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USA Today
a day ago
- Health
- USA Today
Lawmakers want independent re-do of Air Force missile community cancer study
The Air Force started studying cancer rates in the nuclear missile community in 2023 due to pressure from ailing missile officers. Lawmakers may soon order an independent re-do of an ongoing Air Force study on possible cancer risk in personnel manning its nuclear missiles. A provision in the House's draft defense policy bill would, if passed, require the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to commission a study examining "occupational health and safety conditions" in Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile facilities. The sites include the underground alert facilities where Air Force missile officers spend long shifts prepared to launch in the case of nuclear war. The move comes after an independent researcher concluded there is an increase in cases of a rare cancer at an Air Force missile base in Montana, adding another wrinkle to a years-long push for answers. The new, congressionally directed research would also scrutinize the methodology and design of an ongoing Air Force study of the issue. The Air Force Medical Service and Air Force Global Strike Command, which oversees the service's nuclear-armed missile and bomber forces, began studying the missile community's cancer risks in 2023 after a Space Force officer compiled a list of cancer diagnoses at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana. The Air Force study's preliminary findings indicated troops in the nuclear missile community don't have higher cancer diagnosis or death rates than other active duty servicemembers or the general U.S. population. The official study's environmental surveys, however, confirmed the presence of polychorinated biphenyls − a likely cancer-causing chemical − in alert facilities at Malmstrom and at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota. And an independent assessment of self-reported Non-Hodgkin lymphoma cases at Malmstrom released in April found an increase in diagnoses among missileers. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Nebraska, submitted the independent study amendment, which cleared a key hurdle when it passed the House Armed Services Committee on July 16. Bacon told USA TODAY that a meeting with one of his constituents − an ailing retired missile officer − moved him to author the provision. "Let's make sure that we have some outside experts working with the Air Force," said Bacon, who is a retired Air Force brigadier general. "We want to make sure there's credibility and, whatever results come out, that we've done total due diligence." The Omaha-based representative added that the Air Force needs to learn what's wrong in the aging Minuteman III launch facilities before it builds new ones for the planned Sentinel ICBM. Air Force officials defended the rigor and transparency of their ongoing study in a statement to USA TODAY. "We welcome the opportunity of scientific and medical professionals to review Air Force studies and to provide comments," said Alana Miller, a spokeswoman for the Office of the Air Force Surgeon General. Miller emphasized the internal independence of Air Force epidemiologists conducting the study and their partnerships with external researchers who review their findings. The Torchlight Initiative, an advocacy group for missile community members, praised the independent study amendment in a press release. Torchlight has documented more than 800 self-reported cases of cancer and other exposure-related diseases among ICBM airmen and veterans. "There is an urgent need for ... thorough independent research, formal acknowledgement of likely exposures, and a sustained commitment to safeguard future personnel through enhanced environmental monitoring," the group argued. For the independent study to occur, the provision must make it into the final defense policy bill later this year. The House and Senate typically pass competing versions of the legislation before negotiating a compromise bill for the president's signature. Davis Winkie's role covering nuclear threats and national security at USA TODAY is supported by a partnership with Outrider Foundation and Journalism Funding Partners. Funders do not provide editorial input.
