Brian Bradley
NS&D Monitor
1/30/2015
After repairs, all 17 work cages at Malmstrom AFB required for almost every maintenance task in Minuteman 3 facilities’ launch tubes became operational on Jan. 14, according to a Jan. 26 announcement by Malmstrom. Recently, a diminishing supply of replacement parts for the work cages—called guided missile maintenance platforms (GMMP)—and stress fractures in cast aluminum GMMP motor support frames presented a challenge in maintaining the minimum of 12 operable GMMP units required for daily Minuteman 3 maintenance and training requirements, according to a press release. The 341st Missile Wing’s mechanical and pneudraulics section (MAPS) inspects, certifies, and repairs the GMMPs’ mechanical components and the wing’s power, refrigeration and electrical laboratory (PREL) repairs electrical components of the work cages.
Work cages are used to repair almost everything on a Minuteman 3’s underground launch tube, spanning from components at the top of the missile to sump pumps at the tube’s base. At launch facilities, GMMPs’ motors are locked into a rail on the top of the tube, and a two-person basket is suspended from the motor by cables. The work cages allow technicians to work on the missile up to 70 feet from the bottom of the launch tube. With 17 operational GMMPs, the equipment can be rotated for use instead of used constantly, which officials hope will reduce wear and tear, according to the release. Crews also no longer must rush to repair out-of-service work cages for same-day use, freeing up more time to thoroughly inspect the cages. Officials hope technicians can more proactively and quickly sustain the GMMPs, according to the release. “Instead of being reactionary, now we’ll flip modes and as stuff breaks we’ll fix it instead of trying to play catch up all the time,” said Master Sgt. Jorge Murillo, the Non-Commissioned Officer who oversees PREL.
