While there’s been no final decision yet, “the leading option right now” is for the Air Force to remove 10 operational Minuteman III ICBMs from each of its three missile bases in order to reach the ceiling outlined by the new US nuclear force structure, according to Lt. Gen. James Kowalski, Air Force Global Strike Command’s new commander. The Great Falls Tribune reports that Kowalski made this comment on Tuesday during a visit to Malmstrom AFB, Mont., one of the missiles bases. Like F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo., and Minot AFB, N.D., Malmstrom hosts 150 operational Minuteman missiles. The Obama Administration announced the new nuclear force structure last May. Under it, the US will maintain “up to 420 deployed ICBMs, all with a single warhead.” It also calls for reductions in the number of nuclear-capable bombers and deployed submarine-launched ballistic missiles. (See also No Minuteman Squadron Inactivation Planned from the Daily Report archives)
Boeing received a $2.47 billion Air Force contract Nov. 25 for 15 more KC-46s, bringing to 183 the number of Pegasus tankers on contract to all customers, foreign and domestic. The new contract—for Lot 12 of the initially planned KC-46 buy—is to be completed by 2029.
