Readers may remember the aggressive (and successful) fight waged by South Dakota Republican Sen. John Thune to save Ellsworth AFB, S.D., from the 2005 BRAC chopping block. The freshman legislator has been checking out potential new missions to add to the base’s B-1B bomber role. According to the Rapid City Journal, Thune spent two days out west last week touring Nellis AFB, Nev., and Edwards AFB, Calif., to see USAF’s new weapons systems. “We saw a lot of technologies that are emerging, … and they will be looking for basing opportunities,” he told the paper. Thune believes that the unrestricted airspace surrounding Ellsworth will be a big plus for future UAV missions or the Airborne Laser program. (That assumes ABL is still around in a few years.)
The Space Force is playing a key role in planning for “Golden Dome,” President Donald Trump’s initiative for comprehensive air and missile defense of the homeland, leaders said this week. But actually building and fielding the ambitious idea will require a major concerted effort across the Pentagon and intelligence community.