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U.S. Air Force: Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles and Bombers
The Air Force operates 525 (as of May 2004)
Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBM) of two types: 500 Minuteman III and
25 Peacekeeper. The latter is being retired at the rate of one missile every
three weeks a process scheduled for completion at the end of Fiscal Year (FY)
2005.
The Air Force also operates 115 nuclear-capable
long-range bombers (94 B-52H Stratofortress and 21 B-2A Spirit, of which 72 are
considered Primary Mission Inventory (PMI) aircraft (56 B-52H and 16 B-2A).
ICBMs
Fifteen years after the ending of the Cold War,
all ICBMs are maintained on high alert, ready to launch in moments. The high
alert rate also keeps the retiring Peacekeeper on high alert until the last
missile is take off line in 2005.
Under the START II agreement signed with
Russian in 1993, the United States pledged to download all of its ICBMs to
single-warhead configuration by 2003 (later delayed till 2007). The Bush
administration sought to reject such arms control agreements, however, and
following its 2001 Nuclear Posture Review and the subsequent Strategic Offensive
Reduction Treaty (SORT, or the Moscow Treaty) in 2002 instead plans to retain multiple warhead (MIRV)
capability on the ICBM force.
» See
analysis
"To MIRV or not to MIRV?"
The history of the Minuteman III and many of
its characteristics are described in an Air Force document "Minuteman Weapon
System History and Description" from July 2001, which was released under FOIA. A
copy can be downloaded from the right-hand bar.
Long-Range Bombers
The Air Force operates 94 B-52 and 21 B-2 bombers. The B-52 is
the only carrier of the Air Launched Cruise Missile and Advanced Cruise Missile.
The bomber is also certified to deliver the B61-7 and B83 nuclear gravity bombs.
The B-2 is certified to deliver the B61-7 and B83 nuclear bombs as well as the
B61-11 nuclear earth penetrator.
Fighter Bombers
The United States deploys over 400 nuclear B61 nuclear bombs
in Europe for delivery by U.S. F-15E and F-16C/D fighter bombers and NATO F-16
and PA-200 Tornado aircraft. Check out the report "U.S.
Nuclear Weapons In Europe." Tactical nuclear weapons were also deployed
in South Korea during the Cold War, but they have all been withdrawn (see
background brief).
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