The Air Force intends to keep the Minuteman III ICBM fleet in service until 2030, per Congress’ mandate, but is already in the early stages of exploring a successor land-based strategic deterrent, said Lt. Gen. James Kowalski, head of Air Force Global Strike Command. A capabilities assessment is ongoing, and, next year, the command will conduct pre-analysis-of-alternatives work on future LBSD options, he told attendees of AFA’s Air Warfare Symposium last week in Orlando, Fla. Regarding the command’s nuclear-capable bomber assets, Kowalski said the command will push to install a new anti-skid braking system and new radar on the service’s B-52s, and install extra-high-frequency satellite communications capability on the B-2 fleet to enable beyond-line-of-sight, network-ready connectivity.
Air Force Searching for Savvier Sustainment
Oct. 20, 2020
The Department of the Air Force’s Advanced Manufacturing Olympics showcase kicked off this week with a look at where military sustainment has come so far and what more it has to accomplish. The event began over the summer, with multiple challenges where 64 teams can win up to $100,000 in…