Hoeven Secures Strong Support for Nuclear Warheads to Benefit Minot Air Force Base in FY19
WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven, a member of the Senate Energy and Water Appropriations Committee, today announced that he has secured important funding in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 Energy and Water Appropriations bill to extend and refurbish nuclear warheads important to Minot Air Force Base missions and the nation’s defense. The legislation was approved this week by the full Senate Appropriations Committee and now goes to the full Senate for consideration.
“Our nuclear deterrent is vitally important given the threats we face around the globe,” said Hoeven. “This legislation provides important funding to extend the life of the cruise missile warhead, and to begin refurbishing the warheads in our ICBMs. Investing in these warheads is good for Minot Air Force Base missions and critical for our national security.”
Hoeven secured funding for vital nuclear upgrades including:
• W80-4 Cruise Missile Warhead: The bill provides $655 million for continuing work to extend the life of the W80 warhead, which currently flies on the air launched cruise missile (ALCM), based at Minot Air Force Base. The W80 will eventually transfer to the long range stand off (LRSO) missile scheduled to replace the ALCM in the 2020s.
• ICBM warhead: The bill provides $53 million for Interoperable Warhead-1 (IW-1), which is a program designed to refurbish the W78 warheads that currently fly on the Minuteman III ICBM. IW-1 will eventually transfer to the Minuteman III replacement missile at the completion of the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) program.
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