Workers began breaking ground near an old cruise missile facility at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., to make way for a new Falconer Combined Air Operations Center, scheduled to come online in July 2006. The new operations center will be the only continuously operational facility in the US, say Air Force officials. There are four Falconer CAOC weapon systems overseas. The $11.35 million facility will serve as the command and control location for Air Force South—the air and space element of US Southern Command.
The Air Force is conducting a detailed investigation of environmental hazards at ICBM bases as part of its broad study of cancer risks at the facilities. There is an improved understanding of the environment and factors that can affect the issue, as well as better technology and “access both to…