The 90th Missile Wing at F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo., is preparing to deploy a fleet of new half-ton four-wheel drive trucks to ferry missile crews and equipment to the ICBM fields surrounding the base, announced wing officials. “The current trucks are averaging around 190,000 miles each,” said MSgt. Adam Varga, 90th Logistics Readiness Squadron vehicle supervisor, in the Dec. 12 base release. Air Force Global Strike Command is recapitalizing the vehicle fleets at each of its three ICBM wings, which include the 91st MW at Minot AFB, N.D., and the 341st MW at Malmstrom AFB, Mont., in addition to F.E. Warren. The command has delivered 48 of the 95 planned vehicles as part of its Force Improvement Program. “When the older vehicles have to haul up to four people out at a time, plus all of the winter and survival gear, it can overload the vehicle,” added Art Nyberg, Minot’s vehicle maintenance manager. “The new pickups … are a lot safer for the airmen and a much better fit for our mission,” he said.
U.S. munitions have been expended at a high rate during Operation Epic Fury against Iran, prompting concerns that the Pentagon is eating into weapons stockpiles it needs to deter threats around the world. Yet the newly released $1.5 trillion defense budget request was developed before the war against Iran and…