Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 News
    
        Photos

    Week in Photos

    Air Force TV

    Commentaries

    Features

    Art

    About Us
    
        Air Force Senior Leaders
    
        SECAF

    CSAF

    CMSAF

    Biographies

    Fact Sheets

    SECAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library
    
        CSAF Leadership Library 2022

    CSAF Leadership Library 2021

    CSAF Reading List Pre-2020 Archive
    
        2018 CSAF Reading List

    2017 CSAF Reading List

    2016 CSAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library 2023

    CMSAF Leadership Library

    50 Years of the CMSAF

    Adjunct Professors

    Air Force Strategic Documents

    Arctic Strategy

    Empowered Airmen

    State Licensure Portability

    Careers

    AF Federal Advisory Committees

    AF 75th Anniversary

    Policy Updates

    AF Content Management

    Contact Us

    AF Sites
    
        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ. Brown, Jr., center, meets U.S. Senator Jon Tester left, with Gen. Timothy M. Ray, right, Air Force Global Strike Command commander, May 21, 2021, at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont.CSAF emphasizes safe, secure, reliable nuclear deterrence during Malmstrom AFB visit
                        
                        
                        Montana Sen. Jon Tester meets Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ. Brown, Jr., and Gen. Timothy Ray, commander of Air Force Global Strike Command, May 21, 2021, at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont. The three visited Malmstrom AFB to tour a variety of facilities, including a launch facility and the tactical response force building. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jacob M. Thompson)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ. Brown, Jr., left, U.S. Senator Jon Tester right, and Air Force Global Strike Commander Gen. Timothy M. Ray, make acquaintances May 21, 2021, at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont.CSAF emphasizes safe, secure, reliable nuclear deterrence during Malmstrom AFB visit
                        
                        
                        Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ. Brown, Jr., Montana Sen. Jon Tester (right) and Gen. Timothy M. Ray, commander of Air Force Global Strike Command, make acquaintances May 21, 2021, at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont. Brown and Tester visited Malmstrom AFB to tour a variety of facilities, including a launch facility and the tactical response force building. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jacob M. Thompson)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res

CSAF emphasizes safe, secure, reliable nuclear deterrence during Malmstrom AFB visitPublished May 27, 2021
                    
                    By Heather Heiney
                    
                    
                    341st Missile Wing Public Affairs
            **MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. (AFNS) --**Air Force Chief of Staff **Gen. CQ Brown, Jr.**, **Gen. Timothy Ray**, commander of **Air Force Global Strike Command** and Sen. Jon Tester, Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense chairman, visited **Malmstrom Air Force Base** May 21 to learn more about the strategic importance of the installation and to discuss the future of nuclear deterrence.
The **Minuteman III** intercontinental ballistic missile has been on alert for more than 50 years, and Brown has emphasized modernizing the Air Force across the board, including the most responsive leg of the nuclear triad.
“A safe, secure and reliable nuclear deterrent allows the nation to negotiate from a position of power, provides the United States and our allies with an umbrella of protection, and discourages aggression worldwide,” Brown said.
While the Minuteman III ICBM remains safe, secure, reliable and effective, ready to defend the United States and its allies, modernization now is critical to stay ahead of near-peer competitors. The Air Force is in the process of replacing the weapon system with the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent. The **GBSD** is not only a new missile, but optimized with fully-integrated launch, flight and infrastructure systems with modern command and control features.
"We're looking at GBSD starting in '26, finishing in '36. **Cheyenne** (Wyoming) will be first, Malmstrom (AFB) will be second, and **Minot** (AFB) will be third. That is going to have to move forward because that is critically important for the country’s defense," Tester said.
The **341st Missile Wing**’s vision is to have the most dominant nuclear-capable force in the world, ready at all times to employ the most powerful weapon system in human existence.
“The advantage of global strike provides a critical backstop for our diplomats and reassurance to our allies and partners. Regardless of the aircraft, weapon, or system, we must modernize in order to maintain our strike capability... anytime, anywhere,” Brown said.
During the visit Brown, Ray and Tester also had a chance to see the base’s facilities and mission first-hand and talk with the Airmen who make installation’s no-fail mission possible.
“Proud to have United States Air Force top leadership with me at Malmstrom Air Force Base today to see just how hard Montana service members work to keep our nation secure,” Tester said. “As Chairman of the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, I’ll always fight to ensure they’ve got the tools needed to continue keeping us safe.”AFWN 



USAF 



AF 



Air Force 



CSAF 



Gen. CQ Brown Jr. 



Malmstrom AFB 



visit 



One Air Force 



Gen. Timothy Ray 



AFGSC 



Senator Jon Tester 



nuclear deterrent 



GBSD 



ICBM 



Strategic Deterrence 



nuclear triad 



341st Missile Wing Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                DAF leaders talk budget, reoptimizing the force
                    
                    DAF leaders speak at National Character and Leadership Symposium
                    
                    DAF members recognized during BEYA STEM awards
                    
                    DAF senior enlisted advisors discuss Airmen, Guardians in the fight
                    
                    SecAF Kendall AFA Warfare Symposium Q&A: Reoptimizing for Great Power CompetitionInnovation
                AFWERX director discusses role of tech startups, quick innovation in Great Power Competition
                    
                    DAF delivers lethality at the speed of data during Project Convergence Capstone 4
                    
                    DAF welcomes industry partners to HQ development program
                    
                    DAF announces Spark Tank 2024 finalists
                    
                    Chief Digital, Artificial Intelligence Office to host hackathon in HawaiiMAJCOM News
                Safety enterprise announces new mission, vision, goals in 2024 strategic plan
                    
                    Air Combat Command welcomes new commander
                    
                    USAFE-AFAFRICA commander discusses Integrated Air, Missile Defense during Munich Security Conference
                    
                    Flosi to AFMC family: Embrace change, make every day count
                    
                    AMC rises to increasing global tension
 Quick Links
AccessibilityContact UsEqual OpportunityFOIA | Privacy | Section 508Information QualityInspector GeneralJAG Court-Martial DocketLink DisclaimerNo FEAR ActOpen GovernmentOSI Tip LinePlain LanguageQuestionsResilienceRSSSite MapVeterans Crisis LineCareers
Join the Air ForceAir Force BenefitsAir Force CareersAir Force ReserveAir National GuardCivilian ServiceConnect
            Get Social with Us
            
            Official United States Air Force Website
    Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil