OGDEN, Utah, Sept. 22, 2014 – Boeing [NYSE: BA] will continue to ensure the readiness of the nation’s Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) system with the development of a new Guidance Data Acquisition System (GDAS).

Under a $4.9 million contract awarded by the U.S. Air Force, Boeing will update and replace the aging GDAS, a key piece of equipment that tests the guidance system of Minuteman III. The improved GDAS will be specifically designed for nuclear hardness and survivability testing at Little Mountain Test Facility in Ogden, Utah, where Boeing tests radiation, shock and vibration, environmental and electromagnetic effects on weapon systems.

“As national programs unfold that are critical to affordably sustaining and modernizing Minuteman III until 2030 and beyond, Boeing remains committed to helping the Air Force keep its ICBM force ready,” said Peggy Morse, vice president, Boeing Directed Energy & Strategic Systems.

Boeing designed, built, integrated and modernized the NS50, the navigational heart of the ICBM, and is uniquely qualified to test its data acquisition electronics. Boeing has been the primary contractor for the operation and maintenance of Little Mountain Test Facility at Hill Air Force Base since 2007 and has supported testing at the site for more than 30 years.