MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. —
The 91st Missile Wing efficiently carried out its biennial Simulated Digital Launch Minuteman (SELM) check, the primary part of testing for the Minuteman III, at Minot Air Power Base, North Dakota, on September seventeenth and 18th, 2024.
“This 12 months’s SELM, named OPERATION GIANT PACE 24-2M, was carried out to guage the readiness and reliability of the MMIII ICBM system,” stated 1st Lt. Ivan Cruz, 91MW Upkeep Group govt officer. “Though operational check launches are executed regularly at Vandenberg Area Power Base, SELM permits the Air Power to check crucial processes in a deployed setting with out firing the missile.”
This analysis is an end-to-end check that’s used to confirm the reliability of the MMIII ICBM system’s skill to launch if given the command from a Launch Facility (LF), a Launch Management Middle (LCC), or an Airborne Launch Management System (ALCS).
“This 12 months we examined 4 LFs and two LCCs, with help from the 625th Strategic Operations Squadron, to check a brand new flight observe of the E-6B Mercury,” stated Cruz.
Earlier than the check launch order might be given, greater than 1,500 hours are dedicated to make sure all security measures are met. For the SELM check, the upkeep crews and operators changed the operational parts with check parts and remoted the LFs from the remainder of the operational squadron to kind a check squadron. This enables the check to be carried out safely with out affecting an operational missile website whereas the testing missile crew members use actual instructions.
“Because of the ever-growing age of our weapon system, exhibiting that it might probably full its mission when requested is necessary for us in gathering analytical information, and present we’re able to assuring our allies and deterring our adversaries,” stated 1st Lt. Alex Mathews, 740th Missile Squadron missileer.
As soon as the preparation part was concluded, the SELM check started. The groups examined their skill as fight crews to launch from not solely the LCC however from an ALCS aboard a Navy E-6B Mercury plane, which is able to remotely launching the fleet of MMIII ICBMs.
Many companies are concerned in security, just like the missile upkeep group and digital mechanical group, who make sure the quite a few security procedures are full previous to testing. The 91MW’s disaster motion group then confirms that every one websites are in a secure configuration earlier than the simulated launch, Cruz stated.
When all of those duties have been accomplished a last-look inspection is completed by SELM High quality Assurance personnel to confirm the correct configuration of the check LF and LCCs.
After the protection of every website was confirmed, check instructions have been despatched from remoted check LCCs and the airborne ALCS. Missile instructions have been transmitted to the remoted SELM check squadron to guage every thing from routine actions all the way in which as much as the primary stage ignition of the MMIII.
“The credibility of the 91st MW lies in our Airmen and the weapon system we preserve and function. We prepare every day for our mission, and SELM permits us to display the usual of repairs offered by our maintainers, and the experience of missileers tasked with executing our mission,” stated Mathews.
An important side of any weapon system is to display its reliability via intensive scheduled and routine testing. With the SELM check full the second and last part of testing might be accomplished. This second part of testing will see a dwell launch of unarmed MMIII at Vandenberg Area Power Base, California. This rigorous testing permits the 91MW, U.S. Air Power and U.S. Area Power to offer an indication of fight functionality with out compromising security.
By Senior Airman Alexander Nottingham, fifth Bomb Wing Public Affairs
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