Northrop Grumman Corporation came to Cheyenne to partner with business for the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) program, the nation’s next generation Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) system.
Currently Northrop Grumman is one of two companies competing for the Air Force contract to modernize the weapon system. Northrop Grumman sent their team to Cheyenne to visit with local businesses and elected officials. During their visit they addressed how the local community and businesses can partner for the project.
“The purpose of this visit today is partnership,” said Russ Anarde, Corporate Lead Executive, Northrop Grumman. “This spirit of partnership demands that you stay in touch, and that’s why we’ve engaged with the Cheyenne community on an annual cycle. Today we’ve opened up that spectrum to include outreach to businesses that will be critical to delivering this capability, and being ready day one.”
The Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce has been working separately on efforts to have the United States Air Force select Cheyenne as the first missile to be upgraded in the process. This effort is championed by their Wyoming Business Advocates program. There are a total of three missile bases which need the upgrade; FE Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming, Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana and Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota.