AllAfrica
09-06-2025
- Politics
- AllAfrica
US plans nuclear buildup to check and deter China, Russia
With the New START treaty set to expire, the US Air Force is gearing up to surge warhead deployments to outmatch and deter nuclear rivals China and Russia. This month, Air & Space Forces Magazine reported that the US Air Force is prepared to expand its nuclear arsenal upon the expiration of the New START Treaty in February 2026, according to General Thomas Bussiere, head of US Air Force Global Strike Command. Speaking at an Atlantic Council forum, Bussiere said that, if directed, the service could increase warhead deployments across its Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) and bomber fleet. The nuclear arms control treaty, which has been in effect since 2011 and has limited the number of nuclear launchers in the US and Russia, will lapse following Russia's 2023 decision not to extend it. Efforts to modernize US deterrence capabilities, including the Sentinel ICBM, have faced scrutiny due to soaring costs and delays. Lawmakers pressed US Air Force officials to demonstrate urgency in correcting the troubled program, which is projected to cost nearly US$141 billion and fall years behind schedule. Simultaneously, the US Department of Defense (DOD) is assessing the viability of expanding the B-21 Raider fleet beyond the planned 100 aircraft to counter growing nuclear threats from China and North Korea. House Armed Services Committee members remain concerned about funding priorities and nuclear force readiness, while Secretary Troy Meink emphasized that strategic deterrence remains paramount for national defense. Bussiere hinted that future adversarial developments might necessitate a more robust nuclear force posture beyond existing plans. Al Mauroni mentions in a December 2023 War on the Rocks article that the US could increase its readily deployed nuclear warheads beyond New START Treaty limits by utilizing warheads from the nuclear stockpile's active hedge, which are those that are not operationally deployed. Mauroni points out that this effectively means the US could 'upload' additional nuclear warheads onto existing missiles and bombers without building new weapons. Hans Kristensen and other writers mention in a January 2025 article for the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists that while the US currently deploys 400 Minuteman III ICBMs, each armed with one warhead, the missiles can carry two or three warheads each. Kristensen and others state that the Trident II D5 submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM) can carry eight warheads each, although they typically carry an average of four to five. In terms of bombers, a March 2025 US Congressional Research Service (CRS) report states that the US Air Force may require at least 200 stealth bombers to meet operational demands, particularly given the high tempo of Bomber Task Force missions and the reliance on Cold War-era platforms still in frontline use. Putting a number on the potential increase of US warheads, Keith Payne and Mark Schneider mention in an article this month for the National Institute of Public Policy that without New START limitations, the US Trident SLBM force could increase from an estimated 960 to 1,626 deployed warheads, while the Minuteman III ICBM force could increase from an estimated 400 to 1,000 deployed warheads, for a deployed missile force of 2,626 warheads. For bombers, Payne and Schneider estimate that the US could increase its stockpile of 528 air-launched cruise missiles (ALCM) to 716 to 784 warheads. However, the US nuclear triad is in dire need of modernization. Heather Williams and Lachlan MacKenzie mention in an April 2025 article for the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) that the US Air Force is currently looking to extend the lifespan of its Minuteman III ICBMs, which are decades past retirement, while its Sentinel replacement is hounded by budget overruns and delays. Regarding the US's undersea nuclear deterrent, a March 2025 US CRS report notes that the US operates 14 Ohio-class SSBNs, which are approaching the end of their service lives. The report states that the SSBNs were initially designed for a 30-year service life but were later recertified for an additional 12 years. The report notes that the Ohio SSBNs will reach the end of their operational lives from 2027 to 2040. While the report states that the US is building 12 Columbia-class SSBNs to replace the Ohio-class fleet, the lead unit is facing a 12- to 16-month delay, which could impact the timely replacement of the Ohio-class fleet. While Williams and MacKenzie note that the B-21 bomber program is on track, a June 2024 US Government Accountability Office (GAO) report states that the Long Range Standoff (LRSO) program, intended to replace the AGM-86 ALCM aboard US bombers, faces risks in schedule and cost estimates due to tight timelines and overlapping testing phases. It also mentions that while the LRSO program has made design progress and early manufacturing preparations, challenges remain in software integration and meeting nuclear certification requirements, which could affect the missile's timely deployment and operational readiness. Williams and MacKenzie assert that the US defense industrial base and nuclear enterprise have atrophied since the end of the Cold War, with decades of underinvestment and consolidation eroding its nuclear defense-industrial base, leaving it ill-equipped for renewed great power competition. When New START expires next year, the US must ensure its nuclear deterrent effectively dissuades both China and Russia from nuclear aggression, including if the two US rivals act together. Meanwhile, Russia is deploying new systems, such as the Avangard and Poseidon, and China is expanding its ICBM silo fields and maturing a true nuclear triad—thereby intensifying the arms race that the US appears to be struggling to keep pace with. In an April 2023 Atlantic Council report, Keir Lieber and Daryl Press mention that in a nuclear tripolar world with China, Russia and the US all fielding large arsenals, the US must deter two peer rivals simultaneously, each capable of massive retaliation. However, they point out that the US's current counterforce doctrine, which eschews threats to enemy cities while targeting military assets, requires a large, survivable arsenal capable of retaliating against one adversary while still deterring the other, thereby escalating the risks of an arms race. In addition, they argue that a pure counterforce doctrine increases force demands without improving deterrence. Lieber and Press propose a hybrid US nuclear doctrine, with counterforce options for limited scenarios but threatening countervalue retaliation targeting cities, industrial assets and population centers in extreme ones. They assert a hybrid doctrine would more credibly deter China and Russia while avoiding an excessive force buildup. With New START set to expire in early 2026, the US's nuclear future hinges not just on how many warheads it can deploy but how credibly it can deter two giants bent on intensifying their nuclear threats.
