The Pentagon has ordered Lockheed Martin and Raytheon develop new cruise missiles
Lockheed Martin and Raytheon received two contract independent of the Pentagon by $900 million to develop a new cruise missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead, according to Reuters.
As explained in the U.S. military, the new missile will replace the currently used AGM-86B sample 80-ies of the New weapons will upgrade the air component of nuclear triad of the United States, said the Secretary of the U.S. air force Heather Wilson.
Lockheed Martin said that the new missile will be launched from aircraft and be able to resist the modern integrated air defense systems and sound out of their zones of action.
In the next 4.5 years both companies will work on technology saturation and a reduction in risk for the rockets. When the work is complete, the U.S. air force will select one contractor for final development, production and installation of these systems.