The Air Force has decided that it will take a planned reduction of 50 of its 500 Minuteman missiles from Malmstrom AFB, Mont., reports the Great Falls Tribune. Since the Quadrennial Defense Review revealed Pentagon plans to downsize the Minuteman force, Malmstrom’s 564th Missile Squadron has been considered the likely candidate because it operates a unique missile system, requiring different training and support from Air Force Space Command’s other missile units. Last year, Congress declared that USAF must justify the reduction, and, according to the Tribune, the Air Force turned over its classified report last month, with a response period that ends April 15. The Air Force told the Great Falls newspaper that it would not begin removing the ICBMs before May 23.
An important U.S. Air Force E-3 Sentry AWACS command and control plane was among the aircraft damaged in a March 27 Iranian missile and drone attack on Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, people familiar with the matter told Air & Space Forces Magazine.