Fellow Missileers:
This month's dispatch contains updates on the cancer study, nuclear testing, and missile status with a funny story at the end. I hope you find these dispatch educational and informational with a touch of humor!
Missile Community Cancer Study Town Hall: Lt Gen Mike Lutton, AFGSC/CD, hosted a Missile Community Cancer Study on 9 October 2025. BGen Miller, AFGSC/A4, reported that the command is in the process of updating PCB data in all maintenance and civil engineering technical orders with updated protocols for handling PCBs in the LCCs and LFs.
There is now a five-year contract in place to deep clean LCCs, but they are working with 20 AF to adjust to a more frequent basis. There is also a contract in place to clean up identified PCBs across three wings. It is a two-year effort, remediating to “acceptable” PCB levels, even replacing panels where possible. Some concerns were addressed during the Q&A about whether this cleaning was effective and if touch contamination was possible. AFGSC noted they are working to adjust the contract and its processes to reduce any cross contamination. Additionally, all burning activities have ceased below ground and they are now conducting chemical emission burn tests using TDI labels and crypto tapes which will produce a predictive analysis to evaluate hazards and level of toxicity.
The study is far from over as they are still collecting data rates from each state to identify trends and patterns. However, as the Torchlight Initiative team continuously says, if you were exposed to PCBs, made sure your medical practitioner is aware so you can be tested and monitored.
AAFM Patch Gallery:Have you checked out our patch gallery recently? If you are ever wondering what is new in the gallery, there is a “Recently Added” tab at the bottom of the patch gallery that will show you the newest patches in the gallery.
Need a Good Read?? Nuclear War, A Scenario by Annie Jacobsen.
It starts with the nuclear attacks on Japan during WWII and goes through development of the SIOP to the nuclear winter which will result in an all-out nuclear war. The technical details of what follows a nuclear blast are frightening. The book is based on over 200 interviews with a former President and VP, former SECDEFs (Perry, Panetta), SECSTATES, DIA/CIA directors, STRATCOM commanders (Kehler), scientist who conducted early nuclear test above the atmosphere, ground bursts, and underground bursts, etc.
I think it would be a good read for any Missileers, especially old crew dogs.
Recently Announced: Our Commander in Chief has ordered the Department of War to resume nuclear testing but was later clarified to say no live testing would be accomplished. For many of you this announcement may have raised the question of how ICBM programs will be impacted by this.
"As you know, you go to war with the "army" you have"
Former SECDEF Don Rumsfeld
This quote was part of Rumsfeld's response to a question from a Tennessee National Guard specialist about the shortage of armored Humvees and the need for soldiers to improvise "hillbilly armor" from scrap metal. Rumsfeld made the remark during a meeting with U.S. troops in Kuwait who were preparing to deploy to Iraq.
BUT FIRST a note from the 20th Air Commander sent to our troops.
"To the Amazing Members of Twentieth Air Force,
The U.S. ground-based ICBM fleet is the longest standing, continuous nuclear alert force in the world.
No other country in the ‘Free World’ has a capability comparable to the Minuteman III.
No other U.S. military branch or platform has been at nuclear alert operations 24/7/365 as long as we have.
The people of Twentieth Air Force who keep the ICBM mission going have a long and rich nuclear heritage that stretches all the way back to the very foundations of the USAF. This is our shared heritage…it continues to write itself every day and it is better because of each of you.
On this milestone day where we commemorate 66 years of continuous on alert nuclear operations, we thank you for all you have done, all you continue to do, and all you will do to enable this consequential capability for our nation for years to come.
When we celebrate this milestone of continuous alert operations every year, Halloween should be a little less spooky for us, and a little more spooky for the would-be aggressor, because our teams keep the ICBM fleet strong, safe, secure, ready, capable, lethal, and sure.
On behalf of the Twentieth Command Team: Happy 66th nuclear alert-iversary."
So....below is a short status summary of the Minuteman Weapon System which is ready to go to war every day and the enemies we face.
Sources: The following information was obtained through an extensive AI internet search of several sites for all factors impacting select land-based ICBM programs of the world with emphasis on current status for the last six months.
The Path Forward
Despite the setbacks, the U.S. Air Force is committed to completing the Sentinel program to maintain the land-based leg of the nuclear triad. The Minuteman I missile was first placed on operational alert in 1962, with the 100th missile reaching alert status in January 1963. Don't underestimate our missileers' ability to do this with Sentinel or any other weapon system.
SEE: We Did it Before (Skip the 10 second commercial)
Sentinel planning and construction of support facilities continues at the three Sentinel Main Operating Bases (MOB) locations.
Program restructuring: The Air Force is restructuring the Sentinel program and acknowledged the need for revisions.
Contingency plans: The Air Force is exploring options to extend the Minuteman III fleet's service life, possibly until 2050, as a contingency plan in case of continued Sentinel delays.
Continued development: Northrop Grumman, the primary contractor, has continued development work on the Sentinel program throughout 2025, marking milestones such as testing the second-stage rocket motor.
The Minuteman III system is kept in service, and these are the challenges our people are facing and fixing. They are professionals!
MM III Operational tests continue: The Air Force has continued to conduct unarmed test launches of the Minuteman III to showcase the readiness and reliability of the alert force. This includes launches in February and May 2025. The Minuteman III has an average alert rate of 99.7 percent.
Age and obsolescence issues: Maintaining the 50-year-old Minuteman III fleet is becoming increasingly difficult. However it’s our people who keep the system ready for war. Its Minuteman III that provides the NCA the leverage they need every day to deter any aggressor.
Sustainment risks: A September 2025 GAO report warned of sustainment risks associated with the prolonged operation of the Minuteman III until 2050 and recommended that the Air Force develop a transition risk management plan. This is being done!
The Sentinel program faces major problems
Significant cost increases: The Sentinel program has ballooned to an estimated $140 billion, an 81% increase from its initial cost projection. The Air Force attributed the overruns to an unrealistic delivery schedule, immature system design, and the deteriorating ICBM industrial base.
Infrastructure issues: The project has been hindered by substantial construction challenges, including the need to build entirely new launch silos, rather than reusing or refurbishing the Minuteman III infrastructure as originally planned.
Schedule delays: The Air Force paused large parts of the program's development in early 2025, throwing the project 18 to 24 months behind schedule. Initial operational capability, once projected for 2029, is now slipping into the 2030s.
Cybersecurity risks: A 2023 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report identified significant risks in the Sentinel program's software development, citing its scale, complexity, and importance to nuclear deterrence.
Political scrutiny: The significant cost overruns and delays prompted a Nunn-McCurdy breach in January 2024, triggering a mandated review by the Pentagon. The issue has also led to increased scrutiny from Congress. Congressional anti-nuclear ICBM efforts include opposing the modernization and replacement of ICBMs. While at the same time U.S. adversaries are expanding their nuclear capable forces and using nuclear capable Intermediate Range Ballistic Missiles (IRBM's) against Ukraine.
So...What’s Happening With the Chinese Nuclear ICBM Weapon Systems??
New ICBMs: China has unveiled new ICBM designs, such as the DF-61, and continues to develop advanced variants of existing missiles like the DF-31.
Expanded arsenal: The U.S. Department of War estimates China's nuclear warhead stockpile is expanding rapidly, potentially exceeding 1,000 by 2030, a significant increase from an estimated 300 in 2020.
Silo construction: China has constructed thousands of new ICBM silos, including three large fields for solid-fuel ICBMs in Western China, and is also expanding silos for its older liquid-fuel DF-5 missiles.
Diversified delivery systems: China is developing a more diversified nuclear triad, with new ICBMs, extended-range submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) like the JL-3, and nuclear-capable bombers.
Increased readiness: The U.S. military expects China to deploy a larger portion of its nuclear force at higher readiness levels.
So...What’s Happening With the North Korea ICBM Weapon Systems??
New Hwasong-20 ICBM: A new, un-tested ICBM called the Hwasong-20 was unveiled at a military parade in October 2025, with potential future tests anticipated.
Solid-fueled ICBMs: North Korea has been testing solid-fuel ICBMs, such as the Hwasong-18, which are quicker to launch than liquid-fueled missiles, a development that is of particular concern to the United States.
Operational status: The Hwasong-17 and Hwasong-18 are now considered operational by North Korea, based on launch and deployment indicators.
Continued testing: North Korea has continued to test its ICBMs, conducting multiple tests in 2022, 2023, and 2024, and most recently in October 2024.
Improved capabilities: North Korea aims to improve the accuracy, reliability, and speed of its ICBMs, with goals to develop mobile launchers, solid-fuel systems, and multiple warheads on a single missile.
So...What’s Happening With the Russian ICBM Weapon Systems??
Modernization and exercises
Russia is conducting exercises with its Yars ICBM system, involving thousands of personnel and hundreds of pieces of equipment across multiple regions.
Despite some delays in modernization, Russia continues to emphasize its nuclear forces and maintains a large stockpile of nuclear warheads.
New missile development and use
In November 2024, Russia launched a new, possibly nuclear-capable, medium-range ballistic missile called the Oreshnik into Ukraine's Dnipro region.
Western officials are assessing the weapon's capabilities, with some suggesting it may be based on the RS-26 Rubezh ICBM and has multiple warheads.
The use of the Oreshnik has been described by Russia as a test and a warning, raising concerns about potential missile arms races. .
Now for something entirely different: Don't get your feathers in a fluff!
Vandenberg Air Force Base (now Space Force) used to be the full site of GUARDIAN CHALLENGE. The competition, now GLOBAL STRIKE CHALLENGE, was and still is a tribute to the maintainers, operators, security forces and operators who keep Minuteman safe and ready. This story is true, and but names have been changed to protect the innocent.
Timeframe: The final night of score posting for GUARDIAN CHALLENGE.
The scene: The Huey helicopter hangar on the flight line. The helicopter hangar was turned into a "war camp" with camouflage draped from rafters and the delicious smell of Santa Maria B-B-Q wafting through the air. Around the hangar were ICBM combat vehicles such as a Peacekeeper’, an M-Van, a TE, a PT and a machine gun equipped UH-1. It was mighty-fine display of ICBM warfighting. Everything was Spit-Spot clean. The UoD was BDU's, crew blues and flight suits.
The Issue: CINCSTRAT was the keynote speaker during final score posting. Earlier in the week the 30th Commander had inspected the hangar and noted that a large number of "Tweeting" birds were in the rafters and making a racket. The Commander called his Civil Engineer environmental staff to come over and develop a plan of action to remove the birds. Tweeting during a CINCSTRAT speech was not IAW STRATCOM standards.
The Response: This was a tough problem as California has a large number of "endangered bird species" such as Least Terns, Tricolored Blackbirds and others. So, the plan was to fill the rafters bird seed laced with a knockout drug. The birds would chow down on the seed and fall harmlessly into the camo netting then be removed. Some birds missed the netting and "smacked" into the ground. Some of them were just stunned and a few went to the big bird feeder in the sky. No endangered birds were killed.
The Results: It worked! The rest of the week most all the birds were removed except for some who slipped in and out every day. Tweeting was reduced to an acceptable STRATCOM level.
What Happened? The maintainers once again came thru with the best tasting, juicy tri-tip, slaw, and pinquito beans. As the evening pressed forward with chants of "postem, postem" some of the teams noticed several birds fluttering aimlessly down from the rafters behind the stage. When a bird dropped, a cheer came up from the teams closest to the stage. Finally, it was time to introduce the CINCSTRAT. As the CINC stood up and stepped toward the podium...one of the birds did a steep "Kamikaze" type dive directly into the leather chair the CINC had been sitting in. The bird bounced about a foot off the chair, and an unknown "hero" quickly walked out and removed the stunned bird. The response from the teams who saw it was a very loud raucous cheer. The CINC may have been impressed with the cheer, but who knows, it might have been for the bird? Guardian Challenge ended and the teams went back to the wings with boxes of Santa Maria strawberries and memories of the Guardian Challenge that almost gave CINCSTRAT the BIRD.
Have your bought your copy of Silent Sentinels? Only 600 copies left and there will not be a second printing! All proceeds go to our scholarship and museum grant programs!
Sincerely,
Jim
James F. Warner
Executive Director
