After two separate incidents involving a lapse in security for nuclear weapons, the Air Force is changing its command structure for handling nuclear arms.
The lapses in security led to the firing of the Secretary of the Air Force in June. The new Secretary, Michael Donley, says the improved command structure will be called Global Strike Command, and will be led by a three star general.
The Air Force controls two of the three parts of the U.S. nuclear deterrent. The Navy handles the third, nuclear missiles that can be fired from submarines.
Donley said the Air Force had lost the high level of attention necessary to take care of its nuclear responsibilities, as evidenced by the nuclear weapons that were accidentally flown across the United States last year and the shipment of non-nuclear parts for nuclear bombs to Taiwan last year.
This new command structure returns priority importance to the care of nuclear weapons and technology, and will ensure such problems don’t occur in the future, Donley said.
The new command will be fully established next September, and will consolidate all nuclear-armed bombers and all land-based missiles under one command.
After two separate incidents involving a lapse in security for nuclear weapons, the Air Force is changing its command structure for handling nuclear arms.
The lapses in security led to the firing of the Secretary of the Air Force in June. The new Secretary, Michael Donley, says the improved command structure will be called Global Strike Command, and will be led by a three star general.
The Air Force controls two of the three parts of the U.S. nuclear deterrent. The Navy handles the third, nuclear missiles that can be fired from submarines.
Donley said the Air Force had lost the high level of attention necessary to take care of its nuclear responsibilities, as evidenced by the nuclear weapons that were accidentally flown across the United States last year and the shipment of non-nuclear parts for nuclear bombs to Taiwan last year.
This new command structure returns priority importance to the care of nuclear weapons and technology, and will ensure such problems don’t occur in the future, Donley said.
The new command will be fully established next September, and will consolidate all nuclear-armed bombers and all land-based missiles under one command.