Newsweek
06-06-2025
- General
- Newsweek
Pictures Show US Minuteman III Nuclear-Capable Missile Hardware in Depot
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Officially released photos show special weapons system mechanics conducting maintenance on nuclear-capable Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBMs) boosters. This comes after U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command test-fired an unarmed Minuteman III missile from California on May 21. The missile traveled 4,200 miles across the Pacific Ocean to a test site in the Marshall Islands, demonstrating America's nuclear deterrent capability. Why It Matters The American ICBM force, consisting of 400 armed Minuteman III missiles deployed in silos and ready to execute nuclear strike missions, forms part of the country's nuclear triad, alongside ballistic missile-armed submarines and nuclear-armed bombers and fighter jets. The Minuteman III fleet, which has been on alert since 1970, has an official stated range of "6,000-plus" miles. Each missile is equipped with a single nuclear warhead, according to the Federation of American Scientists, but is capable of carrying two or three if necessary. The U.S. Air Force is replacing the decades-old Minuteman III missile system with the next-generation Sentinel ICBM on a one-for-one basis. The new system is expected to provide a "safe, secure, and effective" land-based leg of the nuclear triad through 2075. What To Know Hill Air Force Base in Utah released photos on Wednesday showing Minuteman III missile boosters undergoing maintenance at the base on Monday. The work was carried out by mechanics from the 582nd Missile Maintenance Squadron, according to photo captions. Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile boosters undergo maintenance at Hill Air Force Base in Utah on June 2, 2025. Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile boosters undergo maintenance at Hill Air Force Base in Utah on June 2, 2025. R. Nial Bradshaw/U.S. Air Force The base plays a central role in supporting the ICBM force by providing "programmed depot maintenance," one of the photo captions reads. The 582nd Missile Maintenance Squadron is responsible for maintenance, repair, overhaul, and modification of the Minuteman III fleet. Programmed depot maintenance is defined as the "inspection and correction of defects that require skills, equipment, or facilities not normally possessed by operating locations." Minuteman III missiles are deployed in silos across Colorado, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota and Wyoming. They are assigned to three operational units known as missile wings. The Minuteman III missile features a three-stage booster design that propels it from its silo into space to release its nuclear warheads. Each booster stage separates and falls away sequentially after burning out, the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation explained. The 582nd Missile Maintenance Squadron is also part of the 309th Missile Maintenance Group, a unit that provides storage for Minuteman III boosters and performs static firing and depot-level maintenance for the ICBM fleet, according to the website of Hill Air Force Base. Mechanics perform maintenance on a Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile booster at Hill Air Force Base in Utah on June 2, 2025. Mechanics perform maintenance on a Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile booster at Hill Air Force Base in Utah on June 2, 2025. R. Nial Bradshaw/U.S. Air Force What People Are Saying The U.S. Air Force said in a fact sheet on the Minuteman III missile: "Missiles are dispersed in hardened silos to protect against attack and connected to an underground launch control center through a system of hardened cables. Launch crews, consisting of two officers, perform around-the-clock alert in the launch control center." The Federation of American Scientists commented in its report on U.S. nuclear weapons on January 13: "Although the Minuteman III was initially deployed in 1970, it has been modernized several times, including in 2015, when the missiles completed a multibillion-dollar, decade-long modernization program to extend their service life until 2030." What Happens Next It remains to be seen when the U.S. will conduct its next test launch of the Minuteman III ICBM. In April, a simulated electronic launch was conducted at a base in Nebraska.
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First Post
22-05-2025
- Politics
- First Post
What is the Minuteman III missile that the US just launched?
