Officials at F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo., have installed a fast-rising secondary door on the launch facility trainer, reports TSgt. Daniel Cox. The addition makes the Wyoming facility the second missile base to receive the $417 million upgrade, which replaces 1960s-era doors with ones that close—despite their seven-ton weight—at a speed of 10 inches per second, as opposed to nine inches per minute with the previous system. Missile crews can secure access to ICBM launcher equipment rooms within 30 seconds vice the older system’s 20 minutes.
One of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems’ prototype Collaborative Combat Aircraft drones crashed shortly after takeoff April 6, and the company has paused its test flights while it investigates the incident.