News

a missile in the dark night sky, white ethereal clouds surrounding it

May 21, 2025

Minuteman III test launch showcases readiness of U.S. nuclear force's safe, effective deterrent

BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. — A joint team of AFGSC Airmen launched an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile equipped with a single Mark-21 High Fidelity Re-Entry Vehicle May 21 at 12:01 a.m. Pacific Time from Vandenberg SFB, Calif.

A B-52H Stratofortress assigned to the 69th Bomb Squadron takes flight during Global Thunder 25 at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, Oct. 24, 2024. U.S. Strategic Command forces are on watch 24 hours a day, seven days a week, conducting operations to deter and detect strategic attacks against the United States and our allies. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Trust Tate)

Oct. 25, 2024

Team Minot remains ready during Global Thunder 25

MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. — Global Thunder 25, the most recent iteration of U.S. Strategic Command’s annual field training and command and control exercise, commenced here Oct. 15.

Under Secretary of the Air Force Melissa G. Dalton, Gen. Anthony Cotton, United States Strategic Command commander; Gen. Thomas Bussiere, Air Force Global Strike Command commander; and Lt. Gen. Andrew Gebara, the Department of the Air Force’s deputy chief of staff for strategic deterrence and integration, participate in the Nuclear Imperative panel at the Air and Space Forces Association’s Air, Space and Cyber Conference in National Harbor, Md., Sept 17, 2024. The technology exposition brings together Air Force leadership, industry experts, academia as well as aerospace and cyberspace specialists from around the world to discuss the issues and challenges facing America today. (U.S. Air Force photo by Chad Trujillo)

Sept. 20, 2024

DoD leaders discuss future of Air Force nuclear deterrent systems

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. (AFNS) — Senior leaders discuss strategic deterrence during a time of Great Power Competition.

A B-21 Raider conducts flight testing, which includes ground testing, taxiing, and flying operations, at Edwards Air Force Base, California. The B-21 will be the backbone of the service’s future bomber force, and will possess the range, access and payload to penetrate the most highly-contested threat environments and hold any target around the globe at risk. The bomber platform is being developed through the Department of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, which utilizes streamlined methods to develop, produce and field critical combat capabilities. (Courtesy photo)

Sept. 19, 2024

Air Force provides B-21 Raider program updates

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. (AFNS) — The B-21 Raider will incrementally replace the B-1 Lancer and B-2 Spirit bombers to become the backbone of the Air Force’s flexible global strike capability.

Fighter aircraft from the U.S. 8th Fighter Wing, Japan, and the Republic of Korea conducted a trilateral escort flight of a U.S. B-52H Stratofortress Bomber operating in the Indo-Pacific, April 2, 2024.

April 2, 2024

U.S., Japan, Republic of Korea Conduct Third Trilateral Aerial Exercise

For the third time following the historic trilateral summit at Camp David in fall 2023, fighter aircraft from the U.S., Japan, and the Republic of Korea conducted the third trilateral aerial escort flight of U.S. bombers operating in the Indo-Pacific, April 2, 2024.

Feb. 28, 2024

DoD participates in Singapore Airshow 2024

CHANGI, Republic of Singapore — The U.S. Department of Defense participated in the Singapore Airshow 2024 (SA2024) with an aerial demonstration by the B-52H Stratofortress and static displays at the Changi Exhibition Center, Republic of Singapore, Feb. 20-25.

Adm. Charles A. Richard, commander, U.S. Strategic Command, presented the Joint Meritorious Unit Award to Air Force Global Strike Command during a ceremony held at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, May 18.

May 19, 2022

AFGSC awarded Joint Meritorious Unit Award

BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. — Adm. Charles A. Richard, commander, U.S. Strategic Command, presented the Joint Meritorious Unit Award to Air Force Global Strike Command during a ceremony held at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, May 18. The award was presented to AFGSC in recognition of the command’s accomplishments during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic from April

Shown is an illustration of the LGM-35A Sentinel launch silo, the Air Force’s newest weapon system known as the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent. The Air Force determined the LGM-35A Sentinel would provide continuity in strategic deterrence and cost less than extending the life of the current intercontinental ballistic missile fleet, comprised of the aging Minuteman III. Replacing the 1970s-era missile modernizes the ground-based leg of the nuclear triad and brings the Minuteman’s more than 50 years of service to a close. (U.S. Air Force illustration)

April 5, 2022

Air Force’s new intercontinental ballistic missile system has a name: Sentinel

WASHINGTON (AFNS) — Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall approved the designation for the system that modernizes the ICBM leg of the Nation’s nuclear triad.

A B-52H Stratofortress prepares for takeoff from the flightline at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, Feb. 1, 2020, as part of a bomber task force mission. U.S. Strategic Command bomber forces regularly conduct combined theater security cooperation engagements with allies and partners, demonstrating the U.S. capability to command, control and conduct bomber missions across the globe. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Caleb Kimmell)

Feb. 11, 2020

Nuclear forces simultaneous operations demonstrate global strike capabilities

BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. – — February got off to a busy start for Air Force Global Strike Command, with a Bomber Task Force mission to the Indo-Pacific Theater, and an unarmed Minuteman III developmental test launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, taking place within days of one another.Airmen demonstrated that bomber and intercontinental ballistic missile

A UH-1N helicopter with the 40th Helicopter Squadron prepare to land during an integrated recapture and recovery exercise June 11, 2019, at an intercontinental ballistic missile launch facility near Simms, Mont.

June 13, 2019

Interagency exercise paves way for progressive training

MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. — Members of the 841st Missile Security Forces Squadron, 40th Helicopter Squadron, 341st Security Support Squadron tactical response force, 341st Medical Group and 341st Missile Wing safety, with support from the 12th Missile Squadron, participated in an integrated exercise, displaying the weapons and tactics used during a recapture and recovery of an intercontinental ballistic missile launch facility.