The US Air Force successfully launched an unarmed Minuteman III missile from California, showcasing the strength of its land-based nuclear deterrent. As America transitions to the next-generation Sentinel ICBM, this test was aimed at highlighting the continued relevance of the ageing Minuteman III system read more An unarmed Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missile launches during an operational test at 12:01 Pacific Time May 21, 2025, at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, US. Image/US Air Force The United States successfully launched an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in the early hours of May 21, 2025, from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The test, which forms part of a long-standing series of routine operations, was aimed at showcasing America's continued reliance on and maintenance of its nuclear deterrence triad amid ongoing preparations to introduce the next-generation LGM-35A Sentinel ICBM. The Minuteman III, a key component of US strategic defence, has long served as the sole land-based missile in the nation's nuclear triad. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The recent launch was executed at 12:01 am Pacific Time by a joint team of Air Force Global Strike Command personnel. The unarmed missile, fitted with a high-fidelity Mark-21 reentry vehicle, was fired from Vandenberg and flew approximately 4,200 miles before reaching its target at the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defence Test Site on the Kwajalein Atoll in the Republic of the Marshall Islands. AFGSC Airmen & Guardians supported an operational test launch of an unarmed Minuteman III ICBM on May 21 at 12:01 am PT. This test validates the safety & readiness of the weapon system. Read here: | @usairforce | @SpaceForceDoD | @ArmySMDC — Air Force Global Strike Command (@AFGlobalStrike) May 21, 2025 According to US General Thomas Bussiere, commander of Air Force Global Strike Command, 'This ICBM test launch underscores the strength of the nation's nuclear deterrent and the readiness of the ICBM leg of the triad.' He added, 'This powerful safeguard is maintained by dedicated Airmen – missileers, defenders, helicopter operators and the teams who support them – who ensure the security of the nation and its allies.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD These tests are conducted as part of routine assurance measures and are not tied to any particular global incident. With over 300 similar launches conducted to date, they serve to validate the operational capability, security and accuracy of the US nuclear missile systems. What we know about Minuteman III The LGM-30G Minuteman III is a land-based intercontinental ballistic missile deployed by the US Air Force Global Strike Command. Introduced in the early 1970s, the Minuteman III was the first missile in the US arsenal to feature multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs). Originally capable of carrying three warheads, current configurations carry a single warhead, in compliance with arms control agreements. The missile operates using a three-stage, solid-fuel rocket engine, allowing for rapid launch readiness and reduced maintenance complexity compared to older liquid-fuel designs. This technological advancement enabled Minuteman missiles to be kept in a constant state of alert, a critical capability during the Cold War and beyond. An unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile streaks through the sky of Vandenberg in California, US, August 25, 2005. File Image/Reuters With a maximum range of approximately 13,000 kilometres, the Minuteman III is capable of reaching targets across continents. It stands 18.2 metres tall, has a diameter of 1.85 metres, and weighs over 34,000 kilograms at launch. Its reentry vehicles, particularly the Mark 21 variant, have yield estimates ranging between 300 and 475 kilotonnes and are guided by an advanced inertial navigation system with an accuracy of around 120 metres circular error probable (CEP). STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Each missile is housed in a hardened underground silo, connected to a launch control center via reinforced cables. Around-the-clock monitoring is conducted by dual-officer crews who maintain constant alert status. The system also includes redundant communication pathways, including the E-6B airborne launch control centers, which can assume control of missiles in the event of disrupted ground communications. About the recent missile launch The Western Test Range at Vandenberg Space Force Base serves as the primary hub for ICBM test launches. The operation was supervised by the 377th Test and Evaluation Group, the only dedicated US ICBM testing unit. US Colonel Dustin Harmon, who commands the group, highlighted the importance of the missile and the people who maintain it: 'Minuteman III remains the bedrock of our nation's strategic deterrent and the unwavering dedication of the Airmen who ensure its readiness are a testament to its inherent lethality.' Support also came from missile wings stationed at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming and Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana. Teams from these wings provided technical assistance and helped with system maintenance ahead of the launch. At the other end of the test, the Reagan Test Site in the Marshall Islands played a key role in collecting radar, optical, and telemetry data. These data sets were instrumental in evaluating the missile's performance during its terminal flight phase. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD US Army Lt. Col. Casey Rumfelt, range director at Reagan Test Site, highlighted its global relevance: 'Reagan Test Site is an indispensable national asset, uniquely equipped to support critical tests of our nation's offensive and defensive systems, including all Glory Trip missions.' What will replace the Minuteman III The Minuteman III forms one leg of the US nuclear triad, alongside the Trident II submarine-launched ballistic missiles and air-launched nuclear weapons aboard strategic bombers. This triad ensures that the United States retains the ability to respond to a nuclear attack from multiple platforms, enhancing deterrence through survivability and redundancy. Although the Minuteman III has performed reliably for over five decades, it is now nearing the end of its service life. The US Air Force plans to replace it with the LGM-35A Sentinel as part of the Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) programme. The Sentinel is expected to achieve initial operational capability by 2029, with a complete transition projected through the 2030s. Also Watch: During the interim, the US continues to invest in extending the Minuteman III's viability. Between 2002 and 2012, nearly $7 billion was allocated for upgrades to extend the missile's service life to 2030. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Air Force currently maintains about 450 Minuteman III missiles, distributed across missile fields in North Dakota, Montana, and Wyoming, with around 150 missiles per location. Col. Harmon stated, 'As we look to the future, these same Airmen are paving the way for the Sentinel ICBM, ensuring a seamless transition to this next-generation capability and the continued security of our nation.' A look at the history of Minuteman series The Minuteman series originated in the 1950s, with the goal of developing a missile system that could be launched at a moment's notice. Unlike earlier liquid-fuelled rockets that required lengthy fuelling procedures and were vulnerable to pre-emptive strikes, the Minuteman's solid-fuel design enabled it to remain launch-ready for extended periods. The first Minuteman missile entered service in 1962 as a second-strike deterrent. Over time, evolving threats and technological developments shifted the missile's role from targeting cities to striking hardened military assets such as enemy missile silos. With the retirement of the LGM-118 Peacekeeper missile in 2005, the Minuteman III became the only land-based ICBM in active US service. The US Strategic Command, in partnership with the Department of Defence and the Department of Energy, continues to use data from these test launches to guide force development and modernisation efforts. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Although modifications under treaties like START and New START have reduced the number of warheads per missile, the Minuteman III's design allows for potential reconfiguration should the global security landscape demand it. With inputs from agencies
Time of India
06-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
US air-sea platforms for nukes at end-of-service period: Report
This is a representational image MUMBAI: The cost to operate, sustain, and modernize current nuclear forces and purchase new ones in the US will shoot up to $946 billion over the 2025-2034 period — 25% higher than the 2023 estimate — which works out to an average of about $95 billion a year, according to the latest estimate of the US Congressional Budget Office The report released in April shows that the estimate includes $357 billion to operate and sustain current and future nuclear forces and other supporting activities; $309 billion to modernize strategic and tactical nuclear delivery systems and the weapons they carry; $72 billion to modernize facilities and equipment for the nuclear weapons laboratory complex; $79 billion to modernize command, control, communications, and early-warning systems, and $129 billion to cover potential additional costs in excess of projected budgeted amounts estimated using historical cost report states that the current estimate of costs for the 2025-2034 period is 25% (or $190 billion) larger than its 2023 estimate of $756 billion, which covered the 2023-2032 period. The report states that nuclear weapons have been an important component of US national security since they were developed during World War the Cold War, nuclear forces were central to US defence policy, and a large arsenal was that time, nuclear forces have figured less prominently in defence policy than conventional forces have and, for several decades, the US did not develop and field new nuclear weapons or delivery systems, choosing instead to sustain or extend the life of existing report also points out that the nation's current nuclear forces are reaching their end-of-service period. US nuclear forces comprise submarines that launch ballistic missiles (SSBNs), land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), long-range bomber aircraft, and shorter-range tactical aircraft capable of delivering both conventional bombs and nuclear states that over the next two decades, these legacy weapon systems will have to be refurbished or replaced with new ones if the US were to continue fielding those capabilities. In addition, it says, many of the capabilities that support those nuclear forces — including the command, control, communications, and early-warning systems that DoD (department of defence) operates and the complex of laboratories and production facilities that DOE (department of energy) operates — are slated to be report also says the Sentinel ICBM programme has encountered significant cost growth in recent years.
