Deactivation of Peacekeeper missiles begins

10/4/2002 - F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. (AFPN) -- On a blustery day in a remote corner of the plains of Wyoming, Secretary of the Air Force Dr. James Roche made a special trip to witness the first phase of the deactivation process of the Peacekeeper Intercontinental Ballistic Missile at Launch Facility S-07 near Hawk Springs, Wyo.

"It's a momentous point in history," Roche said. "It's a reflection of how the world has changed and how we are adapting to a new era."

At the height of the Cold War, the Air Force sought a missile design that would strengthen the ground-based leg of the strategic triad. Anti-ballistic missile submarines and bombers compised the other two legs of the triad.

The Peacekeeper design offered increased range, greater accuracy, and variable-yield warheads to capitalize on multiple, independently targeted warheads. The concept of this advanced ICBM began in 1972 under the Missile-X program, but was later renamed Peacekeeper in the early 1980s.

In 1988, Warren AFB became the first and only installation to operate, maintain and secure the missile, which is capable of delivering 10 independently targeted warheads. Fifty Peacekeeper ICBMs and five launch control centers are dispersed over eastern Wyoming, all operated by the 400th Missile Squadron here.

"This is the most accurate ballistic missile that was ever designed and fielded," Roche said. "And it did its job."

Gen. John Jumper, Air Force chief of staff, authorized the deactivation process, which officially began Oct. 1, in an implementer memo sent in September. In the memo, Jumper said the decision to deactivate the missile was prompted by the current world situation and the findings of the Nuclear Posture Review.

The deactivation is the first step of President Bush's stated goal to reduce the nation's nuclear arsenal from 6,000 warheads to between 1,700 and 2,200. Roche said Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin both verbally agreed to cut their nuclear arsenal without enacting a treaty.

"This is what two adult states who clearly are not hostile to each other do," Roche said. "I honestly didn't think this would happen when I left the service in the 1980s."

"I had the honor to be the wing commander here 10 years ago," said Gen. Lance Lord, commander of Air Force Space Command. "The secretary said he never thought he'd see this day, and I didn't either. But one thing that hasn't changed is the skill and professionalism of the people still committed to this mission."

The process to deactivate the Peacekeeper will occur over three years, but until the final Peacekeeper is pulled from its silo, the remaining missiles will continue to stay on "tip-top alert," Lord said.

The 90th Space Wing will continue to operate, maintain and secure 150 Minuteman III ICBMs and 15 missile alert facilities. The approximately 600 people assigned to the Peacekeeper will begin transitioning at the culmination of the deactivation.

Peacekeeper warheads, with their advanced safety features, will be installed on Minuteman III ICBMs as part of the Safety Enhanced Re-entry Vehicle program, allowing the Air Force to upgrade its Minuteman fleet.

"It's a different world," Roche said. "It doesn't mean it is totally peaceful, but I'm delighted this day is here."