The U.S. Air Force Tuesday began dismantling 50 Peacekeeper ICBMs stationed at Warren air base in Wyoming (see GSN, Sept. 27).  The dismantlement should help the United States reach the maximum limit of 2,200 deployed warheads that the U.S.-Russian Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty dictates.

Air Force technicians Tuesday began removing 10 warheads from the first Peacekeeper scheduled to be dismantled, according to the Associated Press.  They sent the warheads Wednesday to an Energy Department site for storage.  U.S. officials plan to use the warheads to replace older ones on Minuteman 3 ICBMs stationed at bases in Montana, North Dakota and Wyoming, AP reported.

Officials plan to dismantle each Peacekeeper in sections because of its sophistication, Air Force Col. John Faulkner, commander of the air base’s 90^th Maintenance Group, said.  Technicians plan to remove one section per day from a missile, resulting in a 17-day process for each missile.  Each launch facility will be maintained as a nuclear site until the missile is completely deactivated, and then the Pentagon will decide what to do with it, Faulkner said.

“I honestly didn’t think this day would happen when I left the service in the early 1980s ... I’m delighted this day is here,” Air Force Secretary James Roche said during a visit to the air base.  The deactivation “is a reflection of how the world has changed and is adapting to a new era.  In that new era we don’t need as many nuclear systems,” he said (Sarah Cooke, Associated Press, Oct. 4).

For further information, see:

U.S.-Russia Nuclear Reduction Treaty Text (U.S. State Department)

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