An Air Force unit that operates one-third of the nation’s land-based nuclear missile force has failed a safety and security inspection, marking the second major setback this year for the force, the general in charge of the Air Force’s nuclear force toldThe Associated Press on Tuesday.
According to an AP article, the failure was recorded by the 341st Missile Wing at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont., which is responsible for 150 Minuteman 3 nuclear missiles that stand on 24/7 alert for potential launch against targets around the globe. According to Lt. Gen. James M. Kowalski, the 341st wing failed a “small team exercise” as part of a broader inspection, which means that the whole inspection was a failure.