Daines commends Air Force progress in modernizing nuclear weapons

U.S. Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) commended the Air Force on Thursday for reaching a milestone in its Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) program.

Daines has promoted efforts to ensure that U.S. nuclear capabilities are prepared for 21st century warfare.

“This is great news for maintaining our nation’s ‘peace through strength’ strategy at Montana’s Malmstrom Air Force Base and the security of our nation,” Daines said. “We must ensure our nuclear capabilities are ready for 21st century warfare. I will continue pushing to guarantee we modernize our nuclear weapons.”

Daines previously led bipartisan calls for Defense Secretary Ash Carter to hasten the advance of GBSD program milestones and for Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation Director Dr. Jaime Morin to complete a cost estimate in a timely manner.

Additionally, Daines worked to include six nuclear modernization provisions in the Fiscal Year 2017 Defense Appropriations Bill. Those provisions included $12 million in upgrades for communication equipment and provisions supporting the GBSD program to replace Minuteman II missiles.

Daines and U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) recently argued in an op-ed published by DefenseNews.com that nuclear capabilities are facing a readiness crisis and actions must be taken to ensure U.S. nuclear deterrent remains credible.

“Quite simply, it is imperative that we ensure our nuclear capabilities are rapidly deployable, flexible to meet varying scenarios, and able to penetrate sophisticated air defense systems,” the senators wrote. “The land, air and sea legs of our nuclear triad each play a vital role in deterrence. The absence of one would create a gaping hole in our capabilities and invite increased aggression from both our near-peer competitors and rogue regimes.”