DoD Awards Johns Hopkins University $554M for Work Relating to Nuclear Enterprise

The U.S. Department of Defense today awarded Johns Hopkins University contracts to study the U.S. military’s nuclear weapons, and support its Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD).

“Johns Hopkins University, Laurel, Maryland, has been awarded a $530 million ceiling, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-type contract for research and development services in support of the nuclear enterprise. Johns Hopkins University has also been awarded the first task order for research and development services for $23.17 million to support the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent weapon system,” a U.S. DoD release today said.

These contracts provide research and development services in support of the two intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) systems.

The U.S. Air Force’s GBSD is the weapon system replacement for the aging LGM-30 Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile system (ICBM). GBSD represents the modernization of the ground-based leg of the nuclear triad.

In 2020, under the Trump administration, the Department of the Air Force gave the defense contractor, Northrop Grumman, a $13.3 billion sole-source contract for development of the GBSD after Boeing withdrew its proposal. Northrop Grumman's subcontractors on the GBSD include Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics, Bechtel, Honeywell, Aerojet Rocketdyne, Parsons, Textron and others.