Brian Bradley
NS&D Monitor
2/6/2015
The Obama Administration is seeking $77.1 million in Fiscal Year 2016 for an apparent new classified Air Force facility overseas for the Long-Range Strike Bomber, according to budget documents released this week. The facility is described in the budget request only as “worldwide classified.” Like many other elements of the LRSB program, it is unclear what development stage the facility is undergoing and how long it has been funded, as many parts of the bomber’s budget are classified. An “Appropriation/Budget Activity” section of a FY 2016 Air Force justification document for LRSB states only “Actual schedule provided in Special Access Program Annual Report to Congress,” with a black strike through the budget section for FYs 2016-2020.
In the unclassified portion of the LRSB’s Future Years’ Defense Program (FYDP) funding projections, the Administration requested $2 billion for Long-Range Strike capabilities, including $1.2 billion for research and development on the bomber itself for FY 2016, more than the current appropriated amount of $913.7 million for the bomber. Funding for the aircraft is expected to steadily increase each year of the Future Years’ Defense Plan, peaking in FY 2020 at $3.4 billion. Aviation analysts and industry officials have backed up a Congressional Research Service report that has suggested the program’s funding stream indicates the LRSB is beyond the R&D phase. Northrop Grumman is competing with a Boeing-Lockheed Martin team for a contract to build the LRSB, with the Air Force is expected to award a contract sometime this spring.
Other Facilities Included in Funding Request
Maj. Gen. James Martin, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Budget, said during a Feb. 2 Pentagon budget press briefing that the Budget Control Act could drop facility sustainment funding, including that for the nuclear enterprise. Nevertheless, in addition to the classified overseas LRSB facility, the FY 2016 request includes almost $150 million for facilities at three Global Strike Command bases, including $95 million for a weapons storage facility at F.E. Warren AFB.
According to budget documents, the F.E. Warren facility would combine maintenance and storage operations currently spread among 22 facilities into a single facility to “minimize the effects of weather in operations, eliminate security deviations, recapitalize aging infrastructure and achieve economies of scale throughout the mission.” The main facility of F.E. Warren’s existing maintenance and storage complex started service in 1960. “Aging infrastructure needs massive overhaul to meet current standards and requirements,” the documents state. “The various missions related to the weapons are scattered which leads to inefficiencies in security and operations, making the mission more vulnerable.”
Current facilities don’t meet Defense Department security objectives, require “workarounds” to meet mission requirements, are inadequate in supporting ongoing intrusive weapons maintenance, and are driving up operations and maintenance costs, documents state. “Transverse cracking in foundations and structural elements are evidence of an increased risk of structural failure,” documents note. “There is a lack of space for munitions maintenance, admin, safety/security screening equipment, and general storage.” As of Jan. 1, 60 percent of construction is complete. The upgraded facility is expected to be completed in March 2018, after design started Oct. 5, 2012.
Request Includes Command and Control Facility at Malmstrom
The White House’s FY 2016 request also includes $19.7 million for a tactical response force alert facility at Malmstrom AFB to provide command and control, maintenance, and fueling capabilities for helicopters providing security coverage to remote intercontinental ballistic missile alert and launch facilities, according to budget documents. Over the FYDP, the service also wants to replace a missile alert facility for $10.4 million and has plans for an $11.6 million physical fitness center for the 341st Space Wing, which is in charge of much of the Minuteman 3 force spread throughout Montana. According to budget documents, Malmstrom AFB employs 7,709 personnel, and the Air Force expects the base’s numbers to drop to 6,673 by the end of FY 2019.
Whiteman Facility Included in MILCON Request
Also included in the FY 2016 Military Construction (MILCON) request is $29.5 million for a consolidated stealth operations and nuclear alert facility at Whiteman AFB, expected to be completed in October 2017, according to budget documents. As of Jan. 1, 15 percent of the work on the facility is completed, and construction is expected to start in March 2016. The project will destroy about 7,107 square meters including asbestos and lead paint, and will consolidate sortie generation activities into one facility. Air Force documents cite concerns with conducting mission planning, scheduling, flight records, weather and airfield operations in existing separate facilities, which “inhibits sortie generation and readiness.”
Airmen are currently using trailers in place of one decommissioned alert facility. “These trailers are literally double-wides on blocks and are vulnerable to inclement weather, pervious to high-decibel sound prevalent on the apron which deprives pilots of adequate rest, and are unhardened,” service documents state. “The new facility will provide adequate and secure sleeping and crew rest areas.” The 13th, 393rd and 110th Bomb Squadrons would use the updated facility.
