The Air Force notifies Defense Secretary Robert Gates about the mistaken transport of six nuclear-equipped cruise missiles from Minot AFB, N.D., to Barksdale AFB, La., aboard a Barksdale B-52 bomber. The Air Force began immediate investigations and, at an unprecedented news briefing on Oct. 19, acknowledged publicly that the Incident Involved nuclear weapons, terming it a Bent Spear.
In a nighttime ceremony contrived to continue concealment of many of its features, the new B-21 bomber rolled out of Northrop Grumman's Palmdale, Calif. plant Dec. 2. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the aircraft's advanced technology represents "deterrence, the American way."