www.globalsecuritynewswire.org

The U.S. Air Force is set to formally stand up its new nuclear weapons command today at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana, Agence France-Presse reported (see GSN, June 19).

The Global Strike Command would assume control of the nation's ICBM fleet as well as its B-52 and B-2 bomber aircraft, which are capable of delivering nuclear weapons. The new organization, led by Gen. Frank Klotz, would encompass 23,000 Air Force personnel.

www.af.mil

WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- Air Force officials stood up a new major command to oversee all of its nuclear forces in an activation ceremony Aug. 7 at Barksdale Air Force Base, La.

Air Force Global Strike Command will provide combat ready forces to conduct strategic nuclear deterrence and global strike operations in support of combatant commanders.

"This week we achieved a major milestone in the activation of Air Force Global Strike Command," said Air Force Secretary Michael B. Donley. "The command will bring together our strategic nuclear forces under a single commander, and will provide combatant commanders with the forces to conduct strategic nuclear deterrence and global strike operations through intercontinental ballistic missiles, B-2 (Spirit) and B-52 (Stratofortress) operations."

www.bloomberg.com

The Air Force today opens a new command that consolidates oversight of all of its U.S.-based nuclear bombers and intercontinental ballistic missiles.

The Global Strike Command at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, will be fully operational in about a year, the Air Force said. It is complemented by a strengthened Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center in charge of planning and executing long- term maintenance and upgrades of the nuclear inventory.