The Defense Department on Tuesday announced a strategic force structure designed to comply with New START mandates, including the removal of 50 Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles from its silos, according to an April 8 Pentagon release. By Feb. 5, 2018, the US will have a total of 454 ICBM launchers in its deployed and non-deployed force, 280 submarine-launched ballistic missiles, and 66 heavy bombers, states the release. There also will be 400 deployed ICBMs and 240 deployed SLBMs. “This capable, survivable, and balanced force fully supports the President’s national security strategy and nuclear weapons employment strategy, and maintains strategic stability and deterrence, extended deterrence, and allied assurance,” states the release. (US Nuclear Force Structure fact sheet.) (See also Shifting Towards Equilibrium.)
Lt. Gen. Jason T. Hinds took charge of NATO Allied Air Command and U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa on Oct. 31, one day after being confirmed for the post by the Senate.
