is forecasted for civilian pay expenses in this program element.

Mission — ICBM Reentry Vehicle Applications source

The Reentry Vehicle Applications Program (RVAP) ensures the ICBM force is equipped with the safe, reliable, survivable reentry systems, and explores options for common, multi-mission capabilities. The program enables a responsive engineering infrastructure by developing modeling/simulation and ground/flight test platforms to support reentry system qualifications. The program ensures the availability of long-lead components and materials while identifying life-cycle cost reduction opportunities. In addition, the program matures and tests advanced reentry system technologies and designs to meet future capability requirements. This includes conducting any necessary studies and assessing technology applications relevant to Mk12A, Mk21, Mk21A, and future ICBM reentry systems by maturing technologies and demonstrating/validating concepts and leveraging investments by the science & technology community and Navy reentry systems applications program. Testing may occur on a space-available basis on Air Force and Navy Force Development Evaluation (FDE) flights. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver weapon system capability. The use of such program funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program element 0605827F, 0605828F, 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605832F, 0605833F, 0605898F, 0606398F. In FY 2024 0M was expended for civilian pay expenses in this program element, and in FY 2025 0M is forecasted for civilian pay expenses in this program element.

Mission — ICBM Command & Control (C2) Applications source

The Command and Control Applications Program (C2AP) supports ICBM weapon system connectivity to the President and National Command Authorities. C2AP studies and assesses both legacy and future C2 system technologies. C2AP evaluates and develops assured, survivable, and secure communications and battlespace awareness between the missile Launch Control Centers and Launch Facilities essential for mission execution. Efforts include identifying and developing current and future technologies, as well as concepts that exploit state-of-the-art communications and information transfer techniques to both current and future ICBM systems. Products include studies, demonstrations, and tests such as ICBM Advanced C2 Capabilities architectures, networks, and systems to meet nuclear C2 requirements. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver weapon system capability. The use of such program funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program element 0605827F, 0605828F, 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605832F, 0605833F, 0605898F, 0606398F. In FY 2024 0M was expended for civilian pay expenses in this program element, and in FY 2025 0M is forecasted for civilian pay expenses in this program element.

Accomplishments & Planned Programs (4)