In a move to better manage the sustainment of the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles, Air Force Global Strike Command has taken over responsibility for buying missile systems parts, relieving the missile wing commanders of that budgetary burden. Effective Oct. 1, AFGSC is responsible for the day-to-day funding of the ICBM parts. “What happened before was that wings had to choose between whether or not to buy a missile part or buy something to support their people. That is a choice a wing commander shouldn’t have to make,” Daryle Fry, ICBM program analyst, said in an AFGSC release. With the change, missile technicians in the wings can order a needed part and the bill will be sent to AFGSC. “Wing commanders can focus more on their people and support structure and 20th Air Force won’t have to worry about advocating to command to find funding for parts,” Fry said. The new arrangement is expected to last a year before parts funding moves up to Headquarters Air Force, where sustainment of other weapon systems is funded.
Celebrating 100 Years of Liquid-Fueled Rockets
March 11, 2026
March 16, 2026, marks 100 years since Dr. Robert H. Goddard launched the world’s first liquid-fueled rocket. Over the past century, new and ever more capable liquid-fueled rockets have literally propelled humanity into space. Why liquid-fueled rockets?