Pentagon Says Northrop Shares Blame for ICBM’s 81% Cost Increase
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The Pentagon and the top House Democrat on defense policy have called out Northrop Grumman Corp. for a share of the blame for a projected 81% increase in the cost of the new Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile program to at least $141 billion.
“Appropriate steps have been taken consistent with the terms of the Air Force’s contract with Northrop Grumman to address shortfalls in contract performance with a continued focus on accountability,” the Pentagon said in a statement to Bloomberg News. “Going forward, the government and industry will both have to be part of the solution.”