On the recordJune 14, 2018
Mr. President, I rise to highlight an issue concerning the industrial base that supports the strategic TRIAD. Currently the Air Force is developing the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent or GBSD. This will be the Nation's new land-based intercontinental ballistic missile and will replace the venerable Minuteman Three. Nearly 50 years ago, when Minuteman was built, there were five companies capable of producing large solid rocket motors. The industrial base that produces large solid rocket motors for the Nation's strategic TRIAD has shrunk to two, and if the GBSD program is not handled carefully, it could soon shrink to one. With each new missile likely to have three large solid rocket motors, it is important to maintain multiple companies that can produce them. This problem was clearly identified in April 2018 when the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment released the Department of Defense's Annual Industrial Capabilities Report. I would encourage my colleagues to go read the entire report for themselves. The report can be found at http://www.businessdefense.gov/Portals/51/Documents/ Resources/2017%20AIC%20RTC%2005-17-2018%20- %20Public%20Release.pdf?ver=2018-05-17-224631-340.…





