A U.S. Air Force nuclear missile unit failed a "nuclear surety inspection" this month, the second to do so in 2008, Air Force Times reported today (see GSN, Aug. 4).
(Nov. 13) -
A Minuteman 3 ICBM takes flight earlier this month from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. A Minuteman unit failed an inspection this month, when guards displayed lax security over nuclear warheads (Lt. Raymond Geoffroy/U.S. Air Force).
The 341st Missile Wing at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont., inadequately defended the unit's nuclear-weapon storage area during the inspection, according to the Times. The base is home to U.S. Minuteman 3 ICBMs. Personnel did pass the missile operations segment of the inspection, a two-week drill completed Nov. 10.
Air Force inspectors are scheduled to come back in 90 days to verify that base commanders have corrected the deficiencies. Officials said no command shakeup would be made at the base.
"Air Force Space Command leadership believes that the right leadership is in place at the 341st Missile Wing to put the essential corrective actions in place,” said a Space Command release.
Nuclear-weapon personnel at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., failed a similar inspection earlier this year, but received a passing grade in August (see GSN, Aug. 18).
The routine inspections, typically conducted every 18 months, have drawn more attention in recent months following a series of security lapses involving nuclear weapons. In one case, ground crews at Minot unknowingly loaded six nuclear-armed cruise missiles onto a bomber which then flew to another air base. In another instance, Air Force personnel mistakenly shipped nuclear warhead fuses to Taiwan instead of helicopter parts.
The incidents led Defense Secretary Robert Gates to sack the Air Force's top leaders and demand a major review of the service's nuclear management practices (see GSN, Oct. 27).
The Air Force is scheduled to begin another nuclear surety inspection at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, S.D., beginning Dec. 3 (Michael Hoffman, Air Force Times, Nov. 13).