June 16, 2021
Plans to upgrade facilities for the new Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) program remain “on track” to stay within budget as part of the development of the Minuteman III replacement, Air Force Lt. Gen. Warren D. Berry told a subcommittee of the Senate on June 16.
“GBSD, where you will essentially be replacing one silo a week for eight years, is going to be a very complicated undertaking … so we are very grateful to the authorities we received from Congress,” said Berry, MP’s chief of staff for logistics. Technology and troop protection. “And I think these authorities that we have received have at least put us on track to meet the goal of meeting the costs and budget for the GBSD transition.”
Berry told the Senate Subcommittee on Military Construction that a major focus of the department’s military construction application this year is to upgrade its nuclear facilities. A total of $ 98 million was requested for GBSD facilities – $ 67 million at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, and the remainder at Hill Air Force Base, Utah.
But while GBSD stays on track and is well financially financed, Berry was also pressured by Senator John Hoeven (RN.D.) about the lack of MILCON funding for a new weapons manufacturing facility at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, would both be the B-52 bombers pick up the base as well as their land-based nuclear weapons.
“This is the only dual nuclear base in the country that operates in an older facility, so it seems to me to be of great concern. Can you tell me the timeline there? ”Asked Hoeven.
Berry said he could not give a specific date for construction to start, but noted the challenges of trying to build a facility for both bombers and missiles.
“It’s very, very complicated. The WGFs themselves are complicated and complex entities when you consider all the security standards that come with this weapon system, ”said Berry.
Minot also allocated more than $ 70 million in 2019 and 2020 to a consolidated helicopter facility to house, repair and operate the new MH-139A Gray Wolf helicopter, which will replace the aging UH-1Ns used in the Security in the Air Force used nuclear missile fields.
But while the MH-139A itself was delayed by FAA certification issues, there was also no construction on the Minot facility, though Hoeven said he “expected you all to break ground by now”.
The delay is due to higher-than-expected bids from design engineers and the service is looking at ways to cut costs, Berry said. If the contract is finally awarded, it will take around two years for the system to be completed.
Senator Jon Tester (D-Mont.) Also asked Berry about the status of a new weapons storage and maintenance facility at Malmstrom Air Force Base, that state. Approximately $ 235 million was approved for the project in fiscal 2020.
“In conversation with our planning and construction broker, we are currently assuming that we will be ready to place an order in spring 2022,” said Berry. “As soon as we have awarded the contract, we can start mobilizing and you can start the actual construction at this location.”
Comments are closed.