In a conference call with reporters today, Gen. Lance Lord, soon-to-be-retired head of Air Force Space Command, said the decision to cut the nuclear missile force by 10 percent was made by US Strategic Command. He said that AFSPC, which has Title X responsibility to organize and equip the force, was not directly involved in the decision. The command did provide input to STRATCOM, he said, adding that whatever the STRATCOM commander “needs to do his job, we’ll deliver for him.” It remains to be seen whether the QDR-proposed cut of 50 Minuteman III ICBMs will stand. Senators late last year attempted to pre-empt the reduction when word leaked out early. Will there be another “save the ICBM” foray
The Air Force is launching an effort to develop a new stand-off missile with a range of 1,000 nautical miles, or 1,150 miles, that would eventually be used for both air-to-air and air-to-surface missions.