Members of the 5th Bomb Wing at Minot AFB, N.D., performed extremely well in their latest nuclear surety inspection, receiving the highest rating of “satisfactory” from Air Force Global Strike Command inspectors. “We were proud to show the assessment team our ability to provide safe, secure, and effective global strike and nuclear deterrence forces,” said Col. Doug Cox, 5th BW commander, in a statement provided to the Daily Report. From Aug. 11-20, the team of inspectors assessed the B-52 bomber unit’s ability to execute its nuclear mission. NSIs are extremely detailed and demand the highest standards of compliance and accountability. Cox said this rigorous inspection process is “part of the culture that recognizes the special trust and responsibility we have for the most powerful weapons in our nation’s arsenal. It remains a step-by-step, methodical process through which we continue to strengthen the nuclear enterprise.”
Lockheed Martin is taking a “home run” approach to self-funded research and development by going ahead and building full prototypes to show to the U.S. government, CEO Jim Taiclet said Oct. 20—a plan he hinted could apply to technology the company is hoping to shift to the F-35 from its